This conservative group is tired of being accused of climate denial — and is fighting back

[mahatmakanejeeves]

This conservative group is tired of being accused of climate denial — and is fighting back

Energy and Environment

By Tom Hamburger, Joby Warrick and Chris Mooney April 5 at 4:00 PM

Facing a loss of high-profile corporate sponsors, a conservative state-level policy group — the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) — threatened action in recent weeks against activist groups that accuse it of denying climate change.

Attorneys for ALEC sent letters to Common Cause and the League of Conservation Voters asking them to immediately “cease making false statements” and “remove all false or misleading material” suggesting that ALEC does not believe in global warming.

The activist groups refused the request, saying ALEC’s advocacy of legislation on climate issues and its public discussion of the topic support their claims.

The legal demands from ALEC follow an exodus of some of its best known corporate members, including Google, British Petroleum, Facebook, Yahoo and Northrop Grumman. Activist groups had pressured these corporate sponsors in recent years to abandon their support for organizations that they believe oppose action to stem climate change. Google publicly connected its decision to stop funding ALEC to the climate change issue.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. I just love it.

They sue their opponents for telling the truth about them.

[Kber]

2. It's possible they DO believe in climate change

but either don't care or actually think they might profit from it.

But do they really think that's a better message? "Yeah, we know it's happening, but fuck you anyway."

[misterhighwasted]

3. ALEC, the Master of Fact Manipulation cries..

..stop telling the truth about us!.

WAAAAAAMMMBUUULANCE!!

[Romeo.lima333]

4. it must be causing them grief and to that i say goodie

[MisterP]

5. it might be even more dangerous this way, saying that "we're not oil stooges and we think it would

be a massive crisis ... if they had any proof"

or they could just "doubt" it's anthropogenic, like James Randi did

[Shrek]

6. The term "climate denial" always makes me cringe

I doubt anyone denies the existence of climate.

[Hestia]

7. Great - bring it on! Defense attorneys could have a field day

a. You do believe in GW? Then why do you pay minions in the state legislature & help help write legislation denying GW?

b. You don't believe in GW? Why are you denying 99% of scientists who unequivocally do and then bring out the reams of data to get into the court record.

I'd be most happy to help and donate to the Defense Fund.