Clearing the PR Pollution that Clouds Climate Science

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Ross Gelbspan

21 July 06

White House Environmental Chief Launches Stealth Attack on Climate Science

Tags: Government Policy, James Connaughton, James Connaughton, Marty Hall, Sen. James Inhofe, Smogger, US

James Connaughton, head of the White House Environmental Office (CEQ) told Congress: “There’s a lot of agreement … on warming...We begin to get into issues [of disagreement] about the extent to which humans are a problem.”

If there's agreement, why did Connaughton's agency appoint as chief of staff an aide to Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) -- the most vehement denier in the US Congress -- the same Inhofe who called global warming "the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American public."

Sen. Inhofe aide to become CEQ chief of staff, sources say

E&ENews, May 31, 2006

A top staff member with the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will be named later this week to the chief of staff position at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, sources on and off Capitol Hill said today.

Marty Hall, deputy staff director for the committee, would fill a slot that has seen significant turnover in the last year. The White House plans to officially announce the move Friday, sources said. In March, former CEQ chief of staff Bryan Hannegan resigned for personal reasons, ending speculation that he would be President Bush's choice to replace James Mahoney as deputy administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Hannegan's predecessor, Philip Cooney, resigned last spring after reports that he edited government climate reports to soften the link between global warming and industrial emissions of greenhouse gases.

Hall, former spokesman for the Senate panel, declined comment. He has worked for the environment panel since 2000 and currently works under Andrew Wheeler, the staff director for Chairman James Inhofe (R-Okla.). Hall has worked previously at Gulfstream TLC and the Concord Resources Group. He is a 1988 graduate of Northwestern University.

A White House spokeswoman could not be reached for comment by press time.

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About the climate cover-up

Democracy is utterly dependant upon an electorate that is accurately informed. In promoting climate change denial (and often denying their responsibility for doing so) industry has done more than endanger the environment. It has undermined democracy.

There is a vast difference between putting forth a point of view, honestly held, and intentionally sowing the seeds of confusion. Free speech does not include the right to deceive. Deception is not a point of view. And the right to disagree does not include a right to intentionally subvert the public awareness.

Although all public relations professionals are bound by a duty to not knowingly mislead the public, some have executed comprehensive campaigns of misinformation on behalf of industry clients on issues ranging from tobacco and asbestos to seat belts.

Lately, these fringe players have turned their efforts to creating confusion about climate change. This PR campaign could not be accomplished without the compliance of media as well as the assent and participation of leaders in government and business.

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