Gibson Pushes Palin to Concede Global Warming 'Man-Made'

Gibson Pushes Palin to Concede Global Warming 'Man-Made'

By Brent Baker (Bio | Archive)
September 12, 2008 - 00:32 ET

ABC's Charles Gibson pressed Sarah Palin repeatedly, in a fresh interview excerpt aired on Thursday's "Nightline," to cry uncle and concede global warming is “man-made” -- but even when she did he wasn't satisfied and pushed for more of a mea culpa. "Nightline," which made “War, God and Oil” the on-screen header for excerpts from Gibson's interviews, began with a slightly longer version of what "World News" carried earlier, mostly about foreign policy, followed by new video from a second interview Gibson conducted as the two walked alongside the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline.

Gibson presumed not believing global warming is “man-made” is some kind of shameful oddity as he wondered: “Do you still believe that global warming is not man-made?” Palin offered that “I believe that man's activities certainly can be contributing to the issue of global warming,” but that wasn't enough for Gibson, who held up John McCain as the oracle and lectured:

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“But it's a critical point as to whether or not this is man-made. He says it is. You have said in the past it's not.” To which Palin promised “John McCain and I are gonna be working on what we do about it.” Still not satisfied, Gibson argued: “Yes, but isn't it critical as to whether or not it's man-made, because what you do about it depends on whether its man-made?” Palin repeated herself (“That is why I'm attributing some of man's activities to potentially causing some of the changes in the climate”), which finally led Gibson, “color me a cynic,” to gloat “it sounds to me like you're adapting your position to Senator McCain's.”

Palin, the Republican VP nominee, rejected his premise:

I think you are a cynic because show me where I have ever said that there's absolute proof that nothing that man has ever conducted or engaged in has had any affect, or no affect, on climate change?

Gibson moved on to how Palin and McCain “agree to disagree” on drilling in ANWR. Will Gibson ever push McCain to adapt to Palin's pro-drilling position?

Anchor Martin Bashir introduced the program:

War, God and Oil: What does this relative unknown, who soon could be just a heartbeat from the presidency, think about the key issues facing America today?

ABCNews.com transcript of most of what aired on Nightline from Gibson's second interview with Palin.

My earlier NewsBusters post, “Gibson Accuses Palin of 'Hubris' and Seeing Iraq as 'a Holy War,'” with a complete rundown of what aired on Thursday's "World News" which was from Gibson's first session with Palin -- the same interview with which Nightline started.

What aired on the September 11 Nightline from Gibson's interview with Palin conducted as the two walked beside the oil pipeline near Fairbanks, picking up after Gibson asked her about where her proposed gas pipeline would run:

CHARLES GIBSON: Let me talk a little bit about environmental policy, because this interfaces with energy policy and you have some significant differences with John McCain. Do you still believe that global warming is not man-made?

SARAH PALIN: I believe that man's activities certainly can be contributing to the issue of global warming, climate change. Here in Alaska, the only arctic state in our union, of course, we see the effects of climate change more so than any other area with ice pack melting. Regardless, though, of the reason for climate change, whether it's entirely, wholly caused by man's activities or is part of the cyclical nature of our planet -- the warming and the cooling trends -- regardless of that, John McCain and I agree that we gotta do something about it and we have to make sure that we're doing all we can to cut down on pollution.

GIBSON: But it's a critical point as to whether or not this is man-made. He says it is. You have said in the past it's not.

PALIN: The debate on that even, really has evolved into, okay, here's where we are now: scientists do show us that there are changes in climate. Things are getting warmer. Now what do we do about it. And John McCain and I are gonna be working on what we do about it.

GIBSON: Yes, but isn't it critical as to whether or not it's man-made, because what you do about it depends on whether its man-made?

PALIN: That is why I'm attributing some of man's activities to potentially causing some of the changes in the climate right now.

GIBSON: But I, color me a cynic, but I hear a little bit of change in your policy there. When you say, yes, now you're beginning to say it is man-made. It sounds to me like you're adapting your position to Sen. McCain's.

PALIN: I think you are a cynic because show me where I have ever said that there's absolute proof that nothing that man has ever conducted or engaged in has had any affect, or no affect, on climate change?

GIBSON: ANWR. You favor drilling in the Arctic National Refuge. He does not.

PALIN: I sure do.

GIBSON: You changed him on that? He changing you?

PALIN: I'm going to keep working on that one with him. ANWR, of course, is a 2,000-acre swath of land in the middle of about a 20 million-acre swath of land. Two-thousand acres that we're asking the feds to unlock so that there can be exploration and development.

GIBSON: So, you'll agree to disagree on ANWR?

PALIN: That's exactly right. We'll agree to disagree, but I'm gonna keep pushing that, and I think, eventually, we're all gonna come together on that one.

—Brent Baker is Vice President for Research and Publications at the Media Research Center

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She did not get the memo?

September 12, 2008 - 00:56 ET by JWF

PALIN: The debate on that...

But Al Gore says the debate is closed!

I think we need to ask Gibson the set of questions Penn Jilette has come up with. The debate really boils down to his questions.

Is it happening?

Did we cause it?

Is it bad?

Can we fix it?

Is government-forced conservation the only way to fix it?

Nope.

September 12, 2008 - 01:42 ET by Schnikeys

She never conceded that global warming was man-made.

The closest she got was when she said "That is why I'm attributing some of man's activities to potentially causing some of the changes in the climate right now."

potential
(adj.)

Capable of being but not yet in existence; latent: a potential problem.
Having possibility, capability, or power.
Grammar Of, relating to, or being a verbal construction with auxiliaries such as may or can; for example, it may snow.

Basically all she said was "Maybe, maybe not."

I wish she would have said "Bite me" to Chuck McGibbz as well.

------------------------------------------------------------

"My morality is your morality."

"Bite me"

September 12, 2008 - 03:49 ET by IamTinman

Would have been the appropriate response!

LOL-Somebody needs to send Charlie a link to Noel's blog.

September 12, 2008 - 01:14 ET by R D Helm

"Global Warming" isn't even occuring.

-Dave.

S/he gave a qualified

September 12, 2008 - 01:15 ET by Delsa

Maybe.

she does nit think for one moment that MAN is causing anything. BUT in an effort to be polite, she said, "That is why I'm attributing some of man's activities to potentially causing some of the changes in the climate right now."

I had to work and therefore missed the interview.

I will be interested to see what the NewsBuster crew think.

Alaska oil pipeline, great view. max 2 million BBL a day

September 12, 2008 - 01:34 ET by upcountrywater

Reading this, Palin did fine just fine..

Gibson did poor and so very climate crisis predictable

Fun Alaskan Pipeline facts

Liberals62%

IranianUranium

Oil pipeline

September 12, 2008 - 01:41 ET by Schnikeys

So this doesn't make sense. The average throughput per day is the lowest it's ever been since the pipeline's first year of operation, but the cumulative throughput at end of year is the highest it's ever been?

------------------------------------------------------------

"My morality is your morality."

S, You are looking at the total oil flow, history, look at the

September 12, 2008 - 01:55 ET by upcountrywater

second chart, that's the yearly flow.. Less oil to pump, hence drill more, lots of room in the pipe for more oil.

More fun facts pipeline

Liberals62%

IranianUranium

Quit picking on Charlie!

September 12, 2008 - 03:12 ET by mastersofdeceit

Quit picking on Charlie!

He's a fair, hard hitter. Why remember way way back in June when he totally went after Obama? You remember :

ABC's World News, questions posed to Obama by Charles Gibson

Senator, I'm curious about your feelings last night. It was an historic moment. Has it sunk in yet?

What did she [Obama's grandmother] say?

The public moments are not your own, but when everybody clears out, the staff is gone, you're in the hotel room at night, and you're alone, do you say to yourself, "Son of a gun, I've done this"?

John McCain has issued an invitation to do a series of town meetings through the summer, one a week. Going to do it?(Oooops. I guess that would umm, uha you know, be a NO Charlie)

And finally, your daughters, what do they say to you? Do they take it as a matter of course that Daddy could be nominated to be President?

(The kids are off limits! Did no one tell charlie?)

I haven't seen the full interview yet, just heard some sound bites. But I can't wait to hear the part where he talked about Palin's Historic Nomination and how the family felt about it and what they had to say, especially Sarah's grandmother.

Oh wait.

Wow tough questions.

September 12, 2008 - 03:22 ET by well99

Charlie did forget to ask if he needed coffee or danish.I just have to shake my head.

Or a waffle! or a backrub

September 12, 2008 - 03:37 ET by mastersofdeceit

Or a waffle!

or a backrub and if he needed another pillow. : )

No Wonder

September 12, 2008 - 03:53 ET by IamTinman

No wonder Barack seems distracted after the verbal thrashing Charlie gave him! He needs some time off to recover, lets say 4 years or so.

Notice how he talks to Barack.

September 12, 2008 - 04:03 ET by well99

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAEnu89dxCY

Notice his demeanor and tone.I could be wrong but with Sara he seemed confrontational.

completely confrontational

September 12, 2008 - 08:39 ET by mbuel

Palin was giving him answers that were contrary to his worldview, and that is why he kept asking the same questions verbatim. Like the god one. She answered it brilliantly, but he kept pounding her on it. He doesn't like the idea that our rights come from god.

Palin has accomplished great things, while Obama has continued to make empty promises that the world owes you a living.

His questioning reminded me

September 12, 2008 - 05:10 ET by IgnatzJFahrquar

His questioning reminded me of when my kids were in the back seat on a long trip:

"Are we there yet?"

"No"

"Are we there yet?"

"No"

"Are we there yet?"

"No"

She gave clear answers and if he didn't like it, he'd just ask it again and again and again.

Thanks Chuck for helping on the media bias issue. You don't think Hannity won't pull your fluffer piece with B Hussein from the archives for a comparison?

"All generalizations are false, including this one.” Mark Twain

Sorry Charlie!

September 12, 2008 - 05:15 ET by Crash

We've already headed back into a cooling trend. The best we can do is cause heat islands ... where liberals love to cluster like rats. Not to mention the scientists are still changing their flawed methodology:

http://wattsupwithth...

Someone should tell Charles

September 12, 2008 - 05:37 ET by tater

Someone should tell Charles that global warming isn't caused by man...but by the sun.

Carbon Dioxide, methane, etc. are doing little if any effect to the planet. In fact what we pump into the air with CO2 isn't some new carbon dioxide...we are just taking it from the ground, putting it in the air, and the oceans are taking it back in.

www.theholyrosary.org

"There is no problem, I tell you, no matter how difficult it is, that we can not resolve by the prayer of the Holy Rosary." -Sister Lucia

Cynic?

September 12, 2008 - 05:49 ET by ThisnThat

What she said:

PALIN: I think you are a cynic

What she was thinking:

PALIN: I think you're a fool, a blowhard, and completely in the tank for Obama. I can't believe I'm talking with a 3rd-grader, charlie -- when I give you an answer, It's my answer, you dumbass.

___________________________________

If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber

That glacier is back

September 12, 2008 - 06:24 ET by Mica the Magnificent

While Charlie is up there in Alaska, he should visit that glacier that made the news couple of years ago. The one where the global warmists showed the glacier in a 1930-something photo and again in 2005, how it 'retreated' and basically disappeared.

Or so the MSM would have you believe.

Watching the Travel Channel a week or so ago, they had a Cruise to Alaska segment.

Guess what? One of the stops the cruise ship made was the glacier.

And there it was, as high and wide and deep as ever. This segment was filmed in 2007.

Too bad I didn't tape it, I would have sent it to Gibson, Gore, Moore, the usual suspects.

Hey Charlie, can you explain this?

Only a liberal would think that running mates have to agree 100%

September 12, 2008 - 07:17 ET by c5then

Because the liberals don't hold any really unchangeable thoughts, they assume that no one else does either. So to them, political allies should agree on 100% of the issues all the time.

That's why Biden is changing his positions on some matters to match with the ones taken by Obama. That's why Kerry's famous 'I was for it before I was against it' made perfect sense to the liberals.

Isn't is ironic that the climate change alarmists keep holding on to the data that is 10 years old and trying to ignore the more recent data that contradicts their argument?

The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic. Let's get it back! Alan Keyes '08.

Come on Charlie, the evidence is becoming irrefutable…

September 12, 2008 - 08:05 ET by JohnMcGrew

…that “global warming” is even happening anymore. Even the Old Farmers Almanac is predicting cooling for “the next 50 years”. In the first time for nearly a century, there was not a single sunspot recorded last month. (The sun impacting the amount of heat on the Earth’s surface? What kind of flat-earth wacko would correlate that?)

If we’re supposed to be warming the planet, we’re doing a pretty poor job of it. Perhaps all those expensive modifications on Al Gore’s house are actually working.

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2008-09-09-farmers-almanac_N.htm

Now that a "real" newsperson has had a go at the Gov...

September 12, 2008 - 08:15 ET by Thalpy

Now that a "real" newsperson has had a go at the Gov., where does it leave us? When we see Charles Gibson quizzing Gov. Palin, essentially using the battle themes of the Democrat Party, does our Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton, come to mind? Hamilton thought that "the liberty of the press consists in the right to publish with impunity Truth with good motives for justifiable ends though reflecting on government, magistracy, or individuals." What are the motives of Charles Gibson? What is his Truth?

Hear the GIANT SUCKING sound of Votes leaving BHO

September 12, 2008 - 08:40 ET by JayTee

Gee, Does Palin have a better Energy policy than BHO's Tire AIR for OIL approach on energy ?
The Republican Revolution will not be Televised

Sarah

September 12, 2008 - 09:43 ET by NorthCoaster

really matches "consensus" thought on Global Warming. Anyone who truly considers the science represented as Climate Change, understands that there is a human component. The deepest discussions are about what the current climate cycle represents as far as cause and effect. It makes complete sense to limit pollution as much as reasonably possible but to define the generation of CO2 as producing a pollutant is patently rediculous. More CO2 is generated naturally than the miniscule amount added by man.

I will not listen to your

September 12, 2008 - 11:18 ET by wiwf

I will not listen to your religion of global warming!!!

The Rocky Mountain Collegian: Illustrating Idiocy

there's a "human

September 12, 2008 - 11:26 ET by TruthMonger

there's a "human component"
and an animal component
and a geological component
and the sun works it's way in there sometimes
and only God knows what else
usually the taxpayers have to pay research profs billions of dollars in studies for this kind of break-through information

Regulating CO2

September 12, 2008 - 12:36 ET by JohnMcGrew

There is no aspect of your life, from the moment you are conceived until long after you’re dead and buried that does not involve converting matter into CO2. Once government bureaucracies gets the power to regulate the emission of CO2, there is absolutely no activity that you partake in life that will not be subject to regulating by people you’ve never seen, heard of, or voted for. Sure, today they talk about regulating politically-incorrect activities such as owning SUVs and jetting off to the Bahamas. But once those carbon-spewing evils are vanquished, what will be next? Sooner or later, they will work their way down to either some activity that you enjoy in your life, or worse, some activity that represents your livelihood.

what will the plants think

September 12, 2008 - 17:32 ET by mbuel

They have rights to.

And they breathe the CO2 we produce. I can't wait till the plant lobby sues to have us keep producing CO2.

Palin has accomplished great things, while Obama has continued to make empty promises that the world owes you a living.

Dialog

September 12, 2008 - 15:17 ET by deerjerkydave

Gibson: "Do you still refuse to drink the man made climate change kool aid?"

Palin: "Pretty much."

Gibson: "C'mon, drink it!"

Palin: "No thanks."

Gibson: "Drink it G-- d--- you!"

It's clear that Gibson has

September 12, 2008 - 21:19 ET by celator

It's clear that Gibson has drunk the Gore kool-aid. That's how bright this professional idiot is.

The major media report only half the news. Why are they surprised they have only half the potential audience?

Hmmm, I wonder if Gibson

September 12, 2008 - 21:30 ET by Clear thinker

Hmmm, I wonder if Gibson supports this guys idea...

What you need is some sort of website that provides a central database of deniers. That way, anyone who wants to can check on the denial status of a particular individual.
Maybe this need congressional investigation. Call people before the House Un-Environmental Activities Commission and find out why they think man-made global warming is fake, and who else they know that also denies it. This could be especially effective if you throw AGW deniers in jail, as David Suzuki suggests.”
— Posted by J.

Hating Sarah Palin - Hollywood Style

Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/

I'm watching the ABC

September 12, 2008 - 21:33 ET by Free Stinker

I'm watching the ABC interview, and I have to say that Charlie Gibson is a weasel.

Does a mostly fair interview, but keeps falling back to his primary role of Obama Campaign Support.

»→ Gibson Weasel

September 12, 2008 - 21:38 ET by Cool Arrow

I know it's silly, but why isn't The Big Dig the poster child of earmark spending.

How many $Billion was that again.

We went thataway »→

But, but, but, the big dig

September 12, 2008 - 21:40 ET by Free Stinker

But, but, but, the big dig was an important public works project!

/Sarcasm Off

Yikes!!! Lenin would be

September 12, 2008 - 21:35 ET by celator

Yikes!!!

Lenin would be proud!!! Very scary stuff CT. Whenever I hear "central data base", I know it's time to run to my little log camp deep in the woods.

The major media report only half the news. Why are they surprised they have only half the potential audience?

celator...

September 12, 2008 - 21:42 ET by Clear thinker

The scary part is... there are other Gore fanatics that support this idea. One guy, no big deal. A movement, time to lock and load!

These are the idiots I highlight on my blog (most of the time). And there are thousands of them.

Hating Sarah Palin - Hollywood Style

Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/

Good for Gibson

September 12, 2008 - 21:17 ET by BaxterJ

Good for Gibson for holding her feet to the fire but also allowing her the opportunity to explain her position.

Gibson=

September 12, 2008 - 22:24 ET by HillbillyKing

Dumb@ss. That's right, Chuck is a dumb@ss. Like a typical dumb@ss, Chuck believe's in man-made global warming. You know, if I thought Chuck could comprehend anything remotely scientific in nature, then I would suggest he read the following links and learn that that is just not the case.

From:

http://newsbusters.o...

Climate Audit (Stephen McIntyre, B.Sc. Mathematics, Canada)
ICECAP (International Climate and Environmental Change Assessment Project, USA)
Junk Science (Steve Milloy, B.A. Natural Sciences, M.S. Health Sciences, USA)
Planet Gore (National Review Online)
The Reference Frame (Luboš Motl, Ph.D. Theoretical Physicist, Czech Republic)
Watts Up With That? (Anthony Watts, Meteorologist, USA)
- SurfaceStations.org

Scientists:
Benny Peiser (Benny Peiser, Ph.D. Professor of Social Anthropology, UK)
- Cambridge Conference Network (CCNet)
Climate Police (Joseph Conklin, M.S. Meteorology, USA)
Climate Science (Roger A. Pielke (Sr.), Ph.D. Meteorology, USA)
Climate Skeptic (Warren Meyer, B.S. Mechanical Engineering, USA)
CO2 Web (Tom V. Segalstad, Ph.D. Professor of Environmental Geology, Norway)
Comment & Information on Climate Change (Robert (Bob) M. Carter, B.Sc. Geology, Ph.D. Paleontology, Australia)
EcoMyths (Graham Smith, Associate Professor of Geography, Canada)
Global Warming Comments (Hans Erren, M.Sc. Geophysics, The Netherlands)
Global Warming Issues (John McLean, Climate Data Analyst, Australia)
Global Warming Politics (Philip Stott, Professor Emeritus of Biogeography, UK)
Greenie Watch (John J. Ray, Ph.D. Psychology, Australia)
Johnston's Archive - Environmental Topics (Wm. Robert Johnston, B.A. Astronomy, M.S. Physics, USA)
Number Watch (John Brignell, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Electronics & Computer Science, UK)
Prometheus - The Science Policy Blog (Roger A. Pielke (Jr.), Ph.D. Political Science, USA)
Ross McKitrick (Ross McKitrick, Ph.D. Economics, Canada)
Science & Environmental Policy Project (S. Fred Singer, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Environmental Sciences, USA)
ScienceBits (Nir J. Shaviv, Ph.D. Astrophysicist, Israel)
Science is Broken (Gary Novak, M.S. Microbiology, USA)
The Global Warming Challenge (J. Scott Armstrong, B.A. Applied Science, B.S. Industrial Engineering, Ph.D. MIT, USA)
The Politics and Environment Blog (Jennifer Marohasy, Ph.D. Biology, Australia)
William M. Briggs (William M. Briggs, B.S. Meteorology and Math, M.S. Atmospheric Science, Ph.D. Statistics, USA)
World Climate Report (Patrick J. Michaels, Ph.D. Ecological Climatology, USA)