FactCheck.org just made another blooper. This time it was their WIRE blog. Their reputation is receding fast.
It’s about Sarah Palin and global warming in a question asked in the ABC News Charlie Gibson interview. FactCheck gives the following quotes from earlier:
Palin (Aug. 29): A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location. I’m not one though who would attribute it to being man-made.
Palin (Dec. 4, 2007): I’m not an Al Gore, doom-and-gloom environmentalist blaming the changes in our climate on human activity, but I’m not going to put my head in the sand and pretend there aren’t changes.
And quotes the ABC interview:
Gibson: Do you still believe that global warming is not man-made?
Palin: I believe that man’s activities certainly can be contributing to the issue of global warming, climate change. . . .
Gibson: [C]olor me a cynic, but I hear a little bit of change in your policy there. When you say, yes, now you’re beginning to say it is man-made. It sounds to me like you’re adapting your position to Sen. McCain’s.
Palin: I think you are a cynic because show me where I have ever said that there’s absolute proof that nothing that man has ever conducted or engaged in has had any affect, or no affect, on climate change.
FactCheck goes on to conclude that:
We don’t begrudge politicians the right to change their minds, particularly on scientific questions where new data can sometimes fundamentally alter scientific consensus. But Palin was wrong to imply that her public stance hasn’t changed.
That is simply and factually untrue. The statements:
1. I’m not one, though, who would attribute it to being man-made.
2. I’m not… blaming the changes in our climate on human activity…
3. I believe that man’s activities certainly can be contributing to the issue of global warming…
These statements are not contradictory or a change of position. The first two express the opinion that man has not made global warming and that man is not to blame for global warming. The third statement is that man contributes to and affects global warming.
Let’s take a different scenario. I am standing on a street corner. I see two cars speeding toward an intersection at a 90 degree angle to each other. I jump up and down and wave my arms. Both drivers look at me. They both proceed into the intersection and crash. I did not make the crash, I am not to blame for the crash, but I contributed to and affected the crash.
The same is true for global warming. Man has not made global warming, man is not blame for global warming, but man does have a minuscule contribution and a minuscule effect on global warming. She chose her words skillfully and with integrity.
FactCheck responded with an utter lack of integrity, common sense, or facts.
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