Paul Chesser
Credentials
- Paul Chesser specializes in investigative journalism and opinion writing.1“Paul Chesser,” PaulChesser.com, November 28, 2005. Archived January 27, 2012.
Background
According to his website, Chesser “specializes in opinion writing, investigative journalism and reporting on state government issues.”2“Paul Chesser,” PaulChesser.com, November 28, 2005. Archived January 27, 2012.
Chesser is affiliated with numerous right-wing think tanks. He is the director of Climate Strategies Watch (which is organized by the John Locke Foundation, which he is also a director of), executive director of the American Tradition Institute, senior fellow of the commonwealth foundation, associate fellow to the National Legal and Policy Center, as well as a “special correspondent” for the Heartland Institute.
He came to the John Locke Foundation in 2001 after serving as editor for two weekly community newspapers. Chesser’s articles have appeared many U.S. newspapers, and he is a regular contributor to the American Spectator Online and the Cooler Heads Coalition. Chesser has also appeared on NBC’s ‘The Today Show’ and numerous other talk radio shows.3“Paul Chesser: 6th International Conference on Climate Change,” The Heartland Institute.
Stance on Climate Change
“The truth is, read any legitimate scientific study on climate – including IPCC’s – that suggests human influence is the dominant cause for global warming, and you will discover dozens of qualifiers like ‘could,’ ‘possibly,’ ‘potentially,’ and ‘may.’ For all the certainty and consensus that global warming fear-mongers assert, those sound a lot like weasel words.”4“Newsweek: Alarmed by Deniers,” The American Spectator, August 9, 2007.
Key Quotes
“Scientists see no temperature increase (on average) in the oceans or on the surface of the Earth over the last decade. That hasn’t stopped an activist group from infiltrating high schools with the panicky message that we are on the verge of a “planetary emergency” due to global warming.”5“Paul Chesser: Global warming propaganda infiltrates schools,” The Washington Examiner, September 18, 2009.
Key Deeds
June 30–July 1, 2011
Chesser was a moderator at the Heartland Institute‘s Sixth International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC6.) He was a moderator for Session 4: Public Policy Realities which featured Allen Carlin, Chris Horner, and Marc Morano.
2009
In 2009, Chesser declared that he “exposed the mission” of the Alliance for Climate Education (ACE), a California-based non-profit that gives presentations on climate change and inspires young people to action.
Chesser accused them of “infiltrating schools [with] global warming propaganda,” and he accused Michael Haas, creator of Alliance for Climate Education, of acting in an attempt to profit off of the government subsidies that “climate change-driven energy policies would bring.”6ExxonSecrets Factsheet: Paul Chesser. 7“Paul Chesser: Global warming propaganda infiltrates schools,” The Washington Examiner, September 18, 2009.
May 2008
Chesser was a speaker at the Heartland Institute‘s First International Conference on Climate Change (ICCC1) where he gave a speech titled “The Deceptive Agenda of Center for Climate Strategies in the State Legislatures.”
Affiliations
- The Heartland Institute — Chesser is listed as a “special correspondent,” and “Expert” for the Heartland Institute.8“Heartland Institute Experts Comment on Death of Cap-and-Tax Bill in Senate,” The Heartland Institute, July 22, 2010. Archived with WebCite, March 1, 2012. 9“Heartland Institute/Global Warming Experts,” SourceWatch.
The Heartland Institute describes Chesser’s role as “an information and research resource for media across the country, as well as for conservative/libertarian think tanks,” and as “a liaison for the media and think tanks with economics researchers such as the Beacon Hill Institute and climate researchers such as the Science & Public Policy Institute, creating marriages in which they co-publish research on climate policies and then helps promote with his vast media contacts within their states.”10“Paul Chesser,” ClimateWiki.
- American Tradition Institute — Executive Director, Director of Communications and Research.11“CBO Analysis Affirms American Tradition Institute Findings That a National Renewable Energy Mandate Would Be Costly,” PR Newswire, July 27, 2011. 12“Staff & Board of Directors,” The American Tradition Institute. Accessed December 2, 2011.
- The John Locke Foundation (JLF) — “Director,” and manager of the JLF’s Climate Strategies Watch. 13“John Locke Staff, Fellows, & Scholars – Biographies: Paul Chesser,” Accessed December 2, 2011.
- Commonwealth Foundation — Senior Fellow.14“Staff,” The Commonwealth Foundation. Accessed December 2, 2011.
- National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC) — Associate Fellow.15“White Coke Cans Fund Polar Bear Myths,” National Legal and Policy Center, October 31, 2011.
- Carolina Journal — Associate editor (2001 – 2007).16“Staff,” The Commonwealth Foundation. Accessed December 2, 2011.
- American Spectator Online — Contributor.17“Contributors: Paul Chesser,” The American Spectator.
- Cooler Heads Coalition — Contributor.18“Carolina Journal Print Columnists: Paul Chesser,” Carolina Journal Online.
- NewsBusters — Contributor.19“Paul Chesser,” PaulChesser.com, November 28, 2005. Archived January 27, 2012.
Social Media
- @PaulChesser on Twitter (account no longer exists).
Publications
Paul Chesser does not appear to have a background in science.
Chesser maintains a blog at the National Legal and Policy Center. A full list of Chesser’s publications is available at PaulChesser.com.
Other Resources
Resources
- 1“Paul Chesser,” PaulChesser.com, November 28, 2005. Archived January 27, 2012.
- 2“Paul Chesser,” PaulChesser.com, November 28, 2005. Archived January 27, 2012.
- 3“Paul Chesser: 6th International Conference on Climate Change,” The Heartland Institute.
- 4“Newsweek: Alarmed by Deniers,” The American Spectator, August 9, 2007.
- 5“Paul Chesser: Global warming propaganda infiltrates schools,” The Washington Examiner, September 18, 2009.
- 6
- 7“Paul Chesser: Global warming propaganda infiltrates schools,” The Washington Examiner, September 18, 2009.
- 8“Heartland Institute Experts Comment on Death of Cap-and-Tax Bill in Senate,” The Heartland Institute, July 22, 2010. Archived with WebCite, March 1, 2012.
- 9“Heartland Institute/Global Warming Experts,” SourceWatch.
- 10“Paul Chesser,” ClimateWiki.
- 11“CBO Analysis Affirms American Tradition Institute Findings That a National Renewable Energy Mandate Would Be Costly,” PR Newswire, July 27, 2011.
- 12“Staff & Board of Directors,” The American Tradition Institute. Accessed December 2, 2011.
- 13“John Locke Staff, Fellows, & Scholars – Biographies: Paul Chesser,” Accessed December 2, 2011.
- 14“Staff,” The Commonwealth Foundation. Accessed December 2, 2011.
- 15“White Coke Cans Fund Polar Bear Myths,” National Legal and Policy Center, October 31, 2011.
- 16“Staff,” The Commonwealth Foundation. Accessed December 2, 2011.
- 17“Contributors: Paul Chesser,” The American Spectator.
- 18“Carolina Journal Print Columnists: Paul Chesser,” Carolina Journal Online.
- 19“Paul Chesser,” PaulChesser.com, November 28, 2005. Archived January 27, 2012.
