50 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 8 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
Exclusive to OpEd News:
OpEdNews Op Eds    H3'ed 4/10/09

NY Times Climate Change Article: Careless or Deceptive?

By       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   11 comments
Follow Me on Twitter     Message Dean Powers

I hope the editors at The New York Times are just sooooo entrenched in the role of giving both sides of an argument the benefit of the doubt that they can't see the simplistic idiocy of articles like, "Dissenter on Climate Change Takes Fight to the Web." The alternative is that they are working in connection with special interest corporations. I doubt it, but...

The article, "Dissenter on Climate Change Takes Fight to the Web" is careless at best and willfully deceptive at worst for several reasons. First, it keeps open the possibility that its star, a wacko-conservative named Marc Morano (who believes climate change is a myth), actually has a legitimate point. Second it frames his supporters as people like you and I.

Who do you think would oppose curbs on carbon emissions? Just guess. Who has tons of money and doesn't want any slow-down on fossil fuel consumption? Who would spend money on and help work behind the scenes to prop up a misinformation campaign to debunk global warming, the type run by President Bush's buddies and folks like Jack Abramoff? In short, who are the "supporters" of an idiot like Moron-o. If you guessed some random weather forecaster named John Coleman, according to the Times, you are correct. What?! 

"'Before Marc,'" the New York Times reports, "'efforts to debunk global warming were scattered and disorganized,' said John Coleman, a weather broadcaster who helped found the Weather Channel and who has called global warming 'a scam.'"

It sounds like a chapter in the Communist Manifesto or Star Wars, "Just before the uprising..." kind of stuff. Like, "Before the guerilla soldiers fighting to debunk global warming against the cruel oppressing empire of world-renown scientists banded together and launched a crusade in the name of Jesus there was only fear and chaos. Then, from out of the fog, came a hero, a man named Marc Morano." 

Are you scratching your head? With Exxon Mobile, car manufacturers and coal mining companies all praying for a defeat of Obama's agenda to curb carbon emissions--and probably contributing money to political and public relations strategists like Moron-o to mislead Americans into believing that climate change is a myth--the New York Times found some no-name weather forecaster to represent the opposition.

In essence the Times has flipped reality on its head. Exxon Mobile is the empire. Morano is a member of the empire ruling class. How does he get portrayed as some Billy-the-Kid folk hero? And he wants to fight? (The Times also portrays him as this fearless fighter). Somebody tell him to get in touch with me. Please.

We are the ones fighting not only against higher oil prices but also for alternatives so that we can outlast the fossil fuel era and our children can carry on. But the New York Times has it upside-down. 

Is the New York Times deceitfully and willfully aiding special interests opposed to climate control by engineering a myth that there is populist opposition to curbs on greenhouse gases? Why don't they conduct a poll of all Americans? How can they even give a wacko like Moron-o legitimacy by writing about him in the first place? 

Write to the New York Times and tell them you are launching a website that proves that pigs can fly and that you expect a feature article about it. 

Must Read 1  
Rate It | View Ratings

Dean Powers Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Dean Powers lives in Castleton, VT. He has apprenticed at several newspapers including The Nation. He currently writes for OpEdNews. He can be found at facebook.com/deanppowers.

Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Follow Me on Twitter     Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

XRay Naked Pics for "Officer in Remote Location"

Kate Winslett Tears Up Over Global Warming at Oscar's

Limbaugh Watch: Palin Pregnancy Talking Points

"He'd better..." Grassley Snarls About Obama...Wouldn't Fly at This Redneck's Keg Party

"Drill (Me), Baby, Drill (Me)" Sex, Drugs, Big Oil Scandal

Limbaugh, Hannity: Blame Democrats For "Free Market" Failure

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend