Republicans and Climate change. Critics say it has become the “theology of the outrageous”.
From “drill baby drill” to calling global warming “a hoax”, the conservative right has been turning up the heat of their anti-environment message in the race for the White House.
Back in June 2011, current GOP front runner Rick Santorum told Fox News, “There is no such thing as global warming,”
During a Republican presidential debate in Florida on January 27th, Santorum accused his challengers, Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney, of “buying into the global warming hoax.”
This week, Fox Business Network’s Lou Dobbs took to the climate debate to a ridiculous new level.
“Now the unmentionable: a story that you will not hear anywhere in the liberal national media,” warned Dobbs Tuesday night on his show. “Hollywood is once again trying to indoctrinate our children.”
He added, “The president’s liberal friends in Hollywood targeting a younger generation by using animated movies to sell their agenda to younger children.”
Dobbs big concern: a children’s book that is being made into a new feature film. Universal Studios is bringing the Dr. Seuss classic “The Lorax” to the big screen on March 2nd. The film, like the four decade old book, is about a creature who “speaks for the trees” and the consequences of not taking care of the environment.
Dobbs even suggested to his viewers that the film’s pro-environment message has ties to both Occupy Wall Street and President Obama’s recent battle over the payroll tax in Congress.
“If you read too much politics into this, you are missing the point,” said actor Rob Riggle who voices the villain “O’Hare” in the movie. “The film’s message “caring for your environment” could apply to every child, regardless of their parents being left or right.
The world premiere for “The Lorax” was held Sunday at Universal Studios Hollywood. I was there to ask the cast of the movie about the film’s message.
“As an individual you have so much power, adds actor Zac Efron who voices the charter of “Ted” in the movie. “All it takes is one idea— one small thing to make a difference.”
I also asked a few of the actors about Rick Santorum’s assertion that global warming is a “hoax”.
“To call it a hoax, it’s not responsible,” said Ed Helms, the star of “The Office” and “The Hangover” who also voices the character “Once-ler” in the film. “I would think that a position like that is born out of an abject ignoring of scientific data,”
Actor Danny Devito voices the title character “The Lorax”. Devito, a well-known Democrat, had sharp criticism for the Republican presidential candidates.
“I just think it’s a great thing if Rick Santorum gets to be the nominee for the GOP party so we can listen to him and Barak Obama, our great president, debate,” said Devito. “I’m waiting for Mitt Romney to shoot himself in the other foot and then we can have a good debate between the very conservative Christian right and people who are more moderate.”
See my story (video) from this event here
