Good interviewer exposes Ginrgich hypocrisy on environment

[Enrique]

yeah, it's easy but most MSM folks don't do it.


http://www.grist.org/article/2010-06-30-gingrich-slams-obama-on-bp-gulspill-and-sounds-off-on-climate/

(...)

Q. In 2008, you appeared in an ad with Nancy Pelosi in which you said that America "must take action to address climate change." Why have you flip-flopped?
A. I haven't flip-flopped. The actions I would take would include nuclear power and the use of renewables. For much less cost than what Al Gore wants to spend, you can incentivize dramatic changes.

Q. I'm sorry, I'm confused. You've said on the one hand you're not sure climate change is human-caused. On the other, America should take action to address climate change.
A. I think the carbon of the atmosphere is something we should deal with. To give you an example, if you had the same percent of American electricity from nuclear that you get in France, you would take 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide a year out of the atmosphere.

Q. You have applauded CEOs of GE and Duke Energy and Wal-Mart and other major industry executives for leading environmental progress in the country. These same executives are supporting a regulatory cap on carbon, saying they need federal regulations that provide market certainty.
A. What they are really telling you? They're telling you they are so afraid that the Environmental Protection Agency will be used that they would rather have a law than have the Environmental Protection Agency make their life even more miserable.

Q. So you think these people actually aren't concerned about climate change and don't support a cap on carbon emissions?
A. I'm just saying there are a lot of people who are driven to take positions because they are genuinely afraid the government will make their life even more miserable through regulatory devices.

Q. You vehemently oppose a cap on carbon emissions. Economists say that greenhouse gases are imposing costs on the public that the emitters aren't paying. Why should the public have to pay these costs?
A. Creating a regime to regulate carbon emissions would profoundly change the entire economy and guarantee the export of an amazing number of jobs to China and India. I regard the cap-and-trade bills as full employment acts for China and India.

Q. Your energy proposals consist largely of incentives -- essentially, subsidies. You've also fought efforts to remove subsidies from fossil fuels. If you support free, open, and competitive markets, shouldn't you support removing subsidies that distort the market?
A. Not if you believe that a low-cost energy regime is essential to our country -- both in terms of its internal transportation cost and its competitiveness in the world market.

(...)

[Scuba]

1. "energy regime" ... Hmmmmm, how to interpret? n/t