Al Franken: “This is actually an interesting area. There is a well- established link between the scientists who have worked for think…”

“This is actually an interesting area. There is a well- established link between the scientists who have worked for think tanks such as George C. Marshall Institute, Heartland Institute, and other foundations, which were funded at first by tobacco money and, since then, by the fossil fuel industry. These scientists have been paid to spread misinformation in order to cast doubt. That is all they have to do--on a whole host of scientific issues--first, tobacco and acid rain, the hole in the ozone layer, and now climate change. Take tobacco, for example. Scientists were paid to testify in court that there was no proof that smoking caused cancer or was addictive, even after the industry scientists knew darn well that cigarettes were addictive and did cause cancer and heart disease. In fact, the tobacco industry was found guilty in 2004 of plotting to conceal the health risks and addictiveness of cigarettes from the public. The judge found that the tobacco industry had ``devised and executed a scheme to defraud consumers and potential consumers about the hazards of cigarettes--hazards that their own internal company documents proved they had known since the 1950s.'' The whole purpose of this scheme was to provide misinformation, to confuse the public, to manufacture doubt, and that is what is happening right now with climate change.…”