Prominent Climategate Figure Threatens Lawsuit Over Spoof Video

mann-photoPenn State University’s Michael Mann, one of the central figures in the Climategate scandal, has threatened legal action against Minnesotans for Global Warming (M4GW) over the group’s popular satirical YouTube video “Hide the Decline.” The No Cap-and-Trade Coalition, a group that includes M4GW, responded today at an event at the National Press Club, releasing Mann’s threatening letter and an updated version of the “Hide the Decline” video.

“We understand why Michael Mann is eager to silence public discussion of the hockey stick scandal,” said Jeff Davis of No Cap-and-Trade, “but truth is an absolute defense.”

The original “Hide the Decline” video, which had more than 500,000 viewers, was removed today from YouTube by M4GW’s Elmer Beauregard. It received national attention when Rush Limbaugh played it on his radio show and was later featured on CBS Evening News in the wake of the Climategate email scandal. “Hide the Decline” parodied Mann, the Penn State professor who is largely responsible for the creation of the now debunked “hockey stick” graph, which purported to show a dramatic spike in average global temperature during the 20th century after 900 years of relatively constant temperature.

The video spotlighted a phrase from one of the central “Climategate” e-mails in which the University of East Anglia’s Phil Jones explains how he used Mann’s “Nature trick” to “hide the decline” of key temperature data. The hockey stick graph relied on “hiding this decline.”

When asked why he removed the video, Beauregard said “Right now, the last thing I need is a lawsuit. I can barely afford my electric bill.” Beauregard recently converted M4GW’s world headquarters (a recreational vehicle parked in Northern Minnesota) from propane to wood heat. “Mann should be glad to know that we don’t burn fossil fuels anymore – just trees,” said Beauregard.

“M4GW was started to poke fun at Global Warming because I knew it was a joke, it’s hard to believe in Global Warming when you live in a place like Minnesota. During last winter we all wished we had some global warming, hence the name of our group,” said Beauregard. As global warming developed into a political issue, M4GW has tried to educate the public that CO2 is not harmful but part of the natural carbon cycle.

Minnesotans for Global Warming did comply with Mann’s cease and desist demand, taking the “Hide the Decline” video down from their YouTube account and webpage. The No Cap and Trade Coalition unveiled a new video they’re calling “Hide the Decline II,” however. It was screened at a press conference on April 20th and is available on YouTube and NoCapAndTrade.com.

“If Doctor Mann decides to sue,” said Davis, “we would welcome the opportunity to do legal discovery. I believe he’s hiding more than just ‘the decline.'”

Speaking at the No Cap-and-Trade Coalition press conference was M4GW spokesman “Chicken Little,” a man in a chicken suit who goes to rallies crying “The globe is warming, the globe is warming!”

When asked about the situation, Chicken Little said, “I used to believe in global warming – of course, I used to believe the sky was falling too, but Elmer set me straight.” Chicken Little went on to say, “I think it’s horrible that Elmer had to take down the video. Can’t a person have a little fun on YouTube anymore? Those Global warming guys sure don’t have any sense of humor.”

At the press conference, the No Cap-and-Trade Coalition handed out a historical review of the hide-the-decline controversy entitled, “Michael Mann: Defamed or Defined by Hide-the-Decline?” as well as mini-hockey sticks that read “Mann-Made Global Warming: Why We Should Be Worried About the Intellectual Climate.”

31 Responses to Prominent Climategate Figure Threatens Lawsuit Over Spoof Video

  1. Cubanshamoo April 21, 2010 at 12:47 am #

    It is amazing, but it shows their true face: real scientists are rarely interested in publicity, these people are top celebrities, show-men in action at the IPCC. And then, they have another special quality: they have deep inside (hided like the decline) a little dictator who hate freedom of expression. What a shame!!!

  2. pojoe April 21, 2010 at 9:11 am #

    More twisting off facts by big oil and big coal who spend 147 million to disprove G.W (Koch Industries Exxon/Mobile) and who are spending another 2 million in California emissions law referendum to overturn this law.Don’t tell me they like to throw money away?

    • Dan McGrath April 21, 2010 at 9:45 am #

      The “Hide the Decline” videos cost $0 to make. They are the product of the imaginations of three guys who make videos out of an RV in Northern Minnesota as a hobby. It’s getting ridiculous how anytime anyone speaks an opinion that’s contrary to the AGW religion, someone will invariably cry “BIG OIL!” Geez, those Exxon guys must have half the population on their payroll now.

  3. Rob N. Hood April 21, 2010 at 1:52 pm #

    Dan’s child-like hyperbole aside, what pojoe says is absolutley true. Probably the tip of the iceberg in terms of what Big Oil spends in toto, for politicians, political campaigns, judges (yes they’re for sale too), payoffs for foreign dictators and military strongmen. No wonder the cost of gas is so high. If Big Oil just did business in a moral and ethical manner it would probably be less expensive. But I don’t know that for certain of course. God kows everyone involved in Oil are filthy rich and getting richer by the day. Yea for them! Let’s help those poor old rich bastards along with our own little propaganda stories…!!!!!!!!

  4. Hal Groar April 21, 2010 at 8:34 pm #

    I don’t have a problem with what “Big Oil” spends to get the legislation it likes to pass. As long as they can do it, that means I can do it. If we start to exclude “oil” or “tobacco” or “pick your favorite whipping post” from voicing an opinion on bills we no longer have freedom of speech. I may not have the amount of money the big guys have but when I join with like minded people we get noticed. I have nothing to do with big oil myself, but I support the hell out of them! As far as California goes…they are “hooped” and it is their own fault for electing those far left idiots!

    • Rob N. Hood April 24, 2010 at 6:39 pm #

      Oh, right Hal, you can personlly spend millions of dollars… Seriously- I can’t believe what I just read. Wow.

      • Hal Groar April 25, 2010 at 10:27 am #

        You should read it again then. Read the start of the third sentence. I don’t know how much clearer I can make it.

        • Hal Groar April 25, 2010 at 10:29 am #

          I am sorry, the 4th sentence. I guess I could have been clearer.

  5. Mojo April 22, 2010 at 12:14 am #

    One person, Al Gore, spent 200 million promoting the global warming scam last year., and he bragged he would be the first carbon billionaire. The cries of BIG OIL are disingenuous at their very best, but are usually a smoke screen to cover vested interests. It’s called projection. Many unions invested heavily in carbon schemes over the past few years, and will go broke if the scam does not roll along as planned.

    There are also countless feel-good jobs that sprung up around the scam that will go away. Yes, there are vested interests…….but the vast majority of them are on the new religion-based-on-scam side.

    • Rob N. Hood April 24, 2010 at 6:42 pm #

      Yeah, the poor oil companies… gosh golly gee. What Mojo- you don’t fill your car with gas????????!!!!!!!!!!!!! You don’t notice the prices??????????? Or the people all that money goes to???????????????? Or what it can buy them in terms of not just many mansions, etc. but gee I don’t know… what’s that word again??? Oh I remember: INFLUENCE, not to mention a little thing we like to call TERRORISM.

      Do you have a brain?

  6. Cubanshamoo April 22, 2010 at 12:45 am #

    Oh Pojoe, do you know how much dedicate Germany to produce wind energy, and these year they will open 4 huge new coal mines. Have you an idea why?. Becuase if governments take serious the GW fallacy we all die of hunger. You sound to me like Greenpeace, spending 2 millions in a publicitary campaign to save 2 whales sorrounded by ice, while they were running a whale’s meat factory in Iceland. I don’t ask you to stay and contaminate a bit more with Rob’s ideas (I called “his” ideas, but it is just copy and paste), because you seem to be already contaminated enough.

  7. Cubanshamoo April 22, 2010 at 3:50 am #

    I really can’t understand why liberals are so desperados againts big companies. The owners of these companies work to make money. Most of all do. That’s the difference between these companies which genarate lots of working places and an administration like this of Obama making money without working for it, without producing nothing, not even useful jobs and then, again and again, playing the same tape of David against Goliath.
    Companies pay millions in reseach to improve quality and reduce environmental impacts. Government only produce regulations, many of them irrational.
    Come on guys, grow up a bit, go to work and use your head to creat something useful to the society, and stop complaining against the people who work hundreds of hours and create some wealth.

    • Rob N. Hood April 24, 2010 at 6:52 pm #

      Nice proper English. Quick learner or what?? Sure glad you don’t cut and paste or do anything esle Neil might think is “unethical” !!!

      Bow down before the rich- they are our lovable masters !!! Who needs religion? We worship them.

  8. Neil F. AGWD/BSD April 22, 2010 at 5:44 am #

    What is this? We’re going back to the lame old argument that big oil is paying people to be skeptical of AGW? Is that all you guys have left? And I suppose not a dime has been spent on advocating the AGW theory? Hint: Eyeore’s media campaign.
    You guys are going to have to do better than that. How about some scientific evidence that AGW is actually happening? Is there any other than James Hansen insisting that it is? Can you explain how this http://nsidc.org/data/seaice_index/images/daily_images/N_stddev_timeseries.png is even possible in a warming world?
    Oops, gas just went up another penny to pay me to say that!!! Get real.

  9. paul wenum April 22, 2010 at 9:11 pm #

    “Drill baby drill.” Russia, China, Venezuela, as well as others are. Why is Obama holding back? Duh, we all know the reason. He does not want us self sufficient in using our resources. It’s a liberal thing I guess. If not Hugo and others will. As to “pogoe”, (hell of a name). Sounds like a stick. In any event, suggest that you research before you speak. You sound like a an Al Gore minion, or would that be a lemming that follows their divine leader over the cliff. Take your choice.

  10. Rob N. Hood April 24, 2010 at 6:49 pm #

    You guys really are dinosaurs. All I can say is …Wow. Another word that comes to mind is Suckers. Then there’s brainswashed- that’s a good one too. Nice obedient coprorate citizens. All the people who died to give you some of the freedoms that you have left are all rolling in their graves. And they’re not laughing.

    The MSM are very proud of their “work” when they see people like you guys and hear you regurgitate all of their “work.”

    And yes, you are suckers, especially if you aren’t on Big Oil’s payroll. Because you’re workin’ for ’em.

  11. cubanshamoo April 25, 2010 at 1:48 am #

    Oh no Mr. Hood, it is your socialist president who bow before the rich lovable Masters of the world. Concerning my English… I am happy with it, most of the time, when I write with simple words you understand me. That’s enough.

  12. Rob N. Hood April 25, 2010 at 3:11 pm #

    If you weren’t so sadly misguided and biased you’d be funny.

  13. paul wenum April 25, 2010 at 11:45 pm #

    I always am amazed by people like Rob that chastise the “rich” that worked their ass off to be successful. I’ve noticed for years that people think that if they just show up and say they work that they are entitled to the same as someone that works harder, smarter, invents a product/service etc. Had a friend years ago that asked my why I had a cabin and he didn’t. He said that it wasn’t fair that he didn’t and why did I have one? Said I “worked for it!” To this day, he still does not get it nor does he have a cabin. Wonder why? He didn’t WORK FOR IT! By the way, nobody should bow to anyone unless they are your Master. As to China, you are Damn right that you bow! They own America!!

  14. Rob N. Hood April 26, 2010 at 9:23 am #

    The ones I “chastise” do NOT work they’re asses off. Your defense of those that enslave and steal from you and your children AMAZES people like me.

    Gullible and brainswashed.

  15. paul wenum April 26, 2010 at 9:30 pm #

    How do “hard working people” STEAL from or enslave you? No, your comments on this site “AMAZE” anyone that reads what you post. Talk about brainwashed. You are a shining example. Who the heck was your teacher? Alinsky??

  16. Rob N. Hood April 27, 2010 at 8:49 am #

    As I said above IT’S NOT THE HARD WORKING ONES THAT STEAL FROM US- PAY ATTENTION…

  17. paul wenum April 27, 2010 at 9:42 pm #

    Hard work will always bring you income, no fixed amount guaranteed. “Sloth’s suck on the breast of the beast.” Called Big government! Who’s stealing from whom? The hard worker or the Sloth?

  18. Rob N. Hood April 28, 2010 at 8:02 am #

    The Elite at the hub of our financial crisis have established themselves in positions of preeminent wealth and power without actually contributing anything useful to America’s economy. They make and do nothing, just taking bites out of what others have produced. Since they have so little stake in our society, it is not surprising that their corrupt system built the bubble and arranged to profit when it collapsed. Debate on the Senate version of the Obama administration’s bank regulatory overhaul is expected to begin shortly. The House of Representatives passed its banking bill last December. Neither bill does anything to curb the power of the banks or limit their parasitic and socially destructive activities. What the media is calling the “most sweeping overhaul” of the banking system since the Great Depression in reality sanctions the ever greater monopolization of the financial system by a handful of Wall Street giants, imposes no limits on executive pay, and allows the banks and hedge funds to continue gambling on exotic and largely unregulated securities such as collateralized debt obligations and credit default swaps.

  19. paul wenum April 29, 2010 at 12:03 am #

    Those people you chastise pay 70% of our tax debt! How much do you pay? As far as I can ascertain it it legal. Is being creative and profitable bad? Give me an answer with facts behind it other that your normal reactive statements that seem to come from the far left.

  20. Rob N. Hood May 1, 2010 at 3:43 pm #

    Paul, even if they actually pay that much which I seriously doubt, THEY CAN AFFORD IT !!!!!!!!!!!! The amounts they pay or should pay doesn’t hurt them like you or me. THEY CAN STILL AFFORD ALL THOSE CARS, HOMES, BOATS, ETC. ETC. ETC.- SO SORRY IF i DON’T FEEL SORRY FOR THE POOR RICH , like you do. Holy cow Paul you are a sucker.

    Creative and profitable?! The S&L crisis, the current Wall Street crisis, the Madoff’s, etc. etc. etc. Yes, Paul they are ALL so creative AND profitable. You are really something you know that? The rich LOVE suckers like you.

  21. paul wenum May 2, 2010 at 10:50 pm #

    The S & L? Government induced and a bailout occurred, Wall Street? Government induced (Community Reinvestment Act circa 1978) Going forward, Madoff a criminal and there are laws in place but were never used by the SEC, Government regulated.etc. Bill Gates was creative and has been extremely profitable. Let’s now take 80% of his companies profits for being “Successful.” Why not Rob? Will just give it to you and others that are not “creative and profitable” because you are entitled to their money, right? They can afford a “CAR, HOME AND A BOAT”?. So can you, If you WORK FOR IT!!! Get real.

  22. Rob N. Hood May 4, 2010 at 7:31 am #

    Government induced? Not. They legally bribed Congress and the Senate, as usual, to get the loopholes they wanted and needed to steal more money.

    Big business is interwoven with government now- more than ever- so in that sense, and only that sense, are you correct.

    Wake up.

  23. Cubanshamoo May 6, 2010 at 2:47 am #

    Paul, Rob even do not understand what “work” mean. Please don’t abuse of the lack of knowledge of a teen

  24. paul wenum May 7, 2010 at 11:53 pm #

    Cubanshammo, You are correct. It is lack of knowledge and I mean that not in a negative sense. I should say, that is how their generation was raised/taught. For that, I have no understanding nor comment. My children were taught to work or go Hungry. Man, times have changed.

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  1. Global Climate Scam » Mann to Complain to American Geological Society in Minneapolis, Wednesday - October 10, 2011

    […] has been proven false. Both of these facts have made him a target for satire, prompting him to threaten lawsuits against his detractors in the past. Now it seems, he’s hoping to grab some sympathetic ears […]

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