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.”
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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.
Heartland blew it on this one. The best thing they can do is to take it down immediately and admit they made a mistake. That it was over the line.
When you have science on your side, why go for cheap shots like this? It’s so unnecessary!
I see your point but it’s still bad TACTICS. We are in guerrilla warfare and you don’t make friends with the local villagers by killing their families. All Heartland has to do is stick to the science.
Uhmm, we’re going to pretend murders didn’t happen in the name of this eco-madness?
http://suyts.wordpress.com/2011/09/25/by-their-fruit-you-will-recognize-them/
http://suyts.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/more-reaping-the-fruit-of-what-was-sowed/
There’s a difference between fact and fiction. The facts are people have been murdered because of this insane global warming fiasco.
I wonder when was the last time that any “propaganda” from the warmist regime was repudiated with such speed and vigour?
Kudos to all that object to this kind of pugnacity. Having been “Gleicked” is no reason to sink below any level of propriety.
The facts support the argument and that should and will always be enough to win the day. Name-calling and wallowing are best left to the losers, as always.
Dorlomin has attention seeking disorder. His obfuscative online personality is crafted around this disorder. You’ve just gifted him a mention on your popular blog so he’s happy.
I agree. Big mistake.
Total loss of credibility.
They have let the side down. Now everyone who stood up for them over the recent scandal is tarred with the same brush. How can they expect any support after this?
Yeah, probably not the best idea in the world (but factual and not libel). How’s about this – guy in a T shirt with I Believe in Human caused global warming is at the door with a manikin at his side. Caption I couldn’t find a real girl, so I brought this model…
OK, I’ll go to my room now…
Mike
Stupid to do such a billboard.
Ok, I get it, and many here get it… but how many of the people who actually saw the billboard actually have a clue where it came from or what it means? Very few… because the vast majority are still being inundated with the AGW “message”, and only that.
In advertising and in spreading a message, it is essential that the attitudes and reactions of the target audience are understood. It seems to me that this campaign failed to take into account that only a very small percentage of viewers will have any idea (or even interest) in what it means.
The net result is negative perception. The tiny portion who even “get” what it means will not be swayed by it… therefore it was a mistake, and will likely only have a negative result.
(PS… what did Wiebo Ludwig believe? And why would I care? And why does the CBC openly revere and worship this terrorist? And why do so many Canadians also agree with this Alberta version of the unabomber? http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/03/04/f-wiebo-ludwig-timeline.html?cmp=rss )
Looks like someone got to them:
Group pulls plug on billboard linking global warming believers to terrorists
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/group-pulls-plug-on-billboard-linking-global-warming-believers-to-terrorists/2012/05/04/gIQAU2q51T_story.html
G.
I’m heartily disgusted by the majority of responses on this thread, in which we find all sorts of noise about how Heartland “let down the side” and supposedly sank to the level of the Watermelon liars by making truthful observations about exemplary specimens of warmist Prominenten.
What the hell is going on with you people?
If it’s accepted as valid that you’re judged by the company you keep, then those maliciously misinformed suckers who feel inclined to believe in the AGW fraud really ought to learn something about the folks to whom they’re cleaving in their religious fervor, ought they not?
Heartland – Stick to the Science – and let the facts speak for themselves.
This ugly childish behavior will have cost you more than you can imagine. Why sink to the lowest excesses of those whom you disagree with. It only serves to denigrate your own position to that of your detractors.
KJ
Playing nice with radicals is a losing strategy.
Alinskyites are imposing their rules on your game:
Rule 4: Make opponents live up to their own book of rules. “You can kill them with this, for they can no more obey their own rules than the Christian church can live up to Christianity.”
Alinskyites fear being caricatured and ridiculed, because they know it works:
Rule 5: Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon. It’s hard to counterattack ridicule, and it infuriates the opposition, which then reacts to your advantage.
Big mistake. Just when science is starting to get the upper hand, Heartland pulls this garbage. Whoever thought that this was a good idea should be looking for another job.
I encourage everyone here to go to Heartland’s “contact” page. Email their media contact. Tell them that a no apologies apology isn’t enough. Let them know they have damaged every rational skeptic and non-alarmist. media@heartland.org ;
There is nothing wrong with the ads. Get over it. You sanctimonious people do more harm to Hartland than Joe Rohm. Crawl down off those high-horses.
Although they have now pulled the poster it will be used incessantly to deride anyone who disagrees with the CAGW theme.
Unlike a rant on a blog or an ill-judged public comment this was a planned action which has to raise serious questions about the group responsible.
Ross McKitrick’s letter refers to an imminent conference organised by Heartland: in my view it would be a huge mistake for him or any of the other leading campaigners to attend.
AndyG55 (from down-under) says:
May 4, 2012 at 2:41 pm
“Ok, now that was a bit over the top, but that is how those skeptical of global warming have been linked.” How do you think they feel. !!
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I like it…….but most people will not catch that one either
I don’t see any damage from this at all…….other than a few Appells in the loop…..most people will not even see it or catch it
I don’t think it’s a road Heartland should go down…..for all of the reasons mentioned
I voted “No, not a mistake” in the poll. This was a hard call, and I frankly think that those (including most commenters) who regard it as easy may be viewing the matter from a purely PR perspective.
Not that that perspective is irrelevant; it is quite likely more relevant than the perspective of Truth. And my personal grasp of PR has always been disastrous; just ask my wife.
But from the point of view of Science, Truth, and Objectivity — Heartland is absolutely right. The people pushing hardest for Global Warming (but not those who may believe it but not be pushing for it) are clearly the usual Leftist control-freak nutjobs.
Who for goodness sake thought up thios ridiculous campaign at Heartland…Those ads will lose almost all the huge ground made by us in last 10 years, and send heartland into the bin!!!!
What were they thinking…absurd!!!!
I didn’t vote in the poll because I think the word “blunder” overstates the case. It was, however, a mistake. I posted the following at ClimateAudit:
Heartland is over-reacting to the insanity of the behavior of the warmists. That said, I understand the anger of Joe Bast and his core group which must have precipitated these ads. In their defense, the ads themselves are not inaccurate. People like Kaczynski, Castro and Manson believe in the so-called consensus science because it dove-tails with their world view. Not unlike Gleick and Mann.
But a group like Heartland needs to respond to provocations with their head and not their heart. Glad to hear they’ve announced a strategic retreat. They win the argument by sponsoring conferences and funding good causes, not by trashing the opposition through guilt by association.
Perhaps Joe Bast can borrow Mitt Romney’s Etch-a-Sketch? Of course, the etch-a-billboard is down as I write; I’m just being a smartass (sorry, Mr. Clayton!) Unfortunately, people have memories and the MSM etch them deeply when they wish to, no matter how frantically we invert and shake. And that is the heart of this error: Heartland cannot hope to get a pass from the media the way the warmist gaffes generally do. Propaganda is the warmists’ home court. When we choose to play there we had better be very well coached and in top form. And I do agree to a point with Mr. Clayton. While we all like to quip, our side need to make sure we maintain a substantial, objective, fact-based message at core. It’s OUR home court!
I was wondering what Roger Pielke Jr was tweeting about :
“Heartland invited me to debate a skeptic at their mtg, I declined due to a conflict if I accepted, would have canceled after new ad campaign”
Until I visited WUWT and read this post.
Anthony, you give the public too much credit for intelligence that they do not have.
Logical arguments do not sway the public. Scientific discussions are to complex for most people who are challenged by simple tasks like managing their own personal finances and who lack the attention span needed to invest in learning the subject matter well enough to appreciate your argument. Facts are nice to have on your side, but the truth, and good, do not win just because they should.
The left have stooped to dirty but successful propaganda techniques, appeals to emotion, claims of authority, attacks on the messenger, the big lie repeated often, creating fear, doubt and uncertainty, and setting up one scapegoat to blame (evil big oil capitalists and their nasty skeptic supporters).
If you want to fight public opinion making by the left then you need to break some eggs and get down in the trenches. History is littered with nice guys who did not win because they played fair and counted on truth to prevail.
The billboard’s implication that climate change activists are terrorists may be a clumsy effort, but it is not far off. Climate change activists are in a real sense agitating for the destruction of our economy and our lifestyle. Some of them go so far as to call for skeptics to be killed as in the 10:10 no pressure campaign and Hansen’s many threats, or to take actions like blowing up pipelines and shooting people at TV stations. Sounds like terrorism to me. Just the kind of real dirt that the public needs to begin to associate with the green movement if you want them to listen to your facts.