If you saw Gore’s terrific testimony on Waxman-Markey with former Sen. Warner (details here, full CSPAN video here), then you saw the absurd attempt by Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) to suggest that the reason Gore has been advocating climate action for decades is to make money. FoxNews doctored the video of Gore’s response to smear him.
On the May 1 edition of The O’Reilly Factor, during a segment suggesting that former Vice President Al Gore has profited from his advocacy of renewable energy and climate change mitigation, guest host Laura Ingraham presented clips of Gore’s April 24 congressional testimony that had been edited to remove his statements that he donates the money he makes from his climate-related work to a non-profit organization.
Introducing the segment, Ingraham stated: “It seems that being green does pay big time — just ask Al Gore. Mr. Global Warming was worth about $2 million or so when he left office in 2001, but after eight years of tirelessly working to save the world, the planet, he’s now reportedly — get this — worth a whopping $100 million. His financial windfall came up at last week’s Capitol Hill hearing.” Ingraham then aired the following selectively edited clips from Gore’s testimony:
REP. MARSHA BLACKBURN (R-TN): Is the legislation that we are discussing here today, is that something that you are going to personally benefit from?
[Ingraham’s cut]
GORE: If you believe that the reason I have been working on this issue for 30 years is because of greed, you don’t know me.
[Ingraham’s cut]
GORE: I’ve been willing to put my money where my mouth is. Do you think there’s something wrong with being active in business in this country?
BLACKBURN: I am simply asking for clarification –
GORE: I’m proud of it.
BLACKBURN: — of the relationship.
GORE: I’m proud of it.
The full exchange from the hearing is included below, with the parts Ingraham provided in italics, and Gore’s relevant responses — which were omitted from the O’Reilly Factor segment — in bold:
BLACKBURN: So you’re a partner in Kleiner Perkins. OK. Now, they have invested about a billion dollars in 40 companies that are going to benefit from cap-and-trade legislation. So is the legislation that we are discussing here today, is that something that you are going to personally benefit from?
GORE: I believe that the transition to a green economy is good for our economy and good for all of us, and I have invested in it. But every penny that I have made, I have put right into a nonprofit, the Alliance for Climate Protection, to spread awareness of why we have to take on this challenge.
And Congresswoman, if you’re — if you believe that the reason I have been working on this issue for 30 years is because of greed, you don’t know me.
BLACKBURN: Sir, I’m not making accusations, I’m asking questions that have been asked of me and individuals — constituents that were seeking a point of clarity, so I am asking you for that point of — point of clarity.
GORE: I understand exactly what you’re doing, Congresswoman. Everybody here does.
BLACKBURN: And, well — you know, are you willing to divest yourself of any profit? Does all of it go to a not-for-profit that is an educational not-for-profit –
GORE: Every penny that I have made –
BLACKBURN: Every penny –
GORE: – has gone to it. Every penny from the movie, from the book, from any investments in renewable energy. I’ve been willing to put my money where my mouth is. Do you think there’s something wrong with being active in business in this country?
BLACKBURN: I am simply asking for clarification –
GORE: I’m proud of it.
BLACKBURN: – of the relationship.
GORE: I’m proud of it.
Not only does Ingraham doctor the video, here is what she says after showing it.
INGRAHAM: Did she get the question actually answered? With us now Marc Morano, who’s the executive editor of….
Yes, Laura, she did get the question actually answered — you just doctored it out and now have the nerve to make that slanderous insinuation.
– from climateprogress
Shame on you media.