In this image released by ABC, news anchor Charles Gibson talks to Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin in Fairbanks, Alaska, in an interview Thursday. They walked beside a section of the Alaska Pipeline (on the right). (AP Photo/ABC, Donna Svennik)
Sarah Palin backs away from climate denial
By Eoin O'Carroll | 09.12.08
In an interview with ABC News anchor Charlie Gibson Thursday, Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin said that climate change can be at least partly attributed to human activity, an apparent reversal from statements published just weeks ago.
Here’s how the exchange went (as transcribed by me):
Mr. Gibson: “Do you still believe that global warming is not man-made?”
Governor Palin: “I believe that man’s activities certainly can be contributing to the issue of global warming, climate change. Here in Alaska, the only Arctic state in our Union, of course, we see the effects of climate change more so than any other area, with ice pack melting. Regardless, though, of the reason for climate change – whether it’s entirely, wholly caused by man’s activities or is part of the cyclical nature of our planet, the warming and the cooling trends – regardless of that, John McCain and I agree that we got to do something about it, and we have to make sure that we’re doing all we can to cut down on pollution.”
Gibson: “But it’s a critical point, as to whether this is manmade. He says it is. You have said in the past it’s not.
Palin: “The debate on that even really has evolved into, ‘OK, here’s where we are now: Scientists do show us that there are changes in climate. Things are getting warmer. Now, what do we do about it?’ John McCain and I are going to be working on what we do.
Gibson: “Yes, but isn’t it critical as to whether or not it’s manmade? Because what you do about it depends on whether it’s manmade.”
Palin: “That’s why I’m attributing some of man’s activities to potentially causing some of the changes in the climate right now.”
Gibson: “But I – color me a cynic – but I hear a little bit of change in your policy there. When you say ‘Yes,’ now, you’re beginning to say it is manmade. Sounds to me like you’re adapting your position to Senator McCain’s.”
Palin: “I think you are a cynic, because show me where I’ve ever said there’s absolute proof that nothing that man has ever conducted or engaged in has had any effect or no effect on climate change.”
(You can watch the exchange here on ABC News’s site; they begin talking about climate change about 30 seconds into the clip.)
Palin’s statements are at odds with her responses in an interview she gave with the conservative magazine Newsmax for their September 2008 issue. Newsmax writer Mike Coppock asked Palin, “What is your take on global warming and how is it affecting our country?” Palin responded, “A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location. I’m not one though who would attribute it to being manmade.”
Additionally, the Associated Press cites a December 2007 story from the Fairbanks (Alaska) Daily News-Miner in which Palin states: “I’m not an Al Gore, doom-and-gloom environmentalist blaming the changes in our climate on human activity.”
ABC News’s Jake Tapper comes right out and calls Palin a flip-flopper, but for others it’s not so clear-cut. For Los Angeles Times blogger Don Frederick, it comes down to what the definition of “is” is. Mr. Frederick notes that the governor said “man’s activities certainly can be contributing.” She didn’t say “are contributing.” He also notes that Palin said that human activity is “potentially causing some of the changes.” To Frederick, Palin has left herself with some “wiggle room.”
But semantics aside, it’s clear that Palin is dialing back her climate-denying rhetoric.
If Palin does, in fact, believe that human activity is contributing to global warming, this belief is at odds with that of an overwhelming majority of her fellow Republicans. According to a Pew survey in May, only 27 percent of Republicans believe that global warming is caused by humans, compared with 58 percent of Democrats and 47 percent of the population as a whole.
Such a belief would, however, bring her more in line with Senator McCain, who has long backed Congressional efforts to curb climate change. Back in 2004, writer and leading climate activist Bill McKibben called the Arizona Senator “Washington’s most important champion of global warming legislation.”
<< Greenpeace activists cleared of damaging UK power plant | MainComments
2. Kathy S | 09.12.08
I find it encouraging that Sarah Palin has recognized the human contribution to Global Warming. Perhaps she can now see the merit in sex education for teenagers, although she should have gotten this right about seven months ago if not earlier. And maybe she can begin to understand that we live in a democracy and no one has a right to change our laws in support of any one religious view. (Especially one that rejects science.)
And, of course, the fact that she can change might suggest the McCain/Palin team can begin to make the changes in Washington that they claim are coming, especially since Mr. McCain has to see the need to change before he can make a change. But on most major issues the McCain platform is the same as George Bush; don’t hold your breath waiting for change. McCain has even bragged about voting with Mr. Bush over 90& of the time for the last eight years. It would seem that Mr. McCain’s actual argument is that he is the best person to clean up the mess he helped create for eight years.
Me? I’d much rather have Mr. Obama clean up the mess Mr McCain and Bush have created together.
KRS
3. Boodrow Malone | 09.12.08
Sarah has finally said something I disagree with. Global Warming hysteria is beyond belief. The Earth was warmer ten thousand years ago and cooled off all by itself and will do so again. This so called problem is about dead last on list of things to worry about.
4. Kathy | 09.12.08
Flip-flopping and changing one’s viewpoint are two different things, in my book. True political flip-flopping is to change your view depending on who you’re talking to, or on which way the political winds blow, denying, or obfuscating, the fact that you had expressed another opinion. Changing one’s viewpoint involves admitting the change and probably revealing the reasons for that change. Palin doesn’t suggest that she ever saw climate change in any other way (and in a few weeks, don’t be surprised if she isn’t claiming that she’s always believed humans have had a huge impact). Since she doesn’t admit her change of heart, she can rightly be labeled a flip-flopper
6. Stanley | 09.12.08
Mr. Barack Hussein Obama will do what those who are funding him have bid him do, and therefore is not beholden to the
7. Paula | 09.13.08
37 states now disagree with Palin. 37 states have developed climate action plans to mitigate man-made influences to climate change. One cannot look at the over-whelming evidence of the last several decades and suggest that the period we are in is like any other in the Earth’s history. There are more options than Palin seems to grasp. There is a lot we can do between “gloom and doom” and head in the sand. In fact, if we are to continue living as we have become accustomed, we have no choice but to take action, develop alternative energy sources, and move forward in a much more sustainable way.
Neither Palin nor McCain are right on this issue. As a parent, I see only one responsible choice in this election and it is Obama/Biden. Please vote responsibly, based on fact.
8. SAHMmy | 09.13.08
The title of the piece is misleading. She has not changed her views on global warming. You should read her responses about it when she was running for governor. She stated then that climate change was having an impact on her state and regardless if it is caused by human activity or caused by solar activity, it was in their state’s interest to try to mitigate its effects.
Nobody can flippin’ get the facts straight with regard to this woman, it’s just incredible. The press do NOT want to report the straight truth about her because if they did then she would cease to be The Boogyman of the Left. They seize on the slightest nuance, and extrapolate out into infinity, preying on the fears of the democrat voters.
Alas, if only they would concentrate just a fraction of this effort on The Facade, their candidate of choice, Obama. They clearly don’t want to find out who that man is behind the curtain, and it’s to the detriment of our country that they won’t.
9. allan | 09.13.08
I think it is about time American’s stood together, about the main issues. This Democratic congress, and politicians can do more harm for America, than any other group of fakes. I have seen it in my seventy years. Yes, they are frauds, and sceemers as well. They talk about the oposing Republicans, but never talk about the real issues at hand. They have no real solutions, nor due they the Demorcrats, give anyone, any honest, and true solutions to anything. The Democatics, only complain, obstruct,make up false stories about the climate,and constantly lie about all issues. These are the lawyers, that could not make a living, working in the private sector, and went to work for the government doing nothing. They don’t fool me, how about you, John J. Public?
11. Smokey | 09.13.08
Sarah Palin is right, it’s not about the scientific details or whether it’s man-made or not, the fact is the climate is changing, we’re not gonna be able to stop it, and we need to adapt and find solutions to deal with it.
12. sharon | 09.13.08
at this critical point in time, what the US needs is:
1. A leader who will demonstrate this country’s integrity to the world by exhibiting a stable temperament, compassion, and intelligence. We need someone who has new ideas, good decision-making skills, and someone who shows maturity.
2. A leader who will work with scientists and climate experts to better understand global warming and learn about potential solutions. We need someone who will consider all the scientific facts in order to make informed decisions.
3. A leader who will help move the US away from its dependence on oil and promote renewable sources of energy.
4. A leader who can understand the complexity of the world we live in.
5. A leader who can understand the cultures and values of other countries, and is able to work with world leaders in order to come up with solutions to global warming.
for these reasons, and many more, barack obama and his vice presidential choice, joe biden, are the best choice for this country.
13. Virginia | 09.13.08
I am sorry but Palin is flip-flopper and she is not the right candidate. Please vote responsibly and cast your vote for Obama/Biden.
14. dotty | 09.13.08
Why are scientists reporting that changes unseen on the sun before are happening?
Why are scientists discussing an imminent polar shift, with ice and tree rings we can confirm they happened in our history.
Human ego never ceases to amaze me.
15. Why not just let god save us??? | 09.13.08
We should all just become dumb fundus and look to god for all our solutions. Guess there are only two kinds of republicans - the rich and the dumb.
16. bloomingocotillo | 09.13.08
Does it matter really that Palin changed her mind as long as she ended up in the right place? And I would think that Palin agrees with you that a victory of sorts.
The level of vitriol is really disturbing. The comments about her daughter are truly ugly. So much for tolerant, understanding, inclusive, compassionate liberals. I’m embarrassed for us all. I thought we accepted premarital sex as almost a given. The fact that the young woman is choosing to have the baby is part of the pro-choice agenda. How do we know that she didn’t use birth control that failed? I’m guessing she knew how babies were made, don’t you? Or maybe I got that wrong and the only real choice for pro-choice folks is to have an abortion unless the baby is “planned” and comes at a convenient time.
17. Ankhorite | 09.14.08
Don Frederick of the LA TIMES is right: she’s trying to finesse the issue by making all her statements conditional. (”Can be” versus “is,” “potentially” modifying “is,” etc.)
She’s only been a national figure for three weeks, and already one thing is obvious: you can’t get the truth out of her even if you crawl down her throat with tongs, as Charlie Gibson tried to do.
I’m already tired of her weasel-words and duplicity. Her big fib about the Bridge to Nowhere, repeated over and over after being discredited, revealed a contempt for the voters’ intelligence, and for truth in general, I don’t think we can afford.
The last president who lied to us on a grand, brash scale put us into an illegal war on the basis of phony evidence. Given his age and health, I don’t expect John McCain to last four years. The thought of what President Palin might do, with her vast naivete and ignorance of world affairs coupled with her willingness to lie and prevaricate even when she knows she’ll get caught gives me chills.
18. David G. | 09.14.08
Despite what appears in the press and what is taken as conventional wisdom, the jury is still out on the entire global warming issue. There are many who recognize this as a continuation of ongoing climate change that cylical in nature. I can’t wait to look back on all of this sillyness is 20 years. This is the “oat bran” of the 21st century.
19. Main Stream American | 09.14.08
Gov. Sarah Palin proves them wrong, every day. She can still beat Sen. Obama anyday, on any issue.
20. dixie | 09.14.08
I hope smokey will not mind that I simply repeat their post…
Sarah Palin is right, it’s not about the scientific details or whether it’s man-made or not, the fact is the climate is changing, we’re not gonna be able to stop it, and we need to adapt and find solutions to deal with it.
spot on.
21. SAHMmy | 09.14.08
I urge everyone to vote their conscience this election. Unlike the Obamacons, I refuse to characterize those who don’t vote like me as immoral, clueless, and hypnotized into a flock of sheep by their candidate.
It does matter if she flip-flopped because to say she did is a lie. The press are more and more accustomed to lying about her. Look at the people who don’t like her or her political views. They are the same people who don’t like me for having the same views, and are intolerant to that fact. If feminists and liberals starting singing her praises, I’d know I was behind the wrong candidate.
As long as the Obamacons and press keep baying at the moon with regard to Sarah Palin, I know I’m behind the right ticket.
22. Matt | 09.14.08
Why does everyone think in terms of two parties? If you were really concerned about the environment you would vote for Cynthia McKinney of the Green Party. Third parties don’t have a chance because everyone sits around and says “well that’s just a waste of a vote”.
23. Doug | 09.14.08
I think it is important to remember that the VP is “just a heartbeat away” from the Presidency. It is difficult to imagine that we would elect the Republican team given McCain’s age. Each party has dozens and dozens of seasoned advisors who will assist with each and every policy decision. I believe we need to vote for leaders who will usher into Washington a little fresh air. The Democratic team is simply more trustworthy than the Republicans.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
Leave a Comment
We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. The comments feature is a forum to discuss the ideas in our stories. Constructive debate - even pointed disagreement - is welcome, but personal attacks on other commenters are not, and will not be published.
Tip: Do not write a novel. Keep it short. We will not publish lengthy comments. Come up with your own statements. This is not a place to cut and paste an email you received. If we recognize it as such, we won't post it.
Please do not post any comments that are commercial in nature or that violate copyrights.
Finally, we will not publish any comments that we regard as obscene, defamatory, or intended to incite violence.
1. Glen G | 09.12.08
Everyone loves to jump on the “flip-flopper” bandwagon ever since it was used so effectively on John Kerry. Is it ever too late to realize that a previous position was wrong and to make adjustments to it? I don’t like Sarah Palin for a variety of reasons, but her taking a new look at global warming is not one of them. A larger question would be whether (weather?) or not it would constitute pandering (to her boss) or an actual change in her viewpoint.