Sarah Palin on global warming: Humans might be partly to blame

Sarah Palin,  who has struck many as a refreshing break from politicians-as-usual, seemed to do Thursday what politicians usually do as their horizons expand -- moderate a previous position on a controversial subject.

By the same token, a close reading of what she said shows a lot of hedging on her hedge.

The subject was global warming, covered in Chapter 2 of ABC's multi-part interview with the Alaska governor whom John McCain cast as his running mate. Just a few weeks ago, in an interview with the conservative-leaning website Newsmax.com, Palin had this to say: "I'm not one ... who would attribute [global warming] to being man-made."

Asked about that view by anchorman Charlie Gibson in a clip played on "Nightline," her initial response was: "I believe that man's activities certainly can be contributing to the issue of global warming, climate change."

A shift, to be sure, but note the use of "can be" instead of "are."

Borrowing another page from those oh-so-loathsome typical politicians, she sought to re-frame the discussion. Said Palin: "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 gotta do something about it, and we have to make sure that we're doing all we can to cut down on pollution.... Things are getting warmer. Now what do we do about it? And John McCain and I are gonna be working on what we do about it."

Gibson wasn't ready to move on, though. He said: "Yes, but isn't it critical as to whether or not it's man-made? Because what you do about it depends on whether it's man-made."

She responded: "That is why I'm attributing some of man's activities to potentially causing some of the changes in the climate right now."

Again, an apparent shift. But note the wiggle room she left herself with that word "potentially."

Somewhere inside the Beltway, grizzled politicos were smiling.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Democrats 08]

What a liar she is, now all of a sudden she is changing her tune for votes! Ignorant, inexperienced, flip flopper, disaster waiting to happen. The last thing America needs is this creepy, ignorant pinhead hackey mam..

[Chris Stewart]

She responded: "That is why I'm attributing SOME of man's activities to POTENTIALLY causing SOME of the changes in the climate right now."

Wiggle room? She could drive a truck through that answer. Go, Sarah! Vaugeness is what we need in our next VP.

[Gaias Child]

somebody please show this pretty confident moron al gore's movie.

[Doug]

"That is why I'm attributing some of man's activities to potentially causing some of the changes in the climate right now."

Feels like high school. She doesn't have the guts to deviate from the party line. How's that change?

[Leann]

Who cares what she says!

[Annoyed]

"I believe that man's activities certainly can be contributing to the issue of global warming, climate change."

Huh...You think?!

[Beth Johnson]

I would like to invite Palin to refer to the human race in other terms than the outdated, biased "man's." I would also like to invite Palin to talk to a scientist. God help us if she and that old man are elected.

"I WILL NEVER SURRENDER IN IRAQ."

GOD HELP US.

[J Nihil]

Palin is just another "fast food" version of a politician.

People don't want to hear real answers. Real answers are LONG and BORING.

People like short, catchy, one line phrases that make good soundbytes. The less thinking the better.

Interviewer: So what exactly are you planning on doing to fix the sluggish economy?
Palin: We're going create more jobs!!!

Uh, someone wake me when this is over.

[Jerome]

'She responded: "That is why I'm attributing some of man's activities to potentially causing some of the changes in the climate right now."'

Is that even grammatical? All I can read out of it is 'wiggle, wiggle'.

[Ben Wiles]

Sure she agreed that humans have to have played "a" role. But she never says, and Gibson never questioned, how much. 10%, 50%,- What? Made her extreme view on global warming seem mainstream.

Policy for a world where global warming is primarily caused by humans looks very different than one driven by natural cycles.

[Frisco]

At least she didn't stummer like your man OBAMA.

[benjaminb]

also some of the sunlight may be interacting on some level with certain plants that could potentially under certain circumstances induce photosynthetic-like effects that we might observe,... or maybe flowers are just happy.

also there may be according to some experts a largely pervasive force that often attracts objects of small mass to other objects observed to have very large mass, ...or perhaps objects fall to the ground because it is simply part of God's plan.

if energy=security is her most important qualification and she has no logical position on the role of 'energy' in the climate crisis, then she simply has nothing. Is drilling in ANWR actually her answer? That's it?

That's like an alcoholic rationalizing why one more drink isn't make difference at this point. We don't have to change after all! We want it to be so, so let's just believe it hard enough. It's called 'faith' and its not a good governing principle

She seems like a nice person, an interesting person, but one who lives largely divorced from the adult complexities of our nuanced world.

If I were a Republican, I would be very happy she is on the ticket, as she has changed the conversation, and very disappointed that she might actually, for reals, be my Vice-President.

[spacerocket]

Incredible!!! With all the scientific evidence out there that global warming is caused by us human beings, hearing Sarah Palin deny this fact shows how out of touch she is with the most pressing issues facing our planet.

I hope that all American people supporting McCain/Palin, will wake up in time to vote for the only rational choice available. For most people outside the US the choice is crystal clear. Vote Obama/Biden or vote for America's rapid political and economic decline!!

[PulSamsara]

Humans would be entirely to blame if this person ever occupied the White House.

I know we're suppose to walk on egg shells around Sarah Palin.
After all she does eat moose burgers an all.

That being said - Sarah Palin is a joke - and a cynical insult toward the American people.

[Hilary Smith]

I've heard that greenhouse gasses can stay in the atmosphere for decades, even centuries, and that even if we stop polluting the land, sea, and air right now, it will take a very long time for those beneficial actions to cancel out the pollution that's already causing the planet to heat up. We haven't even fully accepted that global warming is even happening. Now is the time for intellectual leadership in America.

[from Texas]

Sorry, there are just a few people saying global warming. Maybe 1,100 scientist agree which is fine, but only 35 have done work on that particular subject are they are being YES, MEN? Agree or Disagree, how about more research and real peer review publications. I do not follow reporters, NEVER, they are wrong and already on the next, next story. Just need more research, government backed, private, and over seas non-American research. NO ONE can decide based on what is out there, MORE RESEARCH, more publications, I NEED More INFORMAITION like other educated people. Reporters telling us the truth, that is a good one.

[Sally]

I can't believe people are buying this bresh-of-fresh-air thing. She is an ambitious and natural politician. She says what she needs to say to say, and changes her tune as necessary. She hires and fires based on loyalty and personal favors, and does not think twice (probably honestly doesn't think it's wrong) to use her position to get things done the way she wants them, regardless of whether it's proper or ethical. It is entirely unsurprising that she would be cagey about her beliefs now. The question is whether "the base" will stand behind this bull because she is "one of us" or wether it's time to demand more.

[PJS]

Palin does seem to be capable of wordsmithing. But to watch her is to see a programmed robot. She lacks spontaneity or intellect. She has the gravitas of teenager running for class vice president. Not ready for prime time.

[Oz]

We need to invade more arabic countries! Take their oil and their resources. Give women, gay men and children rights. I will certainly not forget September 11th. I see many of you have.

[Wayne]

Sarah Palin, a typical politician, flip flops on her global warming position. She had previously stated with confidence that global warming was not man made, but now she admits that it partially is man made and denies she ever said otherwise. As more Americans learn about her views and positions, and her dishonesty (bridge to nowhere), abuse of power (Troopergate), extreme positions on abortion (not even in cases of rape or incest), her popularity will diminish.

[Character Counts1]

Palin seems ill informed about more than global warming. So, where is the “change” McCain has been talking about? Sarah Palin appears to see the world through the same simplistic and narrow spectrum as Bush/Chaney. The ease with which she offers war as an option is both shocking and very scary. Since Bush adopted the preemptive strike doctrine, the world appears to have become much more dangerous and the Russian Bear is now using very similar arguments in support of its aggressive foreign policy. It appears to me that Governor Palin has failed to draw the appropriate lessons from that and proposes to blindly continue the failed Bush policies.

[scoot]

What qualifies Palin to even consider what causes Global Warming bet she doesnt have a clue. Maybe she didnt want to believe man made GHGs cause it because her husband works for BP. But now she has to accept the view of the majority of scientists who dedicate their lives weighing up the evidence of the effect man-made GHGs have on the atmosphere, to be seen as a caring Mom. If you actually here Palin talk about issues you would realise shes an f'ing moron. American Politics is even more ridiculous than British politics.

[ChrisC]

Palin's attempt to twist her "our task is from God" into "I don't know if the task is from God", and "our plan for Iraq is God's plan" into "I believe there is a plan for this world" was troubling. She was more than ready for that challenge and others from Charlie. Can be doubt that this question was one for which her handlers prepared her thoroughly? They're banking on most people never actually watching the video of her at Wasilla Assembly of God and seeing how at odds her presentation there was with what she represented during the interview.

[george987789]

i hope she does not wiggle while sitting on that fence, she will tear up her hardware. she is trying to reinvent herself on the fly and it won't happen.

[Jim]

A 2003 survey of 530 climate scientists in 27 countries, conducted by Dennis Bray and Hans von Storch at the GKSS Institute of Coastal Research in Germany, found

* 82 percent said global warming is happening, but only

* 56 percent said it’s mostly the result of human causes, and only

* 35 percent said models can accurately predict future climate conditions.

Only 27 percent believed “the current state of scientific knowledge is able to provide reasonable predictions of climate variability on time scales of 100 years.”

That’s a long ways from “consensus.” It’s actually pretty close to what the American public told pollsters for the Pew Trust in 2006:

* 70 percent thought global warming is happening,

* only 41 percent thought it was due to human causes,

* and only 19 percent thought it was a high-priority issue.

sorry but Al Gore and the alarmists are the ones out of step on this issue, plain nailed the question precisely