Jennifer Granholm calls out the Heartland Institute for trying to link people who believe in climate change to mass murders and terrorists. She encourages everyone to reach out to corporations supporting organizations like the Heartland Institute and ALEC and let them know their money is spreading a message of fear and lies: “If you don’t ask them to stop, no one will. It’s up to you. You have the power, to change the climate, of fear.”
TRANSCRIPT
For less than 24 hours, the Heartland Institute – another front organization for the Koch brothers, like ALEC and Americans for Prosperity – ran [billboards that read, “I still believe in Global Warming. Do you?” next to a picture of Ted Kaczynski] in Chicago.
Yup, that’s right. Billboards linking all people who believe that climate is changing to Ted Kaczynski, the Unibomber, and to Osama bin Laden in other billboards and Charles Manson. The 97 percent of scientists who accept man-made climate are just like mass murderers and terrorists. Of course! It’s obvious.
The Koch brothers and their energy companies do not want you to believe in climate change – even when you can see it and feel it for yourself. So they tried to use shocking, ridiculous billboards as a strategy.
As Daily Kos said, “The Heartland jumps the shark” meaning the ad was just too much, even by Heartland’s low standards.
And today, just hours ago, Heartland pulled the billboards. They took them down, because of the outrage that those caused among people like you. But there’s more outrageous behavior being funded, every single day byHeartland and ALEC and American’s for Prosperity.
For example, you heard that ALEC is trying to get states to repeal their commitment to clean energy jobs. So, in six states, lawmakers have introduced legislation that are going to repeal those standards – standardsthat would not only reduced our dependence on foreign oil, but have createdjobs, as you’ve heard [guest Dale Bryk from the Natural Resources Defense Council] say and helped our environment as well. Thankfully none have passed – yet. But if they keep it up you never know.
If today’s Koch-backed billboards don’t cause corporations like Eli Lilly and Pfizer to see what Heartland and ALEC are up to, nothingwill. But you know what, it’s up to you.
The corporations funding this hateful and outrageous message need to know that you don’t approve. The only way change happens is through the power of our voices. There is a link at our web site at current.com/the-war-room with a list of member corporations of ALEC. Examine that list, and take action.
Maybe switch your beer from Anheuser-Busch, which is asupporting corporation of ALEC, to a local brewery. It’s up to you, but you must let them know that their message is spreading lies and hate. Even if it’s for less than 24 hours, in the case of these billboards, it is unacceptable as a strategy as a tactic and as the future.
If you don’t ask them to stop, no one will. It’s up to you. You have the power, to change the climate, of fear.
