It's a principle that's already been firmly established: there is no tactic too low for Egnor, the good Christian, to approve of. No lie is too outrageous; no comparison is too invidious. He is without a doubt, the finest exemplar of Christianity we have ever seen. No wonder his hero is Joe McCarthy.
If you write this with a straight face then you are more foolish than I thought you were. People on your side realized that these tactics would backfire. The ads were pulled because lots of prominent skeptics complained and threatened to pull out of a Heartland-sponsored conference on climate.
Here is a discussion thread on Anthony Watts's forum, in which Watts wrote:
That said, I’ll be blunt; I think Heartland’s billboard campaign is a huge misstep, and does nothing but piss people off and divide the debate further. IMHO it isn’t going to win any converts, and had they asked me I would have told them that it is a bad idea that will backfire on them.
The word stupid does not begin to describe Heartland's actions. I am glad you like what they do and hope that you will encourage them to continue. :)
But the Unabomber billboard, which first appeared Thursday, lasted only 24 hours.
Facing a barrage of criticism from both its supporters and opponents, the institute canceled the campaign but refused to apologize for running the ad.
“We know that our billboard angered and disappointed many of Heartland’s friends and supporters, but we hope they understand what we were trying to do with this experiment,” the institute’s president, Joseph Bast, said in a statement. “We do not apologize for running the ad, and we will continue to experiment with ways to communicate the ‘realist’ message on the climate.”
Heartland sponsors have been dropping out even before this. GM stopped funding Heartland in March of this year, after Gleick had leaked documents implicating GM as a sponsor.
If previously Heartland was so toxic that sponsors wished to remain anonymous, the latest ad campaign has made it plain radioactive.
Come on, guys! Say something. Comment on Mike's infinite wisdom in posting this with an approving chuckle. Say you support him and Heartland. Be firm in your position.
Let me get this straight, Egnor. Do you approve of these abominable tactics by Heartland hacks? Think twice.
ReplyDeleteApprove? I love these tactics.
DeleteHitler believed in Roman Catholicism, do you?
DeleteIt's a principle that's already been firmly established: there is no tactic too low for Egnor, the good Christian, to approve of. No lie is too outrageous; no comparison is too invidious. He is without a doubt, the finest exemplar of Christianity we have ever seen. No wonder his hero is Joe McCarthy.
ReplyDeleteIf you write this with a straight face then you are more foolish than I thought you were. People on your side realized that these tactics would backfire. The ads were pulled because lots of prominent skeptics complained and threatened to pull out of a Heartland-sponsored conference on climate.
ReplyDeleteHere is a discussion thread on Anthony Watts's forum, in which Watts wrote:
That said, I’ll be blunt; I think Heartland’s billboard campaign is a huge misstep, and does nothing but piss people off and divide the debate further. IMHO it isn’t going to win any converts, and had they asked me I would have told them that it is a bad idea that will backfire on them.
The word stupid does not begin to describe Heartland's actions. I am glad you like what they do and hope that you will encourage them to continue. :)
My previous comment is addressed to the proprietor of this blog, of course, not to the anonymous commentator.
ReplyDeleteChicago Tribune reports:
ReplyDeleteBut the Unabomber billboard, which first appeared Thursday, lasted only 24 hours.
Facing a barrage of criticism from both its supporters and opponents, the institute canceled the campaign but refused to apologize for running the ad.
“We know that our billboard angered and disappointed many of Heartland’s friends and supporters, but we hope they understand what we were trying to do with this experiment,” the institute’s president, Joseph Bast, said in a statement. “We do not apologize for running the ad, and we will continue to experiment with ways to communicate the ‘realist’ message on the climate.”
[end of quote]
Looks like an own goal by Heartland. Celebrate!
Heartland sponsors have been dropping out even before this. GM stopped funding Heartland in March of this year, after Gleick had leaked documents implicating GM as a sponsor.
ReplyDeleteIf previously Heartland was so toxic that sponsors wished to remain anonymous, the latest ad campaign has made it plain radioactive.
Sponsors are dropping Heartland like a hot potatoe. State Farm. Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers. Diageo.
ReplyDeleteTell us again how this was a clever move on Heartland's part.
The panic spreads to Heartland itself. It looks like the head of one of Heartland's divisions, FIRE, is jumping ship.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't happen to a nicer bunch.
Come on, guys! Say something. Comment on Mike's infinite wisdom in posting this with an approving chuckle. Say you support him and Heartland. Be firm in your position.
ReplyDelete