Thomas, your unusually one-sided stance on propriety and 'poltiical influence' is rather remarkable I think. Unless you REALLY hunt for it, you won't see the following in most of the mainstream drive by media. Why? Because this witness was held to the last after all the media had left. But then the drive by media left pretty much after Hansen testified because he gave them what they went for--something to bash George Bush with.
I think there are a few people left, however, who want the real story instead of just the one that fits their personal ideological agenda.
Spencer's opening statement was a revelation in how ALL administrations, not just George Bush, handle information released including that of government scientists. I think the only reason this was printed here is that Spencer is one of Alabama's own. I wish you could have heard at least his opening statement however. Emphasis here is mine:
Scientist cites pressure during Clinton years
Tuesday, March 20, 2007MARY ORNDORFF News Washington correspondent
WASHINGTON - Political interference by President Bush's administration into the science on global warming is under investigation by Congress, but an Alabama researcher testified Monday that there was interference during President Clinton's years, too.
"While you might think political influence on climate research programs started under the Bush administration, it simply isn't true," said Roy Spencer, a former NASA scientist now working at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Spencer, who is skeptical about how much impact humans have had on rising global temperatures, said he believed government funding of NASA's climate studies was at risk because his position was different from then-Vice President Al Gore's. He also said he avoided expressing his opinion publicly because of NASA's rules, and voluntarily resigned in fall 2001.
The House Government Reform Committee is investigating the editing of a scientific climate change report by an official in the Bush White House and, separately, the speaking limits placed on another NASA scientist, global warming expert James Hansen.
"The public and Congress need access to the best possible science to inform the policy debate about how to protect the planet from irreversible changes," said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the panel's chairman.
During the confrontational hearing, Democrats accused Philip Cooney, a former oil industry lobbyist, of watering down the conclusions of a climate change report with a series of edits designed to raise doubt about the certainty of global warming. Cooney, who was then with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, testified his recommended changes were in line with an earlier report from the National Academy of Sciences.
Also, Hansen had to testify alongside a former NASA public affairs officer who two years ago, at age 24, prevented Hansen from doing a national interview about global warming.
"Why are public affairs offices staffed by political appointees?" Hansen asked. "They should not be forcing scientists to parrot propaganda."
Republicans on the panel argued that Hansen's opinions and science were cited 1,400 times in news stories last year, so he was hardly stifled. But Hansen said that was only after the NASA administrator stepped in and allowed him to speak freely.
Republicans also complained that their witness, Spencer, was unfairly placed last on the agenda and could not testify side-by-side with Hansen. Spencer was called to the witness table more than three hours after the hearing had started and the once-crowded room was nearly empty.
Spencer said government funding for climate research tends to favor "climate catastrophe" as opposed to "climate stability."
"I'm not claiming that a global warming science program isn't needed; it is," Spencer said. "We do need to find out how much of the current warmth is human-induced and how much we might expect in the future. I'm just pointing out that the political interference goes both ways, but not everyone has felt compelled to complain about it."
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