Climate Science, Jaws, and Swift Boats
Speculation that the Senate is “swift-boating” scientist James Hansen suddenly seems less speculative (hat-tip: SciAm). Marc Morano, new communications director for Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman James Inhofe (R-Okla.), has a colorful history. Greenwire reported recently:
Morano, who worked as a producer in the mid-90s for radio commentator Rush Limbaugh, was also among the first reporters to write about the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth campaign scrutinizing Kerry’s Vietnam War record. And earlier this year, Morano penned an article questioning the Purple Heart medals of Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), a leading critic of Bush’s Iraq policy.
Morano penned the recent attack on Tom Brokaw and three scientists including Hansen. Greenwire is reporting that Morano also recently attacked the credibility of New York Times environmental reporter and children’s book author Andy Revkin. Morano listed Revkin “among journalists who have tied their personal and professional reputations to the catastrophic effects of global warming.”
At issue: Revkin’s new children’s book, “The North Pole Was Here.” From Friday’s Greenwire (subscription required):
“The title alone implies climate alarmism,” said Morano, who added that he has not read Revkin’s book. […]
“I doubt there’s another current account of Arctic climate change out there as true to the science and as spin-free and scare-free as ‘The North Pole Was Here,’” Revkin said. “It is, in every way, an extension of the journalism I’ve been doing on climate for 20 years, journalism that has been consistently lauded by people on all sides of the climate debate for its accuracy and fairness.”
Morano insisted in an interview today he was not criticizing all aspects of Revkin’s reporting, and he commended the journalist for challenging Time magazine over a recent cover story on global warming headlined “Be Afraid…Be Very Afraid.”
But Morano said he did have questions about how the New York Times should present Revkin’s future articles on climate change. From time to time, Morano said the newspaper should include a disclaimer explaining Revkin has published a book on the subject.
When searching for an analogy to this climate, we always come back to Jaws. If Senator Inhofe was the mayor of Amity Island, and Morano was his spokesman, we fear that Chief Brody would be stripped of his dignity and scientist Matt Hooper would be on the next boat for the mainland. As body parts and shark fins became an increasingly regular sight at the beach, Mayor Inhofe would be urging calm among the rash of “boating accidents.”
Unfortunately, this drama is taking place outside of the cineplex. The swift-boating of scientists, science, and journalists is no accident, and it has no place in public or scientific debate.