CNN Debate Ignores Climate Change, Does Not Ask GOP Candidates About Historic Paris Agreement

[spanone]

...as if it never happened.

Three days before CNN hosted the fifth Republican presidential debate, leaders from every country in the world struck a historic climate change agreement in Paris to reduce fossil fuel emissions and face up to one of the greatest threats facing our country and our planet. The Paris agreement was a front page story in newspapers throughout the U.S. and around the globe. So considering that the Pentagon says climate change "could impact national security" and experts have identified a relationship between global warming and the rise of ISIS, the issue clearly belonged in the December 15 CNN debate, which co-moderator Wolf Blitzer described as a "discussion about the security of this nation."

CNN's own Michael Smerconish pointed to the significance of the Paris climate agreement in the cable outlet's debate preview coverage the night beforehand, yet CNN failed to ask a single question about the agreement or climate change more broadly during the debate itself. While GOP candidates may have their own political reasons for avoiding the issue -- and a couple of them dismissively brought climate change up on their own -- CNN is a news organization with a responsibility to press the candidates for our nation's highest office on the most important issues facing the country and the world, particularly when there are major new developments to address.

CNN did not immediately respond to a request for comment on why the network did not deem the Paris climate agreement worthy of a question (or three) during the debate. So for now, we're only left to wonder how such an inexcusable omission could occur.

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/12/16/cnn-debate-ignores-climate-change-does-not-ask/207539

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. You might be interested in this story

that has been in foreign media, Huffpost, but I have yet to hear it in the chattering boxes beyond local news

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10027452539

There is a method to media's madness if you ask me.

[spanone]

5. very interesting.

...

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. And this plan, unlike Paris, is well enforsable

And has been applauded by environmental groups around the world, per my local PBS station this afternoon. Not that we have heard a peep out of it in the chattering boxes. Hell, outside of very local coverage, I have seen very little... well except VOA in Spanish.

[madville]

2. Maybe they weren't exactly sure what it is yet

We know it's a non-binding agreement that fits the US obligations within the 1992 UNFCC treaty that the Senate ratified over 20 years ago. So the US really doesn't have to do more than it already has been doing since then. Any additional funding or foreign aid promised above that would still have to make it through the current Congress.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

3. Does that fall under foreign policy, which was the focus of this debate? nt

[moondust]

4. Uncomfortable subject matter.

How would they explain on national TV the fact that TWO HUNDRED COUNTRIES just negotiated and signed an agreement to take steps to stop something these guys deny even exists? All those countries and their scientists and wizards of all political persuasions are just making stuff up?

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. And an American city

see above, the article I just the OP

[moondust]

8. I see that

your current mayor is a Repub who is proud of the unanimous vote and all the public and private support, your U.S. representative is a Dem, but up the coast a little ways is a climate change denier in U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher. I suppose there's a dividing line there someplace where the climate change will stop?

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Well if I am to be a complete cynic, wait MOI?

partly my mayor just did that because he wants his next nice tax payer funded home to be in Sacramento. and this will get him all kinds of street cred with ... oh the environmental community.

You heard it here first. My mayor is next running for governor.