It makes sense that one campaign based on conspiracy theories, devoid of actual evidence, would meet face to face with another campaign based on conspiracy theories and no actual evidence.
That was the case at the Heartland Institute conference in Chicago this week, which the group's president said would likely be their last following the dumbassery of purchasing billboards along the Eisenhower Expressway comparing those who believe in climate change to the Unabomber.
Among the keynote speakers at this week's conference was Lord Christopher Monckton, who as Stephen Lacey of ThinkProgress points out, admitted he "has no scientific qualifications." But what really riled the crowd up was his shout-out to Birtherism.
Monckton, a man frequently held up as an expert among deniers, started his speech off by boldly admitting his lack of scientific qualifications. He thanked the attendees for having the “courage” to challenge climate scientists, explaining: “It is particularly hard, if like me, you have no scientific qualification to do so.”
Monckton then joked about what he needed to do in order to build his credibility in America.
“I have concluded what one needs to have is a freshly minted Hawaiian birth certificate,” he said, referencing the belief among “birthers” that President Obama’s birth certificate is forged. He displayed a picture of a Hawaiian birth certificate with his personal information filled in. The crowded erupted in laughter.
Ha! Get it? What men like Monckton really need is a forged scientific background!
It's not surprising that those who believe cow farts disprove global warming also believe what Donald Trump refers to as "the truth," which is that President Obama is a secret Kenyan Manchurian candidate.
The crowd may have had a good laugh, but this kind of cross-contamination of crazy may do more to marginalize climate change deniers than any of us could have done ourselves.