Ex-EPA Official: White House Lied To Hide Cheney’s Role In Eviscerating Global Warming Testimony
Ex-EPA Official: White House Lied To Hide Cheney’s Role In Eviscerating Global Warming Testimony
Last October, Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on the “Human Impacts of Global Warming.” Gerberding told the committee that global warming “is anticipated to have a broad range of impacts on the health of Americans,” but gave few specifics, instead focusing on CDC’s current preparation plans.
CDC officials revealed that the reason for the weak testimony was that the White House had heavily edited Gerberding’s testimony, which originally was longer and had more “information on health risks“:
“It was eviscerated,” said a CDC official, familiar with both versions, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the review process.
The official said that while it is customary for testimony to be changed in a White House review, these changes were particularly “heavy-handed,” with the document cut from its original 14 pages to four. It was six pages as presented to the Senate committee.
The White House tried denying that it had “watered down” Gerberding’s testimony, but Press Secretary Dana Perino later admitted that the Office of Management and Budget had redacted testimony that contained “broad characterizations about climate change science that didn’t align with the IPCC.”
A new letter from former EPA administration official Jason Burnett, however, reveals that the White House was lying. In fact, Vice President Cheney called for the deletions because he feared tough testimony by Gerberding might make it harder for the Bush administration to avoid regulating greenhouse gas emissions:
The White House, at the urging of Cheney’s office, “requested that I work with CDC to remove from the testimony any discussion of the human health consequences of climate change,” wrote Burnett.
“CEQ [Council on Environmental Quality] contacted me to argue that I could best keep options open for the (EPA) administrator (on regulating carbon dioxide) if I would convince CDC to delete particular sections of their testimony,” Burnett said in the letter to Boxer.
The White House’s deletions — which were “overwhelmingly denounced” by scientists and environmental health experts — included “details on how many people might be adversely affected because of increased warming and the scientific basis for some of the CDC’s analysis on what kinds of diseases might be spread in a warmer climate and rising sea levels.” (See the unredacted testimony here.)
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Dick go fcuk yourself, just try not to enjoy it for a change.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:31 amAfter the North Pole disappears by the end of the Summer, it’s gonna be hard for the Bush Regime to hide anything ever again.
If the North Pole melting doesn’t convince people that Global Warming is not only real but human produced, then nothing ever will.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:37 amSo what’s Congress going to do about this?
I bet Nothing. They’ve let the Bush Regime get away with so much that these criminals are now announcing their wrong-doing publically without any concern about consequences for their actions.
And we’ll just tolerate it like we always do…
July 8th, 2008 at 10:41 amunbelievable Says:
If the North Pole melting doesn’t convince people that Global Warming is not only real but human produced, then nothing ever will.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:37 am
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Never underestimate the power of science deniers like Richard Lindzen to twist the facts to meet their agenda.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:41 amhussein toasterhead Says: Never underestimate the power of science deniers like Richard Lindzen to twist the facts to meet their agenda.
I suppose I also shouldn’t underestimate the willingness of Conservatives to have utter blind faith in a nonsensical viewpoint for which zero evidence exists…
July 8th, 2008 at 10:43 amIf you believe we can slow climate change, much less halt it, you’re completely delusional.
What, in the history of mankind, gives you any reason to believe that “the good of mankind” will trump greed?
Never has, never will.
Talk about a “wedge” issue…
July 8th, 2008 at 10:44 amThe fact that dickie & georgie are still in office after all that they’ve done is a permanent stain on the United States.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:45 amIf our Planet had a vote for the worst person of the 21st century, Cheney would win hands down.
‘All Hat & no Horse’
July 8th, 2008 at 10:46 amwhat does it take for the public to understand the utter contempt that dick cheney has for this country and its people. i’ve wondered many times these past few years if cheney isn’t, in fact, an agent of the iranians or chinese. hell, even the russians. because everything he’s advocated and undermined in this country has benefitted those countries. including selling nuclear technology to iran while he was the halliburton ceo — that was in defiance of u.s. law.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:47 amincluding selling nuclear technology to iran while he was the halliburton ceo — that was in defiance of u.s. law.
Like I said, greed wins over morality.
Humans are deeply flawed creatures.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:48 amThe photo clearly demonstrates what an ASSHAT is.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:50 amunbelievable - If the North Pole melting doesn’t convince people that Global Warming is not only real but human produced, then nothing ever will.
I know I am preaching to the choir but nothing ever will. These people (I use that term to include the primates we share our country with) have no use for facts. They start with the conclusion and sift through facts to support that conclusion. When that isn’t enough, they create facts out of whole cloth.
We are talking about faith-based reasoning, and it’s not falsifiable.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:50 amYou can dress him up anyway you want, but he still looks just like a huge pile of shit with a 10 gallon hat sitting on top.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:52 amCheney: So?
July 8th, 2008 at 10:55 amnanlichi Says: We are talking about faith-based reasoning, and it’s not falsifiable.
My Neocon brother calls it “The impacts of La Nina”. Nevermind La Nina occurs once every seven years, while the hottest five years on record have all occurred in the lull in between La Ninas. He doesn’t need facts when he can yell and bully people. Typical chimpanzee behavior indeed.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:58 am“The official said that while it is customary for testimony to be changed in a White House review”…
WHY is it “customary” for the White House to be able to change testimony?
July 8th, 2008 at 11:01 amCheney is truly the poster boy for NeoConmen, et al.
Redacting Center for Disease facts in fear of the truth getting out about climate change is not only criminal, it’s treasonous.
They hung horse thieves, didn’t they?
July 8th, 2008 at 11:03 amCome 1/20/09 I’m really gonna miss that patented Darthinian sneer…
(sarcasm off, now)
July 8th, 2008 at 11:05 amGreed doesn’t always win….look at Europe, Canada, Australia etc… Greed does not trump the people because the people of these countries don’t believe corporations. The people ask, every time a corporation wants new laws or deregulation, HOW IS THIS GOING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OUR CITIZENS???? If that question cant’ be ansewered, no law will be immplemanted.
Maybe if congress ask that simple question, laws would favor humanity instead of Corporations.
Greed doesn’t make pigs……Greed makes Hogs. Thats where we get the saying….
PIGS GET FAT AND HOGS GET SLAUGHTERED!!!!
July 8th, 2008 at 11:06 amunbelievable Says:
My Neocon brother calls it “The impacts of La Nina”. Nevermind La Nina occurs once every seven years, while the hottest five years on record have all occurred in the lull in between La Ninas. He doesn’t need facts when he can yell and bully people. Typical chimpanzee behavior indeed.
July 8th, 2008 at 10:58 am
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There was an interesting article on RealClimate about this recently. Even when you correct for the effects of El Niño/La Niña, the general temperature trend over the last five decades is rising:
http://www.realclimate.org/ index.php/ archives/ 2008/ 07/ global-trends-and-enso/
July 8th, 2008 at 11:07 amThere is a simple description for this style of governing: fascism. Those who support the Bush administration are, above all else, fascists.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:08 amSame old same old. The news will be that this administration worked closely with scientists to determine the best action and were wholly transparent and promoted the most sound advise for the good of everybody.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:08 amNever underestimate the power of science deniers like Richard Lindzen to twist the facts to meet their agenda.
Ironically, Lindzen doesn’t actually deny AGW. His position is that his “lens iris effect” will mitigate the effect of CO2 buildup.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:11 am#21:
Welcome the Fascist States of America:
1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism -
2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause -
4. Supremacy of the Military
5. Rampant Sexism
6. Controlled Mass Media
7. Obsession with National Security .
8. Religion and Government are Intertwined
9. Corporate Power is Protected
10. Labor Power is Suppressed
11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts
12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment
13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption
14. Fraudulent Elections
July 8th, 2008 at 11:11 amWHY is it “customary” for the White House to be able to change testimony?
The White House has also described rewriting the conclusions of other science reports as “part of the routine editing process.” They are experts at creating language that somehow normalizes their behavior. Move on, folks. Nothing to see here.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:14 amThe fact that Cheney removed the human health consequences of climate change is a clear indicator that we the people are of no consequence. His blantant refusal to address the importance of this issue by denouncing the scientists shows how little regard for human life he has.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:15 amI wonder if Obama will hold BushCO. responsible for all the Federal Crimes they have committed?
July 8th, 2008 at 11:17 amSlightly OT, but I recall early in the Bush term some rep of the admn saying to the effect it was our right to drive big gas guzzlers. Am I misremembering? Can’t find a link anywhere.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:17 amVerbalKint Says:
Ironically, Lindzen doesn’t actually deny AGW. His position is that his “lens iris effect” will mitigate the effect of CO2 buildup.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:11 am
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Perhaps, but any mitigating effects of his “lens iris” will be utterly negated by the amount of hot air Lindzen releases into the atmosphere with quotes like this:
July 8th, 2008 at 11:19 amA new letter from former EPA administration official Jason Burnett, however, reveals that the White House was lying. In fact, Vice President Cheney called for the deletions because he feared tough testimony by Gerberding might make it harder for the Bush administration to avoid regulating greenhouse gas emissions.
That’s the advantage to being a lying scumbag Republican, those pesky facts needn’t get in the way.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
July 8th, 2008 at 11:34 amonoclea Says:
Slightly OT, but I recall early in the Bush term some rep of the admn saying to the effect it was our right to drive big gas guzzlers. Am I misremembering? Can’t find a link anywhere.
I remember that too. However, when gas hit $4 per gallon, they flushed out the internet tube which held that quote.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:44 amI remember that too. However, when gas hit $4 per gallon, they flushed out the internet tube which held that quote.
LOL. Thanks for the reply. There’s still hope. Floating turds often resist a flush.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:52 amLemme guess-they were using the whole Unitary Executive philosophy to suppress information? Jesus how did this Cheney ass sustain power. A frickin Nixon throwback for crying out loud. Wow.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:57 amNice snarl Dick.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:07 pmFrom what I can tell these you-know-whats like Cheney and his merry band of oil and war profiteers are probably looking forward to the North Pole melting because that’ll mean more oil to drill for and, if they’re really lucky, perhaps a new war with Russia (and Canada?) over territory up there.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:09 pmEPA OFFICIAL: People will get sick and die from the consequences of climate change!!
CHENEY: So?
July 8th, 2008 at 12:13 pmi’ve wondered many times these past few years if cheney isn’t, in fact, an agent of the iranians or chinese. hell, even the russians
Cheney is an agent of Satan, I’m quite convinced. This is an individual who has children and grandchildren, but has no concern about the human consequences of climate change. The man is evil to the bone.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:17 pmDick Cheney: worst president of the united states, and he wasn’t even elected.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:17 pmIs it fair to say that we have an extremely strong string of lies from the WH ?
July 8th, 2008 at 12:19 pmAnyone notice that the EPA findings/testimony is paid for by public funds? This is destruction of public property.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:23 pmIt’s a secret - Cheney has his war profits, him and Bush have the ranch get-a-way all ready, their bunkers are dug, food and guns stocked….get ready for their last harah folks…
Gotta hate them.
July 8th, 2008 at 12:24 pmIf Cheney stole physical files from a lab, that’s theft. Why is this administration’s long history of destroying scientific knowledge treated differently? Arrest that man!
July 8th, 2008 at 12:24 pmPERINO: “…broad characterizations about climate change science that didn’t align with the IPCC.”
Is of course a complete falsehood. The statements deleted by the WH align perfectly with the IPCC. Heres a side by side comparison of the deleted testimony and the 2007 IPCC WG2 report:
http://epw.senate.gov/ public/ index.cfm?FuseAction=Files.View&FileStore_id=feab2062-a885-40d2-9c25-a9a34cbb03c1
I’m not surprised Cheneys dirty fingerprints are all over this
July 8th, 2008 at 1:23 pmNot fair, the picture of Chenay with that hat him look like shit! Oh, wait, isn’t the hat. Sorry.
/Snark
July 8th, 2008 at 1:48 pm*makes*
July 8th, 2008 at 1:49 pmI think what REALLY hacks these old conservatives off is not only did we lose in Vietnam, the hippees were right about the environment the whole time!!! This administration, sworn to return dignity to the Executive Branch, lying to Congress and the American public?!?! Pshaw!
July 9th, 2008 at 3:41 am