White House says leaked email story "silly" – the science is clear

onDec 7, 2009 @ 21:29 PST

According to an AFP story out today, the Obama White House has dismissed as “silly” the idea that climate science is in jeopardy over the Climate Research Unit leaked emails.

“I think everybody is clear on the science,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters.

“I think scientists are clear on the science. I think many on Capitol Hill are clear on the science. I think that this notion that there is some debate … on the science is kind of silly.”

Of course it is, but it hasn’t stopped Republicans, their friends in the free-market think tanks and Fox News from trying to make this minor controversy into some kind of worldwide conspiracy.

I wonder if 100 years from now, the textbooks will talk about how the 21st century equivalent of the flat-earth society that tried and failed to keep the human-race stuck on fossil fuels?

If so, here’s a great photo of the Head Director of the Flat Earth Society that they could include on the cover:

By Kevin Grandia

Kevin is a contributor and strategic adviser to DeSmog. He runs the digital marketing agency Spake Media House. Named a “Green Hero” by Rolling Stone Magazine and one of the “Top 50 Tweeters” on climate change and environment issues, Kevin has appeared in major news media outlets around the world for his work on digital campaigning. Kevin has been involved in the public policy arena in both the United States and Canada for more than a decade. For five years he was the managing editor of DeSmogBlog.com. In this role, Kevin’s research into the “climate denial industry” and the right-wing think tank networks was featured in news media articles around the world. He is most well known for his ground-breaking research into David and Charles Koch’s massive financial investments in the Republican and tea party networks. Kevin is the first person to be designated a “Certified Expert” on the political and community organizing platform NationBuilder. Prior to DeSmog, Kevin worked in various political and government roles. He was Senior Advisor to the Minister of State for Multiculturalism and a Special Assistant to the Minister of State for Asia Pacific, Foreign Affairs for the Government of Canada. Kevin also worked in various roles in the British Columbia provincial government in the Office of the Premier and the Ministry of Health. In 2008 Kevin co-founded a groundbreaking new online election tool called Vote for Environment which was later nominated for a World Summit Award in recognition of the world’s best e-Content and innovative ICT applications. Kevin moved to Washington, DC in 2010 where he worked for two years as the Director of Online Strategy for Greenpeace USA and has since returned to his hometown of Vancouver, Canada.

Analysis

The Wrong Lesson From Trudeau’s Fall Is That Climate Action Is Unpopular

ByMitch Anderson

onJan 9, 2025 @ 11:12 PST

What the country craves is fewer selfies and more action to confront the emergency.

us/How Big Meat Worked to Rebrand in 2024 — Using Disinformation

ByJessica Scott-Reid, Sentient

onJan 6, 2025 @ 03:01 PST

A look back at the year’s manipulative messaging.

us/Midwest Wins Funding for a New Hydrogen Hub. Not Everyone Is Convinced It’s 'Clean.'

ByJuanpablo Ramirez-Franco, Grist

onJan 2, 2025 @ 03:01 PST

Policymakers and industry say the Midwest Hydrogen Hub will create green jobs and slash emissions, but environmentalists see a ploy to keep fossil fuels in use.