Do TV Networks Give Prez Hopefuls A Pass On Global Warming?

Tue, January 15, 2008 - 3:33 PM

Is television network coverage of the presidential candidates ignoring their positions on the issue of global warming?

MoveOn.org claims to have the statistics to back it up, in an e-mail today to supporters..

As a result, the on-line, liberal grass-roots group says it is teaming up with the League of Conservation Voters in a petition drive to push TV reporters to spend more time asking the candidates about climate change.

According to the group's research, the major TV networks in the last year asked the presidential candidates 2,679 questions.

Pop quiz: How many were about global warming?

A. 514 -- after all, it's one of the top issues facing the country
B. 165 -- as many as were asked about illegal immigration
C. 3 --the same number asked about UFOs

If you guessed 3, you're right, exclaims MoveOn's e-mail.

“Reporters asked as many questions about UFOs as they did about the climate crisis—the biggest threat to our planet,” says the e-mail.

"NBC's top political reporter, Tim Russert, didn't ask a single question about global warming last year. Same for Sunday political show hosts on CBS and ABC. CNN asked just 1. Incredibly, Republican-leaning Fox bested them all with a grand total of 2."

“Our friends at the League of Conservation Voters will deliver your signature and comment directly to the TV networks at a press conference in front of their Washington, D.C., headquarters,” says the e-mail. “And they'll use our petition signatures to prove there's public demand for TV anchors to ask about climate change.”

-- Billy House