Can you imagine a debate moderator asking liberal candidates to name specific doctors they find most credible on the matter of when human life begins? Neither can I. But that’s analogous to the stupid question Rick Perry was asked in last night’s debate.
Moderator: “Just recently in New Hampshire, you said weekly, or even daily, scientists are coming forward to question the idea that human activity is behind climate change. Which scientists have you found most credible on this subject?”
Until prominent climate scientists start throwing touchdown passes or hitting home runs, no one is going to remember their names. Even the global warming believers get most of their PSAs via pop culture icons such as Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio. Framing the questions in this manner and asking Perry to name names is an amateurish attempt to discredit the candidate.
Perry didn’t take the bait and gave an adequate answer, pointing out that the science isn’t settled and that the economic consequences of the environmentalists’ agenda would be disastrous. But to directly address the moderator’s question, we may not remember their names but we do remember their scandals. The only thing Perry should have added was some mention of Climate-gate and other scandals in which the scientists have been caught manipulating the data to support the AGW theory.
Neil Rosekrans is a founder and partner of StateBrief.com. He has been a guest political commentator for the Arizona Law Channel, NBC's Sunday Square Off and The Terry Gilberg Show on KFYI. Neil earned his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and earned his MBA and Masters in Public Policy, with an emphasis in International Relations, from Pepperdine University.
Neil and his wife, Beth, live in Scottsdale, Arizona. 
