Pat Sajak Newest Climate Denial Scientist May 21, 2014

Readers have probably heard by now that game show host Pat Sajak is the newest authority to weigh in for climate denial. (hey, when you’re on the denial side, you go with what you got)

This fits well with the denialist meme of the “thousands of scientists” (see classic crock video above) who supposedly deny the mainstream science. On closer examination, we find that vanishingly few of the supposed scientists are in fact scientists, and of those, fewer still have any expertise, study, or published work in the field. I’ll give Sajak the benefit of the doubt and presume that he has a college degree, which makes him, like Heartland Institute’s James Taylor, “a trained scientist”, on the strength of some undergrad 101 courses.

In denierville, if you are a chiropractor, you’re also a climate scientist. Podiatrist? Climate scientist. Veteranarian? Climate scientist. Like I said, you go with what you got.

Greenpeace blog:

SHOWTIME’s Years of Living Dangerously series just aired a segment featuring James Taylor, a lawyer who has been paid to confuse the public over the reality of climate change, its causes, and its impact on humanity. The Heartland Institute, where James Taylor works, is know for alienating its corporate supporters by comparing people like you and me–assuming you recognize the reality of climate change–to the Unabomber, Charles Manson, and Osama bin Laden. I wish I was joking, but I’m not. The joke was on James Taylor, last night. Taylor made an easily disprovable boast to America Ferrera, claiming, “I’m a scientist by training as well,” apparently in addition to his law degree.

