ABC News: Gingrich Defends Shifting Statements on Climate Change

Yahoo ^ | 11/18/11 | Amy Bingham | ABC News

[NormsRevenge]

Mitt Romney may be the GOP presidential candidate that is most often criticized for flip-flopping , but as Newt Gingrich rises to challenge him at the top of the polls, the former House speaker may also be giving him a run for his money on that label of inconsistency.

When it comes to global warming, Gingrich’s position seems to have changed faster than the climate.

...

In the more than 30 years since Gingrich was first elected to the House, he has said there is both sufficient evidence to prove the climate is changing and also that there is no conclusive proof. He supported a cap-and-trade program to limit carbon emissions and then later testified against it before a Congressional committee.

And while in the House he co-sponsored a bill that said climate change was “resulting from human activities,” but he later said he did not know if humans were to blame.

“There is no compelling evidence on either side to either rule it out or rule in it,” Gingrich’s spokesman R.C. Hammond said of the candidate’s position on global warming and the impact of man-made pollution. “But at the end of the day he’s somebody who does care about the environment.”

DiPeso said the Republican “orthodox” position on climate change is that “you can’t deal with this issue because it will kill the economy.”

“It’s politically dangerous for prominent Republicans to acknowledge climate change is real and that human activity plays a prominent role,” he said. ”It could be that Gingrich is just trying to play a political game and stick with the political orthodoxy to keep himself from being vulnerable to attacks.”

DiPeso added: “It’s not the first time he’s done that and it’s probably not going to be the last.”

[NormsRevenge]

pretty slow day for me when I post a Newt piece.. ;-]

Come on Folks!!

Let’s get this FReepathon over with so we can get back to doing what we always do at FR!!

[cripplecreek]

Some will call me vicious and nasty for posting this but at least I post the whole thing both pro and con.

1989: Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-GA) co-sponsors the ambitious Global Warming Prevention Act (H.R. 1078), which finds that “the Earth’s atmosphere is being changed at an unprecedented rate by pollutants resulting from human activities, inefficient and wasteful fossil fuel use, and the effects of rapid population growth in many regions,” that “global warming imperils human health and well-being” and calls for policies “to reduce world emissions of carbon dioxide by at least 20 percent from 1988 levels by 2000.” The legislation recognizes that global warming is a “major threat to political stability, international security, and economic prosperity.” [H.R. 1078, 2/22/1989]

1992: Gingrich calls the environmental proposals in Al Gore’s book Earth in Balance “devastatingly threatening to most American pocketbooks and jobs.” [National Journal, 9/5/92]

1996: At a speech for the Detroit Economic Club, Gingrich mocks “Al Gore’s global warming,” citing “the largest snowstorm in New York City’s history”: “We were in the middle of budget negotiations; the football games were coming up and we noticed on the weather channel that an early symptom of Al Gore’s global warming was coming to the East Coast. And it does make you wonder sometimes, doesn’t it, how theoretical statisticians in the middle of the largest snowstorm in New York City’s history could stand there and say, ‘I don’t care what it’s doing. It’s going to get very hot soon.’” [FDCH Political Transcripts, 1/16/96]

1997: As Speaker of the House, Gingrich co-sponsors H. Con. Res. 151, which notes carbon dioxide is a “major greenhouse gas” that comes from “products whose manufacture consumes fossil fuels” and calls on the United States to “manage its public domain national forests to maximize the reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.” [H. Con. Res. 151, 9/10/1997]

2007: Gingrich calls for a cap-and-trade system with tax incentives for clean energy. “I think if you have mandatory carbon caps combined with a trading system, much like we did with sulfur, and if you have a tax-incentive program for investing in the solutions, that there’s a package there that’s very, very good. And frankly, it’s something I would strongly support.” [Frontline, 2/15/07]

February 15, 2007: “I think if you have mandatory carbon caps combined with a trading system, much like we did with sulfur, and if you have a tax-incentive program for investing in the solutions, that there’s a package there that’s very, very good. And frankly, it’s something I would strongly support.” [Frontline, 2/15/07]

In a debate on climate policy with Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Gingrich says “the evidence is sufficient that we should move towards the most effective possible steps to reduce carbon-loading of the atmosphere,” and that we should “do it urgently.” [ThinkProgress, 4/10/07]

In a Washington Post chat, Gingrich rejects a cap-and-trade system, saying it “would lead to corruption, political favoritism, and would have a huge impact on the economy.” He says he supports “tax credits for dramatically reducing carbon emissions.” [Washington Post, 4/17/08]

2008: In an advertisement made for Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection, Gingrich sat with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and said that “we do agree our country must take action to address climate change.” [We Campaign, 4/18/08]

“I don’t think that we have conclusive proof of global warming. And I don’t think we have conclusive proof that humans are at the center of it.” [Newt.org, 4/22/08]

April 4, 2009: “And now, in 2009, instead of making energy cheaper—which would help create jobs and save Americans money—President Obama wants to impose a cap-and-trade regime. Such a plan would have the effect of an across-the-board energy tax on every American. That will make our artificial energy crisis even worse—and raising taxes during a deep economic recession will only accelerate American job losses.” [Newsweek, 4/4/09]

[Steamburg]

At least, he isn’t hiding from his mistakes. Barry, just seals the records and calls you a racist.

[Fred]

These are not mistakes Newt is a true believer

Newt loving CARD CHECK!!
http://www.examiner.com/county-republican-in-dallas/gingrich-blasted-by-national-right-to-work-committee-over-support-for-scozzafava-ny23-race

First Amend, NOT!!!
Newt Gingrich Co-Sponsored the 1987 Pro-Fairness Doctrine Bill
http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2011/04/29/newt-gingrich-co-sponsored-the-1987-pro-fairness-doctrine-bill/

Howard Dean Endorses Newt
http://articles.cnn.com/2010-07-25/politics/gingrich.dean_1_newt-gingrich-gingrich-candidacy-howard-dean?_s=PM:POLITICS

Stop the Insanity say no to Newt
http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-11-10/politics/30381368_1_newt-gingrich-conservatives-herman-cain

Too many liberal BS positions to list
http://washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/2011/11/newt-gingrich-no-conservative?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_

Newt with his BFFS Princess Nancy, Kerry and Al Sharpton
http://www.mofopolitics.com/2011/11/09/friendly-reminder-newt-gingrich-is-a-rino-wimp-and-a-scumbag/

Newt loves HC mandates always has
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2011/05/13/newt-gingrich-long-time-supporter-of-health-insurance-mandates/3/

Newt Flip Flops on Libya
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiXPLmbrefI

Professor Cornpone
Ethanol lobbyist Newt Gingrich and us—and the future of the GOP
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704698004576104682930044012.html?mod=djemEditorialPage_h

Newt Gingrich on Bailout: “Reluctantly ... Yes”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJb2NfqwghY&feature=related

[brooklyn dave]

Climate Change! Of course it exists-—but is it entirely man made? One has to look at the intention behind the statement. Most die hard proponents of “climate change” are Zuccotti park like creatures who hug onto their cannabis pipe as hard as to tree—but don’t understand $h!t.

[TitansAFC]

Endless spam yet again......LOL

[manc]

still spamming I see, how many anti Newt posts have you done today?

[manc]

LOL, My thought too but you just beat me.
I see an anti Newt post I see Fred LOL

[Da Coyote]

Politicians are pretty dumb on virtually every subject. Some manage to avoid exposing themselves by consistant repetition of bland statements containing no information whatsoever (you listening, RINOmney? Obama, of course, defines this approach.)

Others try to sound like they know what they’re doing, and as long as they keep to simplton things like names and places, the MSM (the very definition of simpletons) will let this get by.

But science is way, way, way out of their ability. Heck, liberals even manage to find physicists who apparently don’t know anything about energy production.

Dimbulbs and Repulsicans - science is for the big boys and girls. Please stay out. You are NOT qualified.

[Jeff Head]

In May of this year he supported an individual mandate for Health Insurance. He needs to explain that one too.

I like Newt, but he has taken a number of positions on uissues I cannot support.

[org.whodat]

Maybe he should do as rush said, call newt on the couch with Nancy a, newtiee. Just hope it has no sexual connotation where Nancy is concerned, but then giving newts record he may have been told to get his hand from under her.

[muawiyah]

We have to be willing to let people change their minds on this subject or they'll still be trying to cool down the Earth when they're in ice up to their eyballs.

Looks like Newt is halfway there ~ which is certainly better than the Algore or Lurch!

[not2worry]

No need to intimidate.

Newt said to vet him out so I assume Newt would appreciate Fred giving us a Newt history lesson.

Newt is like a chameleon in a crayola box.

[Brett66]

And of course don’t forget his spectacular public relations failure by sitting on that couch with the wicked witch and agreeing with her.

That really PO’ed me, but he is still better than Mitt.

[NormsRevenge]

It’s a predicament candidates choose to stick themselves in.

Act smart but not too smart..

As most candidates, he likely doesn’t have scientists as close confidantes and advisors.. They go with the flow, so to speak.. and if lucky, don’t drift out to sea.

[montag813]

Waiting for the FR NewtBots to term this a “SMEAR” in 3.....2.....1....

[Snickering Hound]

It's ok, all Gingrich has to do is be surly with a liberal media debate moderator and too many conservatives that can't/won't research will start masturbating.

[Paperdoll]

He may have done some good things, but the bad things he has done far outweigh the good! Career politician with a capital P! I do need the Establishment in the White House. We need the man who can lead without being led by the shadow government, which is so cozy with ego maniacal Newt!

As for MItt: read “Can Mitt romney Serve Two Masters?” or be sorry.

[apillar]

When it comes to global warming, Gingrich’s position seems to have changed faster than the climate.

So are they saying it hasn't changed at all...