Chamber Of Commerce Rewrites History: ‘We’ve Never Questioned The Science Behind Global Warming’

[cynatnite]

Energy companies are abandoning the sinking ship of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in droves over its opposition to clean energy action, whether by the EPA or by Congress.

Under pressure, Chamber president Tom Donohue today claimed the Chamber “continues to support strong federal legislation and a binding international agreement to reduce carbon emissions and address climate change.” And spokesman Eric Wohlschlegel recently argued that the Chamber respects the science of climate change:

We’ve never questioned the science behind global warming.

This is a blatant falsehood, by any definition. Just last month, the Chamber’s Senior Vice President William Kovacs called for the “Scopes monkey trial of the 21st century” to put “the science of climate change on trial.” The Chamber, dominated by pollution-industry skeptics such as Don Blankenship, Harry Alford, and Fred Palmer, has questioned climate science since at least 1992:

2008: Chamber President Tom Donohue Says ‘Scientific Inquiry’ Into Climate Change ‘Should Continue’ Because Of ‘Cooling Trend.’

2001: Chamber Claims Global Warming ‘About One Percent From Human Activity,’ Says ‘Things Just Change.’

1992: Chamber Sponsors Global Warming Denier Pat Michaels To ‘Refute The Global Warming Warnings.’

In addition to being the Chamber of Commerce president, Tom Donohue works for Union Pacific, a company opposed to climate regulation.

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/09/29/chamber-gw-denying/

[Uncle Joe]

1. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, cynatite.

[DireStrike]

2. lol

I hope the remaining members look at this backpedaling and lying, and it inspires them to leave.

Imagine if we had a body that really represented small businesses?

[Ghost Dog]

3. "Imagine if we had a body that really represented small businesses?"

So, what's stopping American small and not-so-small business owners/managers just going out there, doing the ground work, making contacts, getting themselves together and actually creating a new alternative chamber of commerce reflecting interests unrepresented by the existing one?

I've heard complaints (from here in Europe) about the existing one on economic and business-sense aspects as well on climate change and other environmental grounds before now.

Two Chambers for the Two Americas, as it were?

Is it just a matter of someone doing the leg-work? Internet would surely help with some of that?

Just curious...

[rentman]

4. There used to be

The NFIB. It really is made up mostly of small business. Just about every small business owner I know is or has been a member. I threw them out about 4 yrs ago after 25 yrs of membership through 2 businesses. Their unrelenting support of the republicans no matter what their agenda had finally done me in. I ranted for about 10 minutes withe rep. At that time it was because of all the other crap they were doing, not the business agenda. He got it worse the next year, and hasn't been back. I was in a friend's business this spring and he was there. I could see the fear, but I was polite and kept my mouth shut, until he was gone.