On Friday’s "Good Morning America," liberal weatherman Sam Champion featured actor/activist Ed Begley Jr. to promote the concept of carbon offsets. The ABC meteorologist gushed over the emotional benefits of this environmental program. He exclaimed, "And you, kind of, pay into them and they fund projects that are doing good work. So you feel better about your energy use by helping create greener energy, basically."
The segment featured no skepticism as to the validity of these offsets. Rather, the tone was set by Champion’s introduction. He lectured, "We just can't help it. But every time we flip on a light switch, we're making pollution..." Later, Mr. Begley excitedly asserted that if enough people purchase carbon offsets, "...Guess what? They're going to shut down power plants."
Carbon offsets work under the dubious notion of paying money towards environmental projects in order to make up for the carbon dioxide that one produces. But neither Begley, nor Champion bothered going into very much detail about how the concept works. Instead, the actor enthused about obscure environmental companies such as "Green Switch" and "TerraPass."
GMA’s meteorologist has a long history of mixing left-wing environmental politics with the day’s forecast. In January, a segment he hosted wondered if "billions" will die from global warming. In April, he lectured viewers about the need to have "green" weddings.
A transcript of Friday’s segment, which aired at 8:32am, follows:
Sam Champion: "We've got our 'just one thing" with Ed Begley Jr. this morning as our guest. But now, We just can't help it. We just can't help it. But every time we flip on a light switch, we're making pollution or you turn on a TV, because all of that electricity comes from, basically, from electricity plants that are fueled by coal burning. Right?"
Ed Begley Jr. (Living With Ed): "Coal is a natural gas, but there's a lot of coal burned in this country to make kilowatts."
Champion: "Let me first say, 'Living with Ed,' your show."
Begley: "Thank you."
Champion: "And also we know you are a green activist. And so, you're going to tell us how we can make a difference if we maybe we do something you're calling carbon offsets. So, explain that for me."
Begley: "What it is that, every American makes about 22 tons of C02 every year. And how could you mitigate that? With a carbon offset. It's a good way to reduce that amount of C02. First thing you do, is you reduce your power usage in your home. Compact fluorescent bulb. Energy saving thermostat. Good insulation. Or you got these power strips that will turn off a whole bunch of--"
Champion: "We love all those ideas."
Begley: "There's a company called Green Switch too that will turn 'em all when you leave your house. A very good way to go with that. Then you figure out what number is, what you're using after you do all these reductions and then you find a way through TerraPass or Native Energies to reduce that number, to offset it by buying green energy out in the marketplace."
Champion: "All right. Now, the reason and you've listed one or two, [To a child in the audience] excuse me darling. You've listed one or two things to tell us about offsetting. Now, how do we know this works? What's the theory here?"
Begley: "There's independent groups that verify. Groups like TerraPass and Native Energy, the ones that do it. You can go to ABC.com. You can go to the EPA website to verify this stuff. But a carbon offset takes the dirty fuel, you've done your reductions at home through Green Switch, through these different things to reduce your power usage. Then you go to Native Energy. You go to TerraPass. And you become carbon neutral."
Champion: "And you kind of pay into them and they fund projects that are doing good work. So you feel better about your energy use by helping create greener energy, basically."
Begley: "And you're not eliminating the power plant usage. That's out there."
Champion: "Right."
Begley: "But you're feeding green kilowatts into the system. And if enough people do that, guess what? They're going to shut down power plants."
Champion: "And, Ed, they can check your website and ABC News.com."
Begley: "Or Living With Ed, LivingwithEd.net."
Champion: "Just to make sure that it's a good organization your doing this with, if your so inclined to do the carbon offset. Ed Begley Jr., thank you so much for helping us out with the whole idea."
Begley: "Yep. Thank you so much."
Champion: "It makes sense when it comes from you."
—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.
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Comments Policy
I want to know if the
September 17, 2007 - 14:45 ET by Dan The Man 2I want to know if the little light on the fridge goes off and was really worried about it. So I kept opening the door every few seconds to make sure, did this for 10 hours last night and will do it til I find out. Afetr all I dont want to pay the carbon credits to keep the light buring if no one is using it. I wonder if it will take me months of doing this?
Do you think they will turn off the power plants? I wondr how much power they use and the carbon credits they need to keep going? Perhaps to save energy we might turn them off, after all the enviroment will be better off for it.
We should make laws that we turn off all power plants by 2020.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
We just can't help it. But
September 17, 2007 - 14:55 ET by dscottWe just can't help it. But every time we flip on a light switch, we're making pollution
Hate to break it to you Ed, but that would be Al Gore, he flips one switch in his mansion and it's basically equal to one average American Household. He uses 20 times the electricity of the average American Household in one of his four mansions. Talk to Al and the other rich people (15 million) who consume half of all US residential electricity before you try to lay a guilt trip on the rest of us.
dscott's postulate: The degree to which someone exaggerates or deceives is inversely proportional to the merit of the advocated position.
I am sick of emotions
September 17, 2007 - 14:58 ET by kdoliverWhat is it with liberals and woman (my wife) that makes emotions a better a reason for doing something than fact and knowledge? I am so sick and tired of feelings. If we all dealt in facts then the left would totally disappear because their view are not based on anything but an emotional response to a problem or issue. If my wife dealt in facts, I may not get in trouble for saying logic trumps emotions. :)
http://thelazytriathlete.blogspot.com/
Get a load of Ed's and ABC's Target Audience
September 17, 2007 - 14:59 ET by Lame CherryWhat kind of absolute mental liberal retards are Ed and ABC promoting this too as their audience. I started laughing as their math of DIRTY minus CLEAN equals CARBON NEUTERAL.
That kind of math does not even end up even in cartoon utopia. Ed should change his name to Mr. Ed as he spent allot of money on this ad campaign which states if you start out dirty and take the CLEAN away you will be ahead.
So Ed Begley is saying polluting the planet is the way to save it.
These people are all morons.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
But every time we flip on a
September 17, 2007 - 15:01 ET by Free ThinkerBut every time we flip on a light switch, we're making pollution or you turn on a TV,
I feel better by not watching this garbage in the morning, who knew I was also saving the planet.
As for carbon offsets, I have a lockbox full of them in my garage and I am willing to sell them to anyone if it makes you feel better.
Free, I just print them off
September 17, 2007 - 15:07 ET by bassndudeFree, I just print them off as I need them. Saves storage room.
Save a SeAL, club a liberal!!
Scott. Obscure?
September 17, 2007 - 15:10 ET by Gary HallScott, are you sure that this was transcribed correctly? My goodness, no matter that "Greenswitch" and "Terapass" are obsure; the entire exchange was obsure to the concept of an intelligent exchange.
No, Wrong. Coal provides 22.6% of US energy production.
Next:
"Let me first say.. " Did Champion say anything? Obvioulsy Begley accepted the complement - what ever it was.
OK, I give -- I cannot find a single exchange between the two of them that actually say anything of substance. Can anyone? Here's one more:
"That's out there." -- Right? What is out there? Is it going to get me at night?
And then, did Sam call Ed, "darling?"
Oh my.
Hey Gary, yeah, that's what
September 17, 2007 - 15:17 ET by Scott WhitlockHey Gary, yeah, that's what he said. As for the "that's out there," he meant the power plant useage. The darling comment is in reference to a child who, off camera, is apparently in Champion's way.
Well then, perhaps..
September 17, 2007 - 15:23 ET by Gary HallWell then, perhaps.. they could have just given the child the mic. Maybe she'd made a bit of sense. Hee hee.
Ha! Good, one Gary. Yes, it
September 17, 2007 - 15:25 ET by Scott WhitlockHa! Good, one Gary. Yes, it might have made more sense that way!
Ok Ok...
September 17, 2007 - 15:14 ET by MightyMouthI am trying to get a handle on this "carbon offset" thing.
So I use and pay for "dirty" energy, right?
And then I pay for, but don't use "clean" energy (the offset), right?
So doesn't that mean my energy cost has doubled?
What moron would do that?
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
Not so fast Ed.
September 17, 2007 - 15:27 ET by Dave in Texas"And if enough people do that, guess what? They're going to shut down power plants."
Well... maybe not. Clean Coal Plants Qualify for Kyoto Carbon Offsets.
I'd love to know what kind of politics went on behind the scenes for that idea to get approved. I thought coal was supposed to be the evilist of evils that ever eviled.
Sounds like it was love at
September 17, 2007 - 15:50 ET by RackieSounds like it was love at first sight with these two dipwads.
Mr. Begley excitedly
September 17, 2007 - 16:33 ET by Mark FinkelsteinMr. Begley excitedly asserted that if enough people purchase carbon offsets, "...Guess what? They're going to shut down power plants."
Right. And Tinker Bell won't die if all the kids in the audience shout "I believe in fairies."
Carbon credits
September 17, 2007 - 17:00 ET by SlicksterI work in the energy conservation industry and the whole carbon credits BS is a 100% snake oil scam. The carbon credits industry take the money and pockets it, Wind, solar,
etc technology has not progressed anywhere near the point of being able to supply the output of a single power plant in America. It's all bullshit and algore is lining his pockets.
B.S.
September 17, 2007 - 17:23 ET by iveseenitallRight on, Slidster. It's all bullshit. Speaking of math--are "liberals" 90% bullshit and 10% hypocrisy or is it the other way around? Or is it 100% of each? I always forget...damn.
NEVER,NEVER trust a "liberal"
}}---> Tinkerbell died?
September 17, 2007 - 17:32 ET by Cool ArrowNobody told me he died. Why just today NewsBusters had a thread about him not going on the View.
~LYDSEXICS UNTIE!~
I think these two...
September 17, 2007 - 17:26 ET by krismcsherry.....smoked a cigarette afterwards, green or not.
"Coal is a natural gas, but there's a lot of coal burned in this country to make kilowatts."
WOW!
So you feel better about your energy use by helping create greener energy, basically."
Why would I feel bad about something I pay hard-earned money for every month? Sheesh. What planet do these guys come from?
"What's the theory here?"
He got that right. Theory. A bad one.
Champion: "It makes sense when it comes from you."
Yeah cuz on this one Begley's out of his mind. Whoever said this conversation was nearly unintelligible---you're right. It's like watching a couple of four year olds talk about their new toy truck.
Mark F
September 17, 2007 - 17:29 ET by krismcsherry"Right. And Tinker Bell won't die if all the kids in the audience shout "I believe in fairies."
LOL. Good one.
Great
September 17, 2007 - 17:46 ET by buddycGreat perspective.
This is typical "feel good"/accomplish nothing way of dealing with issues. This is just not a rational reasonable approach to a problem that they claim to be significant.
P.T.Barnum missed a great
September 17, 2007 - 17:46 ET by Conservative_in_mass.P.T.Barnum missed a great opportunity when he didn't come up with the illusion of "carbon offsets."
A sucker born every minute? If he saw these moonbats in action he would have changed that slogan to one every ten seconds.
The early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. ~ Unknown
Hmm.. livingwithed.net,
September 17, 2007 - 18:29 ET by ondskapHmm.. livingwithed.net, sounds like a support site for people taking cialis.
Living without? E.D.?
September 17, 2007 - 22:05 ET by Cool ArrowNow that was funny ondscap
Wow--what a maroon!
September 17, 2007 - 19:08 ET by Carbon SasquatchMr Begley usually plays a bit of a dufus. Even when portraying
an educated character on a show such as St Elsewhere he's always got
some socially awkward/naive personality flaws. All this time I
thought he was acting!
So, his scenario goes like this--He turns
on the lights, Con-Ed burns a lump of coal and bills him an exorbitant
price per kWh. Believing he is not doing enough, Mr Begley pays
an additional amount to a scammer who tells him there is a tree planted
in Africa (on previously productive farmland which was feeding
subsistance villagers.) The tree takes in CO2, releases the
oxygen and traps the carbon in its cellulosic structure (until it is
burned or dies and rots, releasing the carbon back into the
atmosphere.) Umm...where in this picture does Con-Ed shut down
its coal fired power plant?
what a waste of money carbon offsets are
September 17, 2007 - 21:23 ET by lunaticcringeradiowow think of all the needy children or others out there that liberals could be donating to that would really help people instead of buying off these carbon offsets just to assuage their guilt. what a waste. anytime you see someone buying carbon credits, they are saying i still pollute, but i can afford it. so they really don't care about the environment. they are throwing money at a bogeyman agenda so they can look good, they are doing it for good press to the myrmidons out there. i got an idea, how about give their money to something worth while like the children of soldiers lost in the war, or maybe buy some of that armor that they say our troops don't have. oh but god forbid we actually try and win the war. no they want to end it, another word for losing.
lunaticcringeradio
Another example of liberal
September 18, 2007 - 04:14 ET by USA4freedomAnother example of liberal guilt.
So if funerals you wear black for.. morning.
White for.. purity in weddings.
Green for weddings.. idiots!
These are the boys of Pointe du Hoc.
Ronald Reagan- 40th Anniversary of D-Day
Why do people listen to these poorly educated Celebrities?
September 18, 2007 - 06:55 ET by PopularTechEducation of those who believe in "Man-Made" Global Warming Theory:
Celebrities:
Alanis Morissette, High School Diploma
Alicia Keys, College Dropout
Alicia Silverstone, High School Dropout
Art Bell, College Dropout
Ben Affleck, College Dropout
Ben Stiller, College Dropout
Bill Maher, B.A. English (no science degree)
Billy Jean King, College Dropout
Bono (Paul Hewson), High School Diploma
Brad Pitt, College Dropout
Cameron Diaz, High School Dropout
Daryl Hanna, B.F.A. Theater (no science degree)
Diane Keaton, College Dropout
Drew Barrymore, High School Dropout
Ed Begley Jr., High School Diploma
George Clooney, College Dropout
Gwyneth Paltrow, College Dropout
Jackson Browne, High School Diploma
Jason Biggs, College Dropout
John Travolta, High School Dropout
Jon Bon Jovi (John Bongiovi), High School Diploma
Joshua Jackson, High School Dropout
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, College Dropout
Julia Roberts, College Dropout
Keanu Reeves, High School Dropout
Kevin Bacon, High School Dropout
Kiefer Sutherland, High School Dropout
Leonardo DiCaprio, High School Dropout
Madonna (Madonna Ciccone), College Dropout
Matt Damon, College Dropout
Michael Moore, College Dropout
Nicole Richie, College Dropout
Olivia Newton-John, High School Dropout
Oprah Winfrey, B.A. Speech and Drama (no science degree)
Orlando Bloom, High School Dropout, B.A. Drama (no science degree)
Paris Hilton, High School Dropout
Pierce Brosnan. High School Dropout
Queen Latifah (Dana Elaine Owens), College Dropout
Richard Branson, High School Dropout
Robert Redford, College Dropout
Sarah Silverman, College Dropout
Sean Penn, College Dropout
Sheryl Crow, B.A. Music Education (no science degree)
Sienna Miller, High School Diploma
Willie Nelson, High School Dropout + College Dropout
The Anti "Man-Made" Global Warming Resource
Yeah
September 18, 2007 - 09:02 ET by krismcsherryPopular Tech's drop-out list is back! Keep postin' it. Maybe some celebrity worshipper will find their honey on it and let go of the illusion.
If we didnt turn on tv's and
September 18, 2007 - 09:19 ET by misterbee241If we didnt turn on tvs and watch Champion's drivel, what would he do for a living?
I know - he'd be standing by the road with a sign - homeless will work for food.
These people scare the bloody h*** out of me.