UPDATE5: 5/5/10:30AM Donna Laframboise pulls out of the conference.
http://nofrakkingconsensus.com/2012/05/05/why-i-wont-be-speaking-at-the-heartland-conference/
Instead, those of us who had accepted Heartland’s invitation to take part in its conference found ourselves blindsided – a mere two weeks before the conference is set to begin – by a torrent of negative press. Suddenly, we were all publicly linked to an organization that thinks it’s OK to equate people concerned about climate change with psychopaths.
Blindsided is right. AFAIK, not one attendee was given the courtesy of weighing in on the billboard campaign beforehand, and if I had been given that courtesy my answer would have been a resounding NO. Instead, I believe we all got the notice after the fact.
UPDATE4: 7PM PST Heartland issues a press release ending the billboard
May 4, 2012 – The Heartland Institute has pulled its global warming billboard starring Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber whose manifesto expressed his belief in catastrophic man-caused global warming. The digital billboard ran for exactly 24 hours along the Eisenhower Expressway near Chicago in the suburb of Maywood, Illinois.
The following statement by Heartland Institute President Joseph Bast may be used for attribution. For more information, please contact Director of Communications Jim Lakely at jlakely@heartland.org or 312-377-4000.
“This provocative billboard was always intended to be an experiment. And after just 24 hours the results are in: It got people’s attention.
“This billboard was deliberately provocative, an attempt to turn the tables on the climate alarmists by using their own tactics but with the opposite message. We found it interesting that the ad seemed to evoke reactions more passionate than when leading alarmists compare climate realists to Nazis or declare they are imposing on our children a mass death sentence. We leave it to others to determine why that is so.
“The Heartland Institute doesn’t often do ‘provocative’ communication. In fact, we’ve spent 15 years presenting the economic and scientific arguments that counter global warming alarmism. No one has worked harder, or better, on that task than Heartland. We will continue to do that – especially at our next International Conference on Climate Change in Chicago from May 21 – 23.
“Heartland has spent millions of dollars contributing to the real debate over climate change, and $200 for a one-day digital billboard. In return, we’ve been subjected to the most uncivil name-calling and disparagement you can possibly imagine from climate alarmists. The other side of the climate debate seems to be playing by different rules. This experiment produced further proof of that.
“We know that our billboard angered and disappointed many of Heartland’s friends and supporters, but we hope they understand what we were trying to do with this experiment. We do not apologize for running the ad, and we will continue to experiment with ways to communicate the ‘realist’ message on the climate.”
========================================================
UPDATE3: 3:15PM PST I saw this private letter to Joe Bast earlier from Ross McKitrick, and I agreed with Ross in a reply. He has posted it on Climate Audit so I’ll share an excerpt here:
He wrote: “This kind of fallacious, juvenile and inflammatory rhetoric does nothing to enhance your reputation…”
“…hands your opponents a huge stick to beat you with, and sullies the reputation of the speakers you had recruited. Any public sympathy you had built up as a result of the Gleick fiasco will be lost–and more besides–as a result of such a campaign. I urge you to withdraw it at once.”.
UPDATE2: 1PM PST
From Joe Bast via email:
We will stop running it at 4:00 p.m. CST today. (It’s a digital billboard, so a simple phone call is all it takes.)
UPDATE: I’ve added a simple poll at the bottom to gauge opinion on this issue. – Anthony
There’s a disturbance in the farce. Tom Nelson captures these:
Do you believe global warming is real, poses risks to the environment, and needs to be addressed? The Heartland Institute, a think-tank based in Chicago which has promoted climate skepticism, wants you to know you’re in some sinister company.
Twitter / @eilperin: In new ads, the Heartland …
In new ads, the Heartland Institute suggests only terrorists believe in the link b/w human activity and global warming: wapo.st/IOUuEI
Predictably, ThinkProgress/Climate Progress is all bent out of shape.
But Joe Romm and Brad Johnson (who now also runs “Forecast the Facts” to hassle TV weatherpeople) think nothing of making a similar comparison about “deniers”.
Speaking of “mass murderers and madmen”….
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2011/07/25/277564/norway-terrorist-is-a-global-warming-denier/
Romm of course will be unable to embrace his own hypocrisy, because he’s reportedly paid a six figure sum by the Center for American Progress to write the hateful detritus he produces daily.
That said, I’ll be blunt; I think Heartland’s billboard campaign is a huge misstep, and does nothing but piss people off and divide the debate further. IMHO it isn’t going to win any converts, and had they asked me I would have told them that it is a bad idea that will backfire on them.
Here’s what they have issued in a press release about it:
May 03, 2012May 3, 2012 – Billboards in Chicago paid for by The Heartland Institute point out that some of the world’s most notorious criminals say they “still believe in global warming” – and ask viewers if they do, too.
Heartland’s first digital billboard – along the inbound Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) in Maywood – is the latest effort by the free-market think tank to inform the public about what it views as the collapsing scientific, political, and public support for the theory of man-made global warming. It is also reminding viewers of the questionable ethics of global warming’s most prominent proponents.
“The most prominent advocates of global warming aren’t scientists,” said Heartland’s president, Joseph Bast. “They are Charles Manson, a mass murderer; Fidel Castro, a tyrant; and Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber. Global warming alarmists include Osama bin Laden and James J. Lee (who took hostages inside the headquarters of the Discovery Channel in 2010).
Bast added, “The leaders of the global warming movement have one thing in common: They are willing to use force and fraud to advance their fringe theory.” For more about the billboards and why Heartland says people should not still believe in global warming, click here.
Ugh. Ugly.
There’s more than enough climate ugliness to go around. Though, it seems harder and harder to find this ultimate warmist embarrassment.
Anybody that can help with Donna’s suggestion?
And there’s many more examples of climate ugliness from the left that we’ve seen.
On another note, the serially mendacious commenter known as “Dorlomin” left this comment over at the Romm shop:
dorlomin says:
I thought I should clear this up. First, “dorlomin” of course is all about smear, that’s his MO, and the MO of the many anonymous cowards who purvey such things without having any integrity or courage themselves.
Second, the simple fact is that I didn’t know about the association of the person making the claim that “Climate skepticism could soon be a criminal offence in UK
http://wattsupwiththat.com/2010/07/19/climate-skepticism-could-soon-be-a-criminal-offence-in-uk/
Third, when I learned who was behind the story, I immediately took it down because it was an inappropriate source, just like I don’t post videos from LaRouche and other fringe organizations.
Of course “dorlomin” and left foot forward would have you believe that I consort with these folks and have them over for drinks and dinner, rather than the fact that once I learned more, I found them offensive and immediately deleted the story. It was my mistake for not checking sources further.
“dorlomin” is of course playing the very hate game he rants about, and is hypocritically blind just like Romm. The only difference is that one is paid to produce propoganda and the other is a coward.
But will Climate Progress delete their offensive story about climate deniers and terrorists? Not likely, it would hurt their sales figures image.
POLL:
Note: multiple anti vote stuffing features are enabled in this poll. I’ve made the questions simple so that editorial bias in the questions is minimal.
_Jim says:
May 4, 2012 at 6:38 pm
Up-thread I posted a video.
and yes, the sarc tag was missing.
This really perturbs me. (well what it does would get snipped, so I’ll leave the language . . . family friendly). This is a huge ‘own goal’. Far more damaging to Heartland than what Glieck did was to the Pacific Institute. Someone needs to resign over this. I think Heartland will have a long row to hoe to retrieve their credibility. And almost certainly their funding.
Jim asked:
“… why it is egregious to point out the influence the CAGW crowd has had on some of our more notorious criminals”
The answer Jim is. It isn’t relevant to the debate. There are bad people in the world and they say bad things. As we were told when we were young, two wrongs do not make a right. Up until today, the skeptic side had the high road. No longer. And if that doesn’t anger you, then you don’t understand the long term power of ethics.
JE
I’m with Pointman and Smokey here. The billboard states a fact: The Unabomber believes in CAGW
To the U.S.A. Commander of the encircled town of Bastogne.
The fortune of war is changing. …. All the serious civilian losses caused by this artillery fire would not correspond with the well-known American humanity.
The German Commander.
——————–
To the German Commander.
NUTS!
The American Commander [General Anthony McAuliffe]
——————————-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_McAuliffe
…although I do see the other side of the argument…
James Sexton says:
May 4, 2012 at 6:18 pm
What the hell? HI has been in the trenches and taking the battle to the loons for years! Much longer than some of you johnny-come-lately half-ass wannabe skeptics.
James:
The answer is. Up until today, we could claim the high ground. That may not matter to mud wrestlers, but it does matter to real men and women of science. And up until today, we were winning. This is a catastrophic loss, caused by our own side. It will not be fatal, but it will set the debate back 10 years. I do not look forward to explaining why I don’t have to explain this.
The ads are depressing. Stupid beyond redemption. But who in the heck thought them up? If a single person, that person needs to be fired. I don’t know how long the billboards were up, but no matter how short a time, this is a gift that is going to keep on giving. Dumb, dumb. Did Bast approve these billboards? If so, he needs to take a vacation.
Anyone checked the wheat crop for mold lately?
Baghdad Romm
This ad isn’t aimed at people like WUWT regulars and its no surprise most don’t like it.
I see the target audience as the CAGW true believers and its objective is to cause self-doubt. By that measure it may have some success.
In the ABC’s I Can Change Your Mind About the Climate, the one point when Nick Minchin (the sceptic) got a reaction from the CAGW believer was when he pointed out that AGW actions such as carbon taxes were hurting poor people in the developing world.
A large proportion of the CAGW believers out there believe they are doing a ‘good’ thing. The science is beyond them and any scientific argument will fail to persuade them. What will cause them to question their belief is to associate CAGW belief with bad things.
Sure the Heartland ad is propaganda, but most advertising is.
Strange, ain’t it? All these new people, supposedly on “our side”, magically turning up here to help condem the HI’s adverts. Since they’ve obviously been mobilised for this one, it’s sort of a reverse endorsement.
Pointman
I don’t really have a problem with the billboard.
What I do see as a problem is average Americans not taking a few weeks to search out ‘manmade global warming’ for themselves until they understand what is going on in the issue. But they have plenty of time for American Idol, video games, texting, chat, etc., etc., etc.
At 7:30 PM on 4 May, Amino Acids in Meteorites had posted:
Throughout the majority of comments on this page can be read arrogant expressions of contempt for “average Americans” as if all reading hear should accept the proposition that those average people are beneath consideration as human beings, incapable of managing their own lives, exercising their liberties, making their own decisions.
Where the hell is this elitist crap coming from, anyway?
These “average Americans” are real people faced with a plethora of concerns about phenomena in their lives which they have to assess and meet with whatever resources they can command, and the biological principle of least effort applies with a vengeance. They have to cope, and it’s not easy for anybody these days, especially in light of what should be every reader’s appreciation of the intrusive and undeniably predatory nature of civil government in our republic.
It may be more proper to look at Amino Acids‘ frustration about these average folks “…not taking a few weeks to search out ‘manmade global warming’ for themselves…” and instead consider what stimuli might give those people some incentive to look into the great gaudy man-made global climate change scam with their critical faculties – no matter how blunted by their widespread victimization in government schools – armed and active.
This Heartland billboards program as planned was perfect for this purpose.
Anybody reading here recall that last line from The Teahouse of the August Moon (1953)? It’s when the character of Sakini breaks the fourth wall and says to the audience:
To get the attention of these “average Americans” busy in their daily lives, rubbing their nose in the fact that by assuming the validity of the “We’re All Gonna Die!” man-made global warming hoax they’re joining in common cause with the goddam Unabomber.
Among other unsavory characters they properly regard with suspicion and hostility.
Is that something in the way of Sakini’s “pain”? You betcha.
Might it make them “think”? Very likely. Note how hysterically the warmist clowns have received it, leaping and squealing like scalded stoats.
And could that “make life [more] endurable” for those of us dedicated to exposing their gaudy garbage to put an end to the criminal machinations of the Algoreans?
Oh, yeah.
Joanna says:
May 4, 2012 at 7:12 pm
Anyone checked the wheat crop for mold lately?
LOL!
Mold is not part of the 5 year central plan.
media reference on Bangor Daily News :
Plug pulled on controversial global warming billboard
Good article on other points, too.
John Eggert,
It sounds like you speak for all scientific skeptics. You don’t, any more than Heartland does. There is not a controlling clique like there is with the alarmist crowd.
The only moral high ground you can claim in this instance is your own. I respect that. But passing judgement on Heartland is only an opinion. And I remind you that telling the truth is an absolute defense.
That said, as I’ve posted a couple of times now, statements by Astronauts Harrison Schmitt and Buzz Aldrin would generate a lot of credibility for scientific skeptics. [Aldrin, from Wikipedia]: In 2009, Aldrin said he did not believe humans were causing current climate change: “I think the climate has been changing for billions of years. If it’s warming now, it may cool off later. I’m not in favor of just taking short-term isolated situations and depleting our resources to keep our climate just the way it is today. I’m not necessarily of the school that we are causing it all, I think the world is causing it.
Schmitt [again from Wikipedia]: Schmitt voiced objections to the notion of a present ‘scientific consensus’ on climate change as any policy guide… “I think the whole trend really began with the fall of the Soviet Union,” Schmitt said. “Because the great champion of the opponents of liberty, namely communism, had to find some other place to go and they basically went into the environmental movement.”
That would be more productive. But I still think that painting the entire climate realist population for a decision that was made [and quickly reversed] is a tempest in a teapot. Every time it is brought up, the prompt response should be the 350.org, ACT, etc., etc. And if they’re still upset, this might help.
Do I disagree with the ad? Yes. While it certainly gets attention, its going to be the wrong kind of attention. This can only have a negative outcome.
However, on the other side of the spectrum, as Anthony and others have pointed out, many proponents of AGW do this, and worse. For most of us, Gleicks actions still leave a bad taste in our mouths.
Heartland has only been trying to instill debate, and have been attacked unmercilessly. IMO, we can easily forgive them for the sudden outburst. In the face of what they’ve withstood, I can say they have shown more patience and civility then I would have shown.
Sorry, but those billboards are a huge embarrassment. The HI needs to get some sane advisors.
While I think there may have been a better approach, I’m not completely in the “bad idea” camp. As mentioned earlier you have to consider the target here. In addition, it is well known that mud slinging works in political campaigns.
One can’t keep bringing dull knives to gun fights and expect to win. We’re already winning the “science” arguments but that may not be enough to win the war. The other side quit doing science a long time ago.
Anybody that can help with Donna’s suggestion?
I’ve got a copy of the 10:10 Exploding Skeptics video;
http://www.break.com/usercontent/2010/10/1/crazy-offensive-10-10-global-warming-commercial-1925116
on my Break channel;
http://www.break.com/user/JustTheFacts
along with the Skeptic Combusting Video;
http://www.break.com/web-user-yt/5-4-2012/2323914
the WWF 9/11 Video
http://www.break.com/usercontent/2009/9/crazy-offensive-9-11-world-wildlife-fund-wwf-commercial-1180487
and the Plane Stupid Polar Bears from the Sky video:
http://www.break.com/web-user-yt/10-1-2010/1925188
All of the videos are available for imbed and I, of course, have all of the associated video files.
John Whitman says:
”Here is part of the other side of the story from Heartland’s website which has a whole section about its billboards. Here is a small portion of what they say:”
”They are not pulling any punches nor apologizing. Let the discussion go on. It is time for a discussion of who supports alarmism and why. “
So which is it GW or AGW?
Can you point to where “man-made” appears on the billboard?
This is absolutely sending the wrong message. It makes it easier for us to be painted as “deniers” of overwhelming unambiguous evidence.
For Example (at press conference): Mr. Heartland VIP, would you characterize the average global temperature today as warmer, cooler, or about the same as the global average temperature of 1850?
Heartland VIP: Warmer.
Then why Mr. Heartland VIP do you suggest on billboards that belief in a warmer world is associated with the mentally ill?
Heartland VIP: Well……. I ……. uh ……. you see ……. uh …… They started it!
Next Headline: “Skeptics: 1st grade deniers!”
No thanks! Deny certainty of the magnitude of warming (realized or projected), deny continued (recent) warming, deny certainty of future warming, deny the primary cause of warming is anthropogenic, deny catastrophe; but please, please, don’t attempt to or supply an easy perception that “skeptics” in general deny the world is not warmer now than it was in my Grandfathers’ day, there’s just too much evidence to support it.
In other words, Heartland just associated me and most everyone else with the criminally insane as I too believe that the world has warmed since the LIA. I realize that’s not what they meant, but that doesn’t matter to someone not already familiar with and in support of Heartland’s actual position.
Bad wording at the very best.
Alexander Feht says:
May 4, 2012 at 6:48 pm
Well, well. So, WUWT must not be anything more than a relief valve.
Anything more is “over the top.”
Cowardice.
========================================
WUWT is just a relief valve? If you mean letting the hot air out the CAGW preachers, I’d have to agree.
Cowardice?
I missed the date when Al Gore and Michael Mann will be in a public debate with Monckton or Anthony or Ball or … just about any of the people post articles here that the rest of us comment on. Do you have that date and location?
John Eggert says:
May 4, 2012 at 7:02 pm
James Sexton says:
May 4, 2012 at 6:18 pm
What the hell? HI has been in the trenches and taking the battle to the loons for years! Much longer than some of you johnny-come-lately half-ass wannabe skeptics.
James:
The answer is. Up until today, we could claim the high ground. That may not matter to mud wrestlers, but it does matter to real men and women of science. And up until today, we were winning. This is a catastrophic loss, caused by our own side. It will not be fatal, but it will set the debate back 10 years. I do not look forward to explaining why I don’t have to explain this.
==================================================================
John, I completely and entirely disagree. Putting aside the fact that the skeptical advocacy never literally murdered anyone (as opposed to alarmist advocacy) so we could never lose the “moral high ground”. If the “real men and women of science” can’t face up to what they’re fighting, then their utility is very limited.
It isn’t “moral” highground to avoid talking about the genuine issues the climate debate revolves around. I don’t give two shakes about some vapid obscure event in the history of the arctic ice cap or the IR absorption bands of CO2. I engage in this discussion because alarmist advocacy is misanthropy executed by a totalitarian marxist agenda. If those people had their way Pol Pot would look like a choir boy. So, HI had a billboard with innuendo, casting alarmists in a bad light…… good! Our future history books should, as well. If we don’t put these guys away, they’ll never cease. They will continue in their efforts to destroy individual liberties and control the very essences of our existence. Energy, Water and Food.
NEWS FLASH TO THE “REAL MEN AND WOMEN OF SCIENCE”!!! The battle you’re fighting isn’t science based. It never was. It is ideological.
Joanna says:
May 4, 2012 at 7:54 pm
Sorry, but those billboards are a huge embarrassment. The HI needs to get some sane advisors.
==============================================
Exactly, they should have went after the alarmists harder!!! But, maybe this is just the first part of an ad campaign where it starts with innuendo and then smacks them with ads on their true criminal behavior they so actively engage in……. or do you think that’s toooo mean?
The billboard is bad — the subsequent attempt to pass it off as a deliberate and successful attention-grabbing stunt is straight out of the Splattergate apologists’ playbook.
Romm’s hypocrisy is by-the-by; he’s a hypocrite, and that’s what they do.
But my respect for Heartland has gone through the floor.
Good for you Heartland, while the high moral ground may be good for the soul, if you do not fight the fight based on the “rules” your opponent plays by, your soul is all you’ll end up with….(now having stated that, stick to the facts, don’t lie and, if you have proof the AGW crowd sleeps with the devil, put it on a billboard!)