August 17, 2011 11:48 AM

Rick Perry suggests global warming is a hoax

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
Campaign 2012

Republican presidential candidate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, with son Griffin, right, attend the Politics and Eggs Breakfast, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011, in Bedford, N.H.

(Credit: AP)

Updated 3:58 p.m. Eastern Time

Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry said Wednesday morning that he does not believe in global warming science and suggested it is grounded in scientists manipulating data for financial gain.

The Texas governor was appearing at a New Hampshire breakfast event with business leaders Wednesday morning when he said "there are a substantial number of scientists who have manipulated data so that they will have dollars rolling into their projects." 

Perry said scientists are coming forward almost daily to question "the original idea that man-made global warming is what is causing the climate to change." He said the climate is changing but that it has been changing "ever since the earth was formed."

Perry added that "the issue of global warming has been politicized," and argued that America should not spend billions of dollars addressing "a scientific theory that has not been proven, and from my perspective is more and more being put into question."

There is wide consensus among climate scientists that global warming is taking place and that the actions of human beings have contributed to the increasing temperatures.

Many conservatives have questioned that conclusion, but Perry's chief rival for the Republican presidential nomination, Mitt Romney, has said he accepts the scientific consensus.

"I believe the world is getting warmer, and I believe that humans have contributed to that," Romney said in New Hampshire in June. "It's important for us to reduce our emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases that may be significant contributors."

Perry's primary focus during the "Politics and Eggs" Breakfast in Bedford was the economy. He sought to create a contrast with President Obama on job creation, saying, "my actions as governor are helping create jobs, while the president's tax and regulation policies are killing jobs."

Perry also said his decision as governor to sign an executive order requiring that sixth-grade girls in Texas be vaccinated against the human papilloma virus - prompting criticism from many social conservatives, who worried that such a vaccination would encourage promiscuity - was a mistake, according to the Nashua Telegraph. 

Perry added that he would not have signed the deal worked out between Republicans and Democrats to raise the debt limit in order to avoid a potential economic catastrophe.

Will Rick Perry's Texas swagger help or hurt?

Perry stands by Bernanke "treasonous" remark amid criticism

20 Photos

Rick Perry on the campaign trail

View the Full Gallery »


Add a Comment See all 135 Comments
by popapiano September 9, 2011 4:32 PM EDT
The wealthy want to discount global warming science because they don't want to pay for remedies. Global warming contributes to the spread of disease and plague as disease carrying insects migrate north. Already hurricanes are becoming much more frequent and stronger as we've just seen. Droughts and heat waves are also becoming more common. I could go on.

What is pathetic about this is, in the interest of saving money now, we're opening up ourselves to huge costs later. Denying global waring is not just wrong, it's just plain stupid because it will eventually require massive funding to fix later, hurting the very people who are denying it now.
Reply to this comment
by gilliamjf August 21, 2011 10:59 PM EDT
More crazy talk...stoopid GOP
Reply to this comment
by memphispiano August 19, 2011 6:08 AM EDT
Like it or not, he spoke the truth on two counts......first, there are many scientists coming out questioning the science of global warming...and second, there have been many instances (reported right here on cbsnews) of those who manipulated the evidence to support global warming. Does this mean that it's not real? No, but we all must be smart enough to realize that BIG business is fueling the debate on BOTH sides. Do you not think there are some companies that stand to make HUGE profits if we all go green? Naturally, they are spending billions on their propaganda just like the other side is spending billions on theirs. We could outlaw ALL pollution tomorrow, but the world economy would be brought to a standstill...OR we can try our best to sift through the propaganda on both sides and take a measured approach.
Reply to this comment
by gca2 August 19, 2011 9:28 AM EDT
Scientists always question--- especially themselves. That is how new questions arise and how science advances. From that point of view yes, he is correct. However, the vast majority of scientists agree regarding the basis of global warming. Ironically, it is the so called "skeptics" who have the most to gain financially as much of their support comes from companies or political organizations with an anti-global warming agenda.
by elliesamericana August 19, 2011 11:22 AM EDT
The world's 10,000 top scientists all agree on global warming. They only disagree on how bad the damage will be. Science does not do propaganda, that is relegated to politics. It is not the first time politics and religion has refuted science. Remember the Tennessee "monkey trial?" You can have a republican war on science, but the result is you will nearly always lose. Respectfully, retired US Army Medical Officer.
See all 4 Replies
by elmgreen11 August 19, 2011 2:14 AM EDT
atmospheric carbon dioxide has more than doubled in the last 50 years, that's no hoax. look out your window Perry, Texas is in the worst drought ever. the last decade has been the hottest on record.
Reply to this comment
by Jaylah54 August 18, 2011 11:16 PM EDT
Ah yes, the completely scientific "If I don't acknowledge something I don't like, it ceases to exist" principle.
Reply to this comment
by radsenior August 18, 2011 8:14 PM EDT
Perry graduated from Texas A&M University in 1972 with a 2.22 GPA, earning a bachelor's degree in animal science. Perry knows nothing about Global warming, economics or anything else! Rick Perry became a millionaire on Texas taxpayers quarter! Rick does not have an economics degree but he and the TEA party-ers have been doing everything they could to do away with Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid! TEA party members are working to inhibit or destroy! The TEA party has subverted any sanity, the once proud and now defunct GOP had, and made them irrelevant! All confidence in America has been abrogated due to the TEA party! All job initiatives will not be allowed to pass by the TEA party elite who are intent to stop president Obama by any means necessary! The prejudiced and bigoted Sen. Mitch McConnell, the bigoted Republican from Kentucky, the minority leader with the greatest cunning and sharpest knife, signaled his party's true purpose last year when he proclaimed: "The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president." These Yahoos are not representing the American people they are on a bigoted crusade to take down a black president! This is the TEA party's only agenda!
Reply to this comment
by elliesamericana August 18, 2011 8:41 PM EDT
I'm taking it that this was a 2.22 GPA out of 4.0? That's about as C-minus as it gets. At least he did better than our Wisconsin governor, also with a C-minus GPA, who dropped out during his third year in a cloud of controversy. Respectfully, retired US Army Medical Officer.
by agnesdeo August 18, 2011 4:29 PM EDT
This so-called theory did make Al Gore quite wealthy, didn't.
How many millions $$$$ did he get for his theory book????
Reply to this comment
by elliesamericana August 18, 2011 7:17 PM EDT
Vice President Gore was wealthy anyway. He donated all profits from his book and documentary to help stop global warming. He was truly the definition of a dedicated public servant and still is. Respectfully, retired US Army Medical Officer.
by tomdegan58 August 18, 2011 8:37 AM EDT
I'm looking forward to the Perry Campaign like an eight-year-old kid looks forward to Christmas morning. A campaign as endearingly weird as that ought to be good for too much material to catalog. Can he make it all the way to the convention? It's not bloody likely that the religious bigots who now control that disgusting party will be nominating Mormon Mitt Romney anytime soon - the only one of the current frontrunners with an IQ higher than room temperature.

Oh, what the hell! Let's all pretend that it's morning again in America. Cheery optimism is the order of the day. Times as weird as these demand Rick Perry.

Git 'em, cowboy!

http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com

Tom Degan
Reply to this comment
by WarrenGRichards August 18, 2011 12:52 AM EDT
Good gods and goddesses! Please give us all a break. Would you expect anything different from anyone who thinks America's most popular glorified mythology is actual and/or factual? Isn't it interesting how Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) has a voice that is sometimes thunderous and scary like a preacher for people irretrievably stuck in the trappings of glorified mythology *OR* all tenor and twangy like a good ol' boy working with milkers and heifers and baling the hay?

Hang in there if you can, everyone.

Take care.

Big hugs,

Warren

Warren G. Richards
Mesa AZ
Reply to this comment
by 6591Hou August 17, 2011 10:21 PM EDT
Perry is also referred to as Governor Zoolander because of his hair - taking any scientific perspective from this guy should only be done under adult supervision.
Reply to this comment
See all 135 Comments
.

Follow Political Hotsheet

Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
CBS News on Facebook
  • Building You a Better Morning

  • CBS This Morning

    "CBS This Morning," anchored by Charlie Rose, Gayle King and Erica Hill, airs weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m. ET and at the same time in other time zones.
    Learn more...