Most GOP Presidential Candidates Reject Scientific Evidence on Climate Change

Jason Attermann — August 25, 2011 – 12:24 pm | Election 2012 | Environment | GOP Presidential Candidates 2012 | Republicans Comments (2) Add a comment

National Journal compiled a list of Republican presidential contenders and their positions on climate change. Their research shows that when it comes to climate change and the environment, there is a tremendous amount of distance separating the overwhelming majority of the GOP’s 2012 candidates from the mainstream of American Jewry. Below are some excerpts from National Journal’s list, along with excerpts of other reports.

Governor Rick Perry (R-TX):

‘I think we’re seeing almost weekly, or even daily, scientists that are coming forward and questioning the original idea that manmade global warming is what is causing the climate to change,’ Perry said in New Hampshire.

In his 2010 book, ‘Fed Up!’ Perry also put his views on global warming bluntly, calling it ‘all one contrived phony mess that is falling apart under its own weight.’

Think Progress also reported:

On the campaign trail last Friday, Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) defended his argument that climate scientists are manipulating data, saying his position is ‘skeptical science.’...

Perry’s ‘skeptical science’ earned him four Pinocchios from the Washington Post. Perry’s invocation of ‘skeptical science’ also unintentionally endorsed SkepticalScience.com, a website that debunks misunderstandings of climate change. At that site, they have a numerical list of climate misconceptions: Perry’s most recent statement invoked myth #2, myth #3, myth #73, and myth #140.

Representative Michele Bachmann (R-MN):

‘I believe that all of these issues have to be settled on the base of real science, not manufactured science,’ she said this week on the campaign trail in South Carolina when asked about climate change.

Representative Ron Paul (R-TX):

Though in 2007 and 2008 he was considering the possible role of human activity in global warming, by late 2009 he told Fox Business, ‘you know the greatest hoax I think has been around many many years, if not hundreds of years, has been this hoax on the environment and global warming.’

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA):

While [Gingrich] had done an ad in 2008 with then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on addressing climate change, he is another candidate who has since changed his stance.

In the ad, Pelosi notes that the two politicians don’t always see eye to eye. ‘No,’ says Gingrich. ‘But we do agree, our country must take action to address climate change.’

In a radio interview this year, however, he said he regretted doing the ad. ‘I was trying to make a point that we shouldn’t be afraid to debate the left, even on the environment, but obviously it was misconstrued, and that’s one of the things I probably wouldn’t do again.’

He also moved toward the questioning-the-science point of view in an interview last year, saying, ‘I don’t think we’re faced with a crisis of global warming. I think in fact that the scientific data is still very unclear.’

Former Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA):

‘I believe the Earth gets warmer, and I also believe the Earth gets cooler, and I think history points out that it does that,’ he said [during an interview with Rush Limbaugh]. ‘The idea that man… is somehow responsible for climate change, I think is patently absurd.’

For the left, he went on to say, ‘It’s really a beautifully concocted scheme.’

Herman Cain:

‘Man-made global warming is poppycock. I hope I can say that on your show,’ he said. In case that wasn’t clear: ‘In other words, I don’t believe in it.’

Also, TPM reported today that former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (R-MA) appears to be questioning the role of humans in climate change because of apparent pressure from within the GOP. Romney previously said, “I believe the world is getting warmer, and I believe that humans have contributed to that.” However, according to TPM:

‘Do I think the world’s getting hotter? Yeah, I don’t know that but I think that it is,’ Romney told a crowd in New Hampshire Wednesday, according to Reuters. ‘I don’t know if it’s mostly caused by humans.’

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