Robert Bryce from the fossil fuel industry-funded Manhattan Institute just canโt bring himself to answer a simple question about the fossil fuel industry funding flowing into his group. Readers of DeSmogBlog may recall our previous coverage about Bryceโs anti-clean energy attacks in the New York Times op-ed pages and elsewhere.
Citing the prime example of Robert Bryceโs conflict of interest, I asked the Public Editor at the New York Times last year why the paper doesnโt require its op-ed contributors to disclose their funding sources so that readers can make up their own minds about the potential bias of these contributors.
Since Bryce is typically only listed as a Manhattan Institute senior fellow, that doesnโt let the reader know that his organization has received a significant amount of money from dirty energy interests including ExxonMobil and Koch Industries. Thatโs an important factor in evaluating the rationale behind Mr. Bryceโs bias against clean energy.
Watch below as Gabe Elsner, my friend at the Checks and Balances Project, asks Bryce the simple question about his funding from fossil fuel interests.
Gabe explains:
I asked Bryce if he had financial ties to the fossil fuel industry after his debate appearance before the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners conference on Monday. Not only did Bryce refuse to answer the question, he also launched into an angry, finger-pointing tirade saying that Iโd โmade upโ the amount of fossil fuel support documented by Manhattan Institute records.
Watch the clip with Gabeโs analysis embedded:
