A Climate Change Rally With a Few Frustrated Climate Deniers in the Gallery

There was John Harrity, president of the Connecticut Council of Machinists; Scott Bates, president of the Center for National Policy and chairman of the Stonington police commission; ex-Marine Tyson Belanger, who is now with the Truman National Security Project; and Teresa Frankhauser of the Central Connecticut Area Health Education Center.

They stepped up to the microphone one-by-one, not an environmentalist among them, while in the gallery were representatives of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, Connecticut Land Conservation Council, Citizens Campaign for the Environment and other organizations.

I didn’t hear any complaints that we weren’t included among the speakers.

In his remarks, Blumenthal said he preferred the term “climate disruption” to climate change, and said the efforts to reduce Connecticut’s collective carbon footprint will “inspire the nation” to meet the President’s goal of reducing carbon emissions by three billion metric tons by 2020.

Murphy then said it’s time to cast aside the “science deniers,” and said that scientists’ worst-case scenario of a 6 to 8 degree rise in temperature by the end of the century makes him concerned for his young children.

At this, the fellow sitting next to me put his head in his hand and audibly sighed, “Oh, God.”

I had been listening to him moan and groan, and grouse to two companions, throughout the event. Indeed, before the festivities started, when a young staffer asked if they wanted to hold a sign that said, “Climate Action. It’s Our Obligation,” my neighbor responded:

“Not a chance, young man,” and then added to his companions, “It’s a shame, isn’t it, that young people are involved in this?”

Now, I had noticed on the sign-in sheet as I entered the room earlier that one of the people on it had described his affiliation as “Tea Party.”

What luck, then, that these Tea Partiers (or “climate deniers” or “Flat Earth Society” members – I couldn’t be sure who was the self-identified Tea Party member) had taken seats next to me! And what luck that I had a notebook.

This event was clearly torture for them – although self torture, at that. The despairing “Oh, God” sigh was supplemented by a variety of groans and moans and muttered demurrals as the speakers articulated their support for climate change action.

Finally, as the event was approaching an hour in length, when the speakers were done and the press had asked its questions, my neighbor stood up and called out a question. He had an Australian accent.

“I’m concerned,” he said, “that we’re ignoring the thousands of scientists who deny man-made global warming.”

I judged from the puzzled look on Blumenthal’s face that he had not been expecting a question from a “denier” in the gallery. But the Senator allowed the questioner to continue.

“Are you aware,” the man with the Australian accent said, “of the decision by Australia, the world’s fourth largest economy, to scrap cap-and-trade?”

Blumenthal didn’t hesitate: “Yes, we are aware,” he said, “and we are going to continue supporting the President’s program.”

And with that Blumenthal smiled, thanked the audience and declared the event finished. – Tom Andersen, director of communications and community outreach