Perino: ‘There Are Public Health Benefits To Climate Change’ For People Who Die From ‘Cold’
Perino: ‘There Are Public Health Benefits To Climate Change’ For People Who Die From ‘Cold’
In her press briefing yesterday, White House Press Secretary Dana Perino responded to reports that the White House “eviscerated” Center for Disease Control director Dr. Julie Gerberding’s Senate testimony on the “Human Impacts of Global Warming.” She claimed that “the decision” was “to focus that testimony on public health benefits” of climate change. “There are public health benefits to climate change,” asserted Perino.
Asked to explain what some of those benefits are, Perino said that climate change “would help those individuals” who “die from cold-related deaths every winter“:
Q: And one more. You mentioned that there are health benefits to climate change. Could you describe some of those?
MS. PERINO: Sure. In some cases, there are — look, this is an issue where I’m sure lots of people would love to ridicule me when I say this, but it is true that many people die from cold-related deaths every winter. And there are studies that say that climate change in certain areas of the world would help those individuals. There are also concerns that it would increase tropical diseases and that’s — again, I’m not an expert in that, I’m going to let Julie Gerberding testify in regards to that, but there are many studies about this that you can look into.
Watch it:
While the National Research Council (NRC) has found that “cold-related stress is likely to decline” with climate change, it comes at the cost of “heat stress,” which “is projected to increase.” According to the NRC, “those with heart problems, asthma, the elderly, the very young and the homeless can be especially vulnerable to extreme heat.”
On the whole, the negative “health impacts of climate change are potentially huge“:
First, these hazards are diverse, global and probably irreversible over human time scales. They range from increased risks of extreme weather, such as fatal heat waves, floods and storms, to less dramatic but potentially more serious effects on infectious disease dynamics, shifts to long-term drought conditions in many regions, melting of glaciers that supply freshwater to large population centres, and sea level increases leading to salination of sources of agriculture and drinking water. Second, the health impacts of climate change are potentially huge. Many of the most important global killers are highly sensitive to climatic conditions. Malaria, diarrhea and protein-energy malnutrition together cause more than 3 million deaths each year.
In the unredacted version of Dr. Gerberding’s testimony provided by Science Progress, the only mention of “public health benefits” related to climate change are a result of “activities needed to protect Americans from the health effects of climate change.”
UPDATE: Rolling Stone’s Tim Dickinson has more on Dana Perino’s history of climate change denial.
UPDATE II: DeSmog Blog highlights a study that finds that death tolls from extreme heat outweigh any lessening of death tolls due to milder winters
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92 Responses to “Perino: ‘There Are Public Health Benefits To Climate Change’ For People Who Die From ‘Cold’”
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BWHAHAHAHAAAaaaaa
And all that melted ice can help people who have problems with dehydration....
What a crock - these people just don't care how much they embarrass themselves, do they?
October 25th, 2007 at 11:26 amyes, it will save people from cold, but it will KILL people from the heat....
she is hot but very DUMB!
October 25th, 2007 at 11:27 amI'm sure the polar bears would like to not have to deal with all that ice for a change. Maybe hang out on some sand or just live in open water permanently.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:27 amWow. Just....WOW. Perino is just an idiot. I cannot believe she actually said this. And these people are grown-ups?
Good Lord.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:28 amIt appears another benefit of global warming is Dana's diminishing attire.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:29 amDamn, another stupid thread from the blond bobble head.....Next thread will be either limpdick or o'lilie.....I'm outta here, gonna watch some paint dry and sap on tree's....Blessings
October 25th, 2007 at 11:29 amSomebody shoot me.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:30 am‘There Are Public Health Benefits To Climate Change’ For People Who Die From ‘Cold’
This is such a weak, bullshit arguement. I'm sure the Eskimos in the Artic have been praying for thousands of years for their tropical paradise to come....
Perino, did you know there are public health benefits to Bush not being President?
October 25th, 2007 at 11:31 amBRING ME THE SAUCY WENCH, PERINO!!! BWAHAHAHA!!!!!!
October 25th, 2007 at 11:31 amMy god - aren't we all paying her salary???
October 25th, 2007 at 11:31 amGlobal warming also has the benifit of clearing brush in Southern California.
BTW: D!ckhead-in-chief plans to give us a little Jackson Square action today.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:31 amPlease....tell me this is a joke.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:32 amHoly crap.
That forcibly reminds me of that ugly slag Barbara Bush's comment about the refugees from Katrina - "this is working out rather well for them."
What the feck is wrong with these people?????
October 25th, 2007 at 11:32 amI can't imagine what people in other countries are thinking of us. Is a brainless Perino the most best qualified person we can find for this job in America?
October 25th, 2007 at 11:34 amOf course, for a president as ours, it would be difficult to find an intelligent person who would accept the job. Only Tony Snow, now this Perino... Who's next?
Well, many qualify, as it seems that the main requirements areto have an IQ no higher than 60 and a well developed ability to just repeat idiot remarks heard in the oval office. (Shouldn't it be called "square office")
Global warming is real. However, actions to "prevent it" are quite naive.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:34 amPerino is either a complete idiot or she thinks we are. On the other hand, perhaps she's getting her talking points directly from Bush. That would explain a lot.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:35 amActually, there is a "balance" in the global warming debate.
On the one hand, we have the nice, hospitable Earth we've known for all these years.
And on the other hand, there are all the other planets, and the state of their ecosystems.
Other planets are seeing a boost in robot activity. There is an upside to this.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:35 amShe's say anything to hang on to the 24 %ers.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:37 amOne quote from that b.s. that you can copy and use whenever & wherever the conservative freaks start disputing the science of global warming...
"We believe climate change is real. We believe humans are largely responsible."
That's something... progress.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:37 amI she just a dumb blonde after all?
Sounds like there's a job waiting for her at Faux Snooz when she's done passing disinformation to us via our media outlets.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:38 amIt is not unbelievable that Perino said that the administration just made a decision to concentrate on the health benefits. This is an Orwellian administration. We can always expect that the bad news will be buried. However, in a free country with an active press, the facts would be examined for both sides of the issue. In this instance, the press would mock Perino for the absolute stupidity of her statement. The press would crucify the administration for the constant stream of outright lies and absolute fantasy that comes from the administration. Unfortunately, this is not such a country.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:38 amwow, how do those silly Eskimos survive? Why don't they move to Miami Beach?
October 25th, 2007 at 11:38 amThat's when death becomes a 'benefit'. Is she selling insurance..?!!
October 25th, 2007 at 11:38 amMy nickname for Perino is "Miss Information".
We pay her with our tax dollars to lie to us.
No, missmolly, she's not stupid; she' a professional liar. And, yes, she thinks we're stupid.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:39 amShould be, "She'll say anything to hang on the the 24%ers." :- /
October 25th, 2007 at 11:39 amAnd just imagine how obesity will become a thing of the past as arable land becomes less available.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:40 amIf you listen to Perino's statement, she is completely accurate
Hits
October 25th, 2007 at 11:40 amWell...no. You see...the...
Ok, yes.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:41 amFire cleaning bushes in S Cal?
October 25th, 2007 at 11:42 amI wonder when the Bushes and ChenDicks in DC will be cleaned out of there?
Time for impeachment is past due. What happened to America.?
What Nixon did is NOTHING compared to what this administration has been doing, and will still do. (Just wait: Iran will be bombed sooner than we expect!)
Q: And one more. You mentioned that there are health benefits to climate change. Could you describe some of those?
Oh, this malicious reporter knew what was coming. :D
October 25th, 2007 at 11:43 amNo, Dana, but I am ridiculing that thing around your neck.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:44 amShe's not stupid, she's a liar; she doesn't think we're stupid, she thinks she can lie to our faces and we won't do anything. So far, she's right.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:45 amAnyone else planning on participating in the General Strike on Nov. 7?
She's completely, totally correct--lots of us are very happy to ridicule her. My head hurts from hearing more totally outlandish lies told just for the sake of saying something.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:46 amIf you listen to Perino’s statement, she is completely accurate
Hits
And you are completely irrelevant and a proven idiot. Get out of the basement and join reality.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:46 amIf you listen to Perino’s statement, she is completely accurate
Hits
Comment by hits — October 25, 2007 @ 11:40 am
How do you know? Did you see the original version of the Gerberding report before it was edited by the White House?
October 25th, 2007 at 11:46 amThis is a magnificent triumph in the art of costume design! Dressing up a potato to inform the Irish about the famine! There's only one word for this; "fab" "you" "luss"
October 25th, 2007 at 11:46 ammalaria outbreaks in minnesota might also have some positive benefits.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:47 amGlobal warming will also be a veritable boon for good swimmers. Think of the employment possibilities... couriers, mailmen, pizza delivery, meter readers... if you can swim you're going to be in huge demand. Holding your breath for long periods of time will also be a much sought after skill. I'm off to the pool to prepare for my new career.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:49 amMaybe Dana could give us the benefits of the California fires today.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:49 amTroll sh#t ceanup in isle 15!
October 25th, 2007 at 11:50 amDon't feed the trolls. Ignore and they will hopefully go away!
Eww, Dave. You just reminded me of that Kevin Costner movie - Waterworld?
October 25th, 2007 at 11:50 amMaybe Dana could give us the benefits of the California fires today.
Comment by Candyce — October 25, 2007 @ 11:49 am
Marshmallow sales are wayyy up. Smores are selling like hotcakes.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:51 ams/b cleanup. mea culpa
October 25th, 2007 at 11:51 amEww, Dave. You just reminded me of that Kevin Costner movie - Waterworld?
Comment by Candyce — October 25, 2007 @ 11:50 am
Webbed feet will become the new boob job.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:51 amSomeone shoot me in the face. I hope Perino gets malaria when things get hot. That would be my only solace..
October 25th, 2007 at 11:52 amThat and http://www.tshirtinsurgency.com
"Global warming will also be a veritable boon for good swimmers."
one word: Waterworld
October 25th, 2007 at 11:54 am"Webbed feet will become the new boob job."
Comment by Dave C
People will be getting "ear lifts" to improve circulation through their gills.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:54 amBoy, reading the version of the report that shows what was redacted and what was allowed to be delivered to Congress is quite shocking. I hope that Congress gets a full copy of the report, even if it is off-the-record.
Are Democrats paying attention at all? Shouldn't they be talking about this all over the airwaves, Internet, and print media?
http://www.scienceprogress.org/2007/10/redacted-testimony-of-cdc-director-julie-l-gerberding/
October 25th, 2007 at 11:55 ammalaria outbreaks in minnesota might also have some positive benefits.
Comment by cha cha cha — October 25, 2007 @ 11:47 am
less people to feed and clothe and educate?
October 25th, 2007 at 12:01 pmHaving the "press" corp meet with a Bush spokesperson is a big waste of time. The Bush White House gives out no information of importance at these briefings. The press should stop the charade.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:02 pmdana needs to get into a bathing suit and stop pretending shes relevant.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:02 pmOh my! How low can they can go?! Talk about spin!
If Perino had been around during Katrina, I'm sure she would have welcomed the flooding by saying it presented the opportunity for non-swimmers to learn how to swim.
Perino can do nothing but lie.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:05 pmDid anyone say she is a total idiot!
She really is and I hope we don't all have our heads explode from trying to understand why she has become the the press secretary.
what a ditz.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:06 pmComment by eve — October 25, 2007 @ 12:02 pm
I've often wished the so-called journalists would just stop showing up also. But, what's the alternative? Getting no information at all? Although I wonder if dis-information is any better than NO information I think that the administration shows their hand somewhat by the lies they tell us.
And anytime they show their hand we have a chance.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:06 pmThose press conferences have the only purpose of keeping journalists entertained/distracted for some time daily. Great distraction from the real issues - an old government trick!
October 25th, 2007 at 12:09 pmIt's so embarrassing thinking that the world is seeing US being fooled that way, with lies, and lies, and more lies. And nobody reacts to it!
Is this country mentally dead yet?
Global warming really helped these 35,000 dead Europeans during the Summer of 2003.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:09 pmBut, of course, right wingers like Dana Peroxide were too busy laughing at the time and cracking jokes about air conditioners.
===================================
2003 European heat wave
The 2003 European heat wave was one of the hottest summers on record in Europe. The heat wave led to health crises in several countries and combined with drought to create a crop shortfall in Southern Europe. 35,000 people were killed in the heat wave.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_European_heat_wave
Here's a little song for Dana:
October 25th, 2007 at 12:10 pmNot recommended if you're in any way suicidal, but the article in the latest Rolling Stone about Dr. James Lovelock (the Gaia earth theory) will put it all in perspective: human population cut to as little as 500 million by the end of the century. Catastrophic change is now unstoppable.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:11 pmDana you "dumb blonde", how can you be so stupid? That's like saying people can cut their winter heating bill by setting their house on fire. Or by saying, "People who get shot get execellent health care at the hospital, so it's ok for them to get shot", I mean come on Duh. I'm glad she got the job, but come on honey, you can do better than that.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:21 pmworst spin ever.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:21 pmHey, another benefit of global warming is that people will die from famine or whatever, and the overpopulation problem will be solved!
Idiots.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:22 pmThe "bushies" have finally given her the last big dose of the kool-aide that she OBVIOUSLY gulped....
It should scare anyone that has at least 9 brain cells working that these people actualy SAY this stuff....
October 25th, 2007 at 12:23 pmSomebody shoot me.
Comment by Juan C. — October 25, 2007 @ 11:30 am
Someone shoot me in the face.
Comment by desaparecido — October 25, 2007 @ 11:52 am
Guys, Cheney's too busy these days. Ask again next week, maybe he'll be free by then.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:23 pmThat is just funny that they think people are going to buy those lines
of crap anymore.
Go to C&L and see Olbermann & R.M. talking about the downward spiral
October 25th, 2007 at 12:24 pmwe're seeing in this admin. & radical right.
It's pretty good.
Idiocracy - please rent this movie if you're like me and really need to laugh at how moronic this country has become
http://www.worstpreviews.com/trailer.php?id=8&item=0
October 25th, 2007 at 12:28 pmThe Lying Sack of Cuteâ„¢ is entirely correct.
Applying this standard further, we find that:
- winter blizzards in the northeast provide public health benefits to those who are suffering from heat stroke,
- increased hurricane frequency provides public health benefits to those who suffer from dehydration,
- California wildfires provide public health benefits to those who might die from salminella poisoning,
- earthquakes... I don't who might be helped by earthquakes. Meybe the morbidly obese who are otherwise trapped in their homes? I don't know, I'm grasping at straws here.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:28 pmDrive by shooters provide jobs for ammunition manufacturers.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:30 pmIt is possible that she may be almost as stupid as Chimpy, with this latest idiotic drivel as proof.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:31 pmCheney??
October 25th, 2007 at 12:37 pmHa, HA - He is toooo quiet lately. Won't be surprised if he is "diligently" working on a global warming strategy: to globally warm up Iran!
Watch out when the coyote is too quiet!
It is possible that she may be almost as stupid as Chimpy, with this latest idiotic drivel as proof.
Comment by Wayne — October 25, 2007 @ 12:31 pm
I gotta agree with Wayne here.
I don't care how malicious or medacious you are, no one with an ounce of self-respect, or self-awareness, is going to get up before more-or-less professional jounralists and say something that godawful stupid if they have any clue just how stupid it is.
I say Dana is a victim here. She's stupid and they know she's stupid. Some of the more clever members of the WH staff send her out there, feed her stupid things to say, and then giggle behind the curtain when she says them. After all, what do they have to lose? It's not like they'll get caught, and if even if they do get caught, so what? They're in the Bush administration. That means "no accountability, no consequences"
October 25th, 2007 at 12:39 pmit is true that many people die from cold-related deaths every winter. And there are studies that say that climate change in certain areas of the world would help those individuals.
It is also true that many people die from heat-related deaths every fall.
(Fire in Southern California; Marathon runners in the Midwest).
And there are studies that say that had there been no "climate change" in certain areas of the world, these individuals would be alive today.
I’m sure lots of people would love to ridicule me when I say this,
Oh, not only am I sure that they "would love to ridicule" you, they actually are ridiculing you!!!
But you are kinda cute, so the 24%ers will give you a pass, as I'm sure they paid no attention to what you were actually saying.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:41 pmThat comment was bad, but the real kicker was the follow-up:
Q. I hear you what your saying. So, I suppose the good side of killing all those children during "Shock and Awe" was that those parents have more resources take care of themselves? In fact, you could even say we were probably helping them, perhaps helping the whole country in getting rid of some "dead weight."
Ms. Perino: Exactly. I'm glad someone sees my logic.
October 25th, 2007 at 12:42 pmAnd besides global warming will eliminate the need for assistance to poor families, to help heat their homes in the winter. (I can't understand how they missed this, as justification for cutting that program - it's a natural!!)
October 25th, 2007 at 1:08 pmYes, Dana dear, but what if those people whose lives were spared by a mild winter happen to die in a forest fire the next summer, a fire that is brought on by drought conditions from global warming?
October 25th, 2007 at 1:08 pmThe “bushies†have finally given her the last big dose of the kool-aide that she OBVIOUSLY gulped….
It should scare anyone that has at least 9 brain cells working that these people actualy SAY this stuff….
Comment by Winski — October 25, 2007 @ 12:23 pm
Actually, I think she has bent over and taken the BushCo Kool-aid megadose as an ENEMA!!
October 25th, 2007 at 1:09 pmJust what American women need; a stereotypical dumb blond mouthpiece. (Insert your favorite dumb blond joke here.)
Dana, go home and get pregnant, cook and clean and screw your hubby when he demands it. You're more suited to that stereotype than lying for the commander in thief.
October 25th, 2007 at 1:15 pm- earthquakes… I don’t who might be helped by earthquakes. Meybe the morbidly obese who are otherwise trapped in their homes? I don’t know, I’m grasping at straws here.
Comment by ralph the wonder llama — October 25, 2007 @ 12:28 pm
Earthquakes are a gift to the construction industry, who benefit from all the money brought in by rebuilding efforts. And some of that money will be spent by the employees of the industry, which will benefit the economy.
October 25th, 2007 at 1:15 pmYes, yes Dana. We WILL ridcule you.
October 25th, 2007 at 1:17 pmHow can this woman live with herself?
October 25th, 2007 at 1:19 pmI almost miss Tony Snow. Talk about unsubstantiated nonsense. I'd like to see some data on the health benefits of global warming to people that live in igloos. I bet that's a really great research paper. Epidemic tropical disease outbreaks in populations that have no inherent immunity vs. the random person who freezes to death every once in awhile. Great comparison.
Also, bartlebee is an itchy sphincter. That is all.
October 25th, 2007 at 1:28 pmHey, drunk drivers mean great business for paramedics and cars salesman.
October 25th, 2007 at 1:33 pmAsked to explain what some of those benefits are, Perino said that climate change “would help those individuals†who “die from cold-related deaths every winter“....
And giving them shelters is toooooooooooo haaaarrrrrrrrddddddd. And encourages them, no less. Nothing like happy homeless to put a scowl on a Rethuglican's face....
Dana's one to cut her face off to spite her nose.
Cheers.
October 25th, 2007 at 1:50 pmUnbelievable...Dana, don't speak...don't speak. Your hotness points drop dramatically when such diarrhea spews from your mouth.
October 25th, 2007 at 2:05 pm#81 LAFWH
I wonder if climate change will bring people to the polls? Doubtful. Most Americans love their SUV and HD tv. You want to take it away from them.
No. We want to take the SUV away from you. That's because we're really mean and like to see you suck your thumb when someone takes away your metal dildo.
It's azos like you with your "me, me, it's all about meeeeeeeeeee" crapola that cause the social compact to break down. You need to read up on the 'Prisoner's Dilemma' and other fine points of game theory. Not that you'd grasp the concepts, but maybe worth a try....
But just as a heads-up, most people are concerned about climate change. What remains to be seen is to what extent they are willing to pitch in before the SRHTF.
Cheers,
Disclaimer: I own a SUV. It's a hybrid ... and I use it for what it was intended (just wish the auto makers would get on the stick and start producing pluggable hybrids ... c'mon, it ain't that hard....)
October 25th, 2007 at 2:09 pmThe *IDIOT*
A few fewer people die from cold. Heat stress already kills people in NY and Chicago in the summor for a couple of weeks a year.
Not to mention the ability of tropical bugs and vermin to move north (and south) ward carrying tropical diseases. Insect pests move towards the poles (not just killer bees and fire ants but all sorts of strange pests). Parasites move towards the poles.
Even if the climate doesn't kill us, the vermin will (and by vermin I'm thinking 6-footed, 4-footed, and 2-footed)
October 25th, 2007 at 2:43 pmAnd besides global warming will eliminate the need for assistance to poor families, to help heat their homes in the winter. (I can’t understand how they missed this, as justification for cutting that program - it’s a natural!!)
Comment by judyinnm — October 25, 2007 @ 1:08 pm
And the melting ice caps will expose the northwest passage to shipping traffic and allow drilling in the Arctic Ocean! I wonder why she didn't mention that?
October 25th, 2007 at 2:45 pmI wonder if climate change will bring people to the polls? Doubtful. Most Americans love their SUV and HD tv.
Comment by Liberals Are Filled With Hate — October 25, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
We're wagering that they love their children and grandchildren more.
October 25th, 2007 at 2:46 pmoh my - the climate change gestapo. Comment by Liberals Are Filled With Hate — October 25, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
Sorry, but InHofe and the ANTI-CLIMATE changers run the Gestapo! That's why he put every scientists' PRIVATE lives on the grill when they came before his subcommittee when he ran it! Sorry, but EXXON runs the Gestapo, and you're just another one of their USEFUL IDIOTS!
I wonder if climate change will bring people to the polls? Doubtful. Most Americans love their SUV and HD tv. You want to take it away from them.
Comment by Liberals Are Filled With Hate — October 25, 2007 @ 1:56 pm
Why would anyone want to take away your HDTV? That's such a STUPID STATEMENT! You watching TV means you aren't driving - dum bass!
As for your SUV, no we just want it to be running on sustainable fuels, and not be built so wastefully and unsafely! Things YOU wouldn't understand - being a 'tard and all!
October 25th, 2007 at 3:58 pmIf you listen to Perino’s statement, she is completely accurate
Hits
Comment by hits — October 25, 2007 @ 11:40 am
Interesting point. Could you now share it with our resident "no such thing as climate changers". Since she is completely correct that must mean it is real, right?
October 25th, 2007 at 4:45 pmWorse than the fact that she actually said it, there is a percentage of the American population who heard that, sat back and said "you know, she has a good point." It's sad and embarrassing.
October 25th, 2007 at 4:48 pmDana, I watched the click from your presser today. You forgot to say that climate change is good for people who like to jet ski. It will be the ultimate kick to jet ski across the north pole.
Maybe that ugly hunk of necklace hanging around Dana's neck drains her IQ. How else can you explain such a stupid ass woman talking to our press corps? Why don't the reporters all stand up and scream at her babbling nonsense?
October 25th, 2007 at 9:30 pmActually, i saw Bjorn Lomborg (Authour of 'the chritical enviormentalist' ) make the same argument 3 weeks ago - Offcause that dosnt make the argument less stupid, just show how lame toughtpatterns circulate.
October 26th, 2007 at 4:59 am