Can someone help me refute this re Al Gore:

[dodger501]

I am in an argument with a wingnut at work re climate change.
He says:

"Al Gore’s wealth was a few million when he left office of the VP. Since then he started his carbon trading con job company he is now worth 100’s of millions. Follow the $$$."

I know this is trying to prove a negative and I am going to get him to provide me a link to prove this, but I need a source to refute this, can anyone help?

[RDANGELO]

1. Faulty logic.

Even if that is true that he profiting from the idea of global warming, it doesn't mean he is wrong.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

2. Why do you need help?

If you know, as you claim, that the rightwingnut is wrong, why do you need help from anyone?

Or are you just blowing smoke, like the rightwingnut?

Do either of you know anything about Al Gore's finances?

And, lastly, who cares?

[OKIsItJustMe]

8. It's just a typical rightwing ad hominem attack

Pretty soon, you get involved in arguing about whether or not Al Gore makes money, rather than arguing about the science of "Global Warming."

You'll find similar ad hominem attacks regarding James Hansen. (They can't refute the science, so, they attack the man!)

[sailor65]

3. You can look up "Generation Investment Management"

but you might not like what you find. Like the first responder to your post said, it doesn't really negate the GW thing, but Gore has cashed in big time nonetheless.

I've always felt carbon offsets are crap anyway. If you want to help solve the problem, you do it by modifying your own behavior, not by paying someone else to promise you that they will.

[blm]

4. No - afaik...Gore's wealth came through Apple and Google shares.

.

[Viking12]

5. Why does your RW aquaintence hate capitalism?

Gore is taking advantage of a business opportunity. So what?

Gore's financial stake has nothing to do with atmospheric physics. Tell your friend to follow the science.

[kristopher]

6. Here is your answer. Practice a couple of times for a smooth delivery

"Are you stupid?"

That's like looking at the aftermath of 911 and saying terrorism doesn't exist because because the first responders get union benefits.

It's idiotic to even make such a claim; but it is typical of what the deniers learn from Uncle Rush."

Then turn away...

[OKIsItJustMe]

7. How about this?

NewsBusters ran a story with this damning quotation:
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2008/04/11/gore-admits-financial-reasons-advancing-global-warming-hysteria

Gore Admits Financial 'Stake' In Advancing Global Warming Hysteria

By Noel Sheppard (Bio | Archive)
April 11, 2008 - 08:38 ET
For years, NewsBusters has reported on Al Gore's financial interests in advancing global warming hysteria around the world.

On March 1, while speaking at the http://www.ted.com/index.php/pages/view/id/48">TED Conference in Monterey, California, the Nobel Laureate admitted to having "a stake" in a number of green "investments" that he recommended attendees put money in rather than "sub-prime carbon assets" like "tar sands" and "shale oil."

This occurred as pictures of such products appeared on the screen with names of the companies involved (http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/243">video available here, relevant section begins at minute 15:00, h/t NBer Sick-and-Tired):

There are a lot of great investments you can make. If you are investing in tar sands, or shale oil, then you have a portfolio that is crammed with sub-prime carbon assets. And it is based on an old model. Junkies find veins in their toes when the ones in their arms and their legs collapse. Developing tar sands and coal shale is the equivalent. Here are just a few of the investments I personally think make sense. I have a stake in these so I’ll have a disclaimer there. But geo-thermal concentrating solar, advanced photovoltaics, efficiency, and conservation.

…

I'm shocked! OK, so I'm not shocked.

Now, if Al Gore admitted he was heavily invested in tar sands or shale oil, then I would be shocked, and disappointed. As it stands, it looks to me like he's, "putting his money where his mouth is," i.e. investing in just the sort of technologies he recommends.

[excess_3]

9. Al Gore's business is approving carbon offset projects? ...

or not.
I would like to know.