Denying the Non-Denier

by Paul Chesser, Heartland Institute Correspondent on September 2, 2008

in Politics

Paul Chesser, Climate Strategies Watch

Newsbusters picked up on an exchange on MSNBC between Keith Olbermann and Howard Fineman in which the former ESPN sportscaster tried to take vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin down several notches:

Olbermann called her "the least experienced vice presidential candidate probably in American history," and repeatedly applied labels to her suggesting extremism, calling her "fanatically anti-abortion," "hard right," "global warming denying," a "rabid conservative," a "red meat conservative," and a "fire-breather."

In keeping with his well-documented cluelessness, Olbermann obviously did not bother to do any research or reporting, or he would have easily found Gov. Palin's Administrative Order #238, in which she created the Alaska Climate Change Sub-cabinet "to advise the Office of the Governor on the preparation and implementation of an Alaska climate change strategy." From her order:

"Scientific evidence shows many areas of Alaska are experiencing a warming trend. Many experts predict that Alaska, along with our northern latitude neighbors, will continue to warm at a faster pace than any other state, and the warming will continue for decades…."

As a result of this warming, coastal erosion, thawing permafrost, retreating sea ice, record forest fires, and other changes are affecting, and will continue to affect, the lifestyles and livelihoods of Alaskans. Alaska needs a strategy to identify and mitigate potential impacts of climate change and to guide its efforts in evaluating and addressing known or suspected causes of climate change…."

And so forth…let me know where you spot the "denying."

Keith Olbermann: Too smart for sports, not smart enough for news — but just right for MSNBC.

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