At Issue: The energy consumption at Gore's private home.
Matt Drudge, the right-wing's favorite closeted gay headline writer, has just issued a "report" claiming the "Gore mansion uses 20 times the average household eneregy consumption." This follows other ridiculous headlines which have claimed, among other things, that Gore travels in a "motorcade of five limos and an SUV." A number of right-leaning blogs and commentators have adopted this latest talking point, which is untrue because the Gore household uses solar power and carbon offsets to reduce their carbon footprint.
So many responses to choose from: For decades, haven't you people denied the science behind global warming? If you're trying to take a jab at someone's energy consumption, doesn't that mean humans exacerbate climate change? Does this have anything to do with Gore's Academy Award win for "An Inconvenient Truth" and his nomination for a Nobel Peace Prize ... ?
Gore Responds To Drudge (Think Progress)
Some Background ...
Cheney on Global Warming (Rod 2.0) McCain Slams Bush on Warming (Rod 2.0) Environment: Pharrell Concert, Exxon (Rod 2.0) Only 13 Percent of GOP Believe Warming (Rod 2.0) Warming "Very Likely" Caused By Humans (Rod 2.0) Gore Nominated for Nobel Prize (Rod 2.0) White House Pressures Scientists (Rod 2.0) News: Polar Bears, John Edwards (Rod 2.0) News: DADT, Far-Right Christians (Rod 2.0)
Not sure why Drudge is being bashed for this. it comes from a local ABC News affiliate. Here's the link to it:
http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=nation_world&id=5072659
Posted by: ramsey | 27 February 2007 at 13:40
Matt Drudge is a semi-closeted, right wing hack, so, this site is going to "bash" him when he carries water for the people trying to "bash" gays, minorities and the poor.
The report was originated by the Tennessee Center for Policy Research, which describes itself as a "free market think tank." Some of its research denies global warming science. It also strongly advocates against raising the minimum wage for Tennessee's working poor.
Posted by: Rod McCullom | 27 February 2007 at 14:12
When the documentary won the Oscar Sunday night, I IMed to a friend at the time, that the right wingnuts would immediately start sharpening their knives trying to downplay the win and attack Gore. Who knew it would take them so long.
Nazis are so damn predictable.
Posted by: Bernard Tarver | 27 February 2007 at 14:26
This tactic is used to obfuscate a very important point, that being the carbon footprint each household produces.
Purchasing offsets help to REDUCE the size of that footprint.
This is wrong,because...?
Posted by: brian | 27 February 2007 at 14:55
Al Gore could sneeze and the Wingnuts would complain he was exhaling too much CO2. And yes, Rod, after years of denial, they're suddenly worried about one former VP's carbon footprint? I'd love to know what Drudge's is--after all, how much does B.S. count for?
Posted by: Andy in Seattle | 27 February 2007 at 15:45
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is a "left-wing liberal"? He just proposed the western states get together and reduice carbon emissions.
By the way ... it's not "cool" to kill anyone. Wars should be fought because they "have to" ... not because it's cool or hot. Idiot.
Posted by: tyler grey | 27 February 2007 at 19:17
If it was cool -- as in popular -- then Hollywood would be behind it. Hollywood goes with the flow always. They are suck-ups. Which was my point.
I said "left-wing Hollywood liberal" -- the kind you saw at the Oscars. I didn't see the Governor there. It's not his crowd.
Posted by: JJ | 28 February 2007 at 06:44
If you're concerned about the environment, then it shouldn't matter who are why people are on board. You should be happy the cause is getting exposure, and, by the by, the green movement started wayyyyy back in the early 70s. Pre-Holywood, but Al Gore was still involved.
There are Republicans and Democrats who are eco- and green-friendly. Rod is obviously pro-environment and his politics are hardly "left-wing liberal" or netroots progressive mold. And being pro-environment isn't exactly at the top of the black gay agenda.
Posted by: greg g | 28 February 2007 at 08:57
Let's see, carbon offset's. I thought that was guilt money (tax write off?) you payed to a third party, who plant a tree,or whatever,so Gore can keep his opulent life style. Sweet deal
Posted by: Bad Joe Joe | 28 February 2007 at 12:38