Now it's unleashing the greatest weapon of ignorance: the witch hunt.
Republican Congressman Joseph Barton, chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, has sent official letters to two scientists whose study of climate showed that the 1990s were hotter than any decade in the past thousand years.
He cites alleged flaws and errors, but his demands clearly suggest he suspects them of fraud. He is demanding a full accounting of all of their climate research, the grants and financial support for their studies and other information related to financing, and details on their data, including computer source codes.
Other studies support their findings, but the Bush attack machine has achieved many successes through the strategy of attacking their opponents' strengths. Attack a war hero's war record. Attack a U.S. government covert agent's courage and patriotism. Attack the scientific community's science. Don't let evidence stand in your way.
But the information being demanded is a warning: Undermine a position of the rabid right (even though their opposition on climate is not either conservative or religious but based on being coopted by particular corporate interests) and you'll spend your time and money to defend yourself in witch hunt show trials. From HUAC to phony impeachment, this is one of their favorite abuses of power.
Other scientists and international scientific organizations are reacting with outrage, but not everyone is unhappy. "We've always wanted to get the science on trial," Myron Ebell of the Competitiveness Enterprise Institute told BBC News. "We would like to figure out a way to get this into a court of law."
It may be getting hotter, but the age is still getting dark.
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