Why does what Gore says or doesn't say, does or doesn't do, have any effect on the truth of global warming?

Question

He's not a scientist. He does no scientific research. Thousands of scientists all around the world don't get their information from him. Neither do these organizations, who all say global warming is real, and mostly caused by us.

The National Academy of Sciences, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Institute of Physics, the American Chemical Society, the American Geophysical Union, the American Meteorological Association, etc.

And these guys are not exactly Al Gore fans:

"Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich challenged fellow conservatives to stop resisting scientific evidence of global warming"

"National Review (the most prestigious conservative magazine) published a cover story calling on conservatives to shake off denial and get into the climate policy debate"

So why does what Al Gore says and does, have any bearing on the truth of man made global warming?

Answer 1

I firmly believe that Bush and the other most extreme elements of the Right Wing in American politics had to have hired this guy!  As Inelga remarks, he does manage to convince a surprising number of Americans that Global Warming is a parochial American political issue, and not an international scientific issue.  It sure doesn't say much for my country.

Answer 2

Al Gore has an agenda, it is called global communism.

Answer 3

Al Gore is just a talker,reading a script. he knows nothing but what is put in front of him.If you put on paper that the Titanic was brought up for salvage, he would read it if it is in the script. He does not live the way he talks,look at the home he has, the vehicles he drives and the way he laughs at the green lovers as he goes to the bank with his royalties.

Answer 4

Bob,

The answer is simple.  Many people trust in individuals with whom they are familiar... rather than do any research or investigating into a topic or product.  Gore was selected as the pitch-man for the 'man-did-it' global warming cause because of his face/name recognition.  This is VERY important in advertising/marketing.  An example would be Oprah endorsing Obama..... do you think that voters would 'buy' the Obama product if you or I were to announce that we have decided to support Obama???.....I would guess not.

I believe that I have provided an answer to your question...... Gore may not be a scientist, but he certainly has a large number of groupies who will not question his message..... no matter how flawed it is...... THAT's why what he says matters!!!

Answer 5

Algore is like the preacher who visits the prostitute.

While this doesn't invalidate moral values, it does cause people to see that the pontificates of these goals don't believe in them.  If Algore doesn't think global warming is worth making sacrifices for, then why should I?

Answer 6

Jerry Springer ( Personified). Newt, has issues also...but yeah! your right, who cares. I use both, as examples of what not to be when you grow up.

Answer 7

.Al Gore only want to be president in 2012 he will do whatever it take to fulfill his dream..Al Gore should  live up to what he preach...

Answer 8

It doesn't.  However, when you don't like the message but can't dispute it, you attack the messenger.

Answer 9

That's right, Bob.  So let's take "An Inconvenient Truth" out of our classrooms.  Who cares what this blowhard has to say.  Finally, something you and I can agree upon!

Edit:  What does global warming have to do with the work of thousands of scientists??

Answer 10

It doesn't! In fact, as a non American I'm sick and tired of hearing his name all the time around here and he's too much of a politician to suit me. (although I do think he's done some good things too and don't doubt his true concern in this subject).

Maybe we should start to call the skeptics "The Bush cult"? Lol

Answer 11

If the messenger is known to embellish, why would any credible person or group accept anything they said. Not even a stupid king would send a messenger like that.

Answer 12

The Book “An Inconvenient Truth” was written by a pure politician for purely political gain and has absolutely nothing to do with reality, except that he is taking advantage of natural climate cycles to yell “The Sky is Falling”  Numerous government paid think tanks are predicting the same doomsday scenario.  Considering 80% of our impending climate change is due to natural solar cycles and Earth orbit eccentricities (proven by Mackovich Earth orbit and Vostok ice core studies), and it has taken over 200 years of industrial pollution to create our share of it (about 20%)… no short term action will have any immediate effect.  In theory, if we immediately stopped using Co2 producing energy sources, we could expect to see a reversal of our contribution (that’s only 20% remember) to climate change within 100 to 150 years.  

I will remind you of those Chicken Little’s a few years back that forecast an end to life on earth if we didn’t do something about the ozone holes at the poles… we stopped using flouocarbon aerosols in spray-cans (a decidedly symbolic gesture) and voila, the ozone hole problem was solved (but the ozone holes are still there, unchanged, because they are now known to be a natural phenomenon due to the earths fluctuating magnetic field).    

The interesting part of this climate change scenario is the total lack of any meaningful action.  Predictions are grim, we could be facing global extinction of Homo Sapiens within 200-500 years, but all the politicians are doing is jockeying for power.  

The truth is, if we immediately cut back fossil fuel use world wide by 10% it would plunge the world into political chaos, millions starving in the first few years.  It was studied years ago what would be the outcome if the population of China added one egg a day to their diet.  The answer surprised most people…. To add one egg a day, the additional number of chickens would consume all the grain currently produced daily, worldwide.  Back to the drawing board… There is NO simple answer.