On the June 23 edition of his Fox News show, Bill O'Reilly asserted: “The Tennessee Center for Policy Research [TCPR] says the former vice president [Al Gore] is still using a massive amount of energy at his Tennessee mansion -- more than 20 times the national average.” O'Reilly added: “The research group also says Mr. Gore has made about $100 million on his global warming projects. So it looks like Gore is a pinhead, but we would like to hear his side of things. And he has an open invitation to appear on the Factor.” But at no point did O'Reilly mention that Gore has reportedly given “his side of things” in response to a June 17 TCPR press release on the subject of Gore's purported energy use.
In a June 18 article, The Tennessean reported that Gore spokeswoman Kalee Kreider stated, “When [the Gores] do use power, it's green power.” A day later, Gail Kerr of The Tennessean reported: “Gore's folks were quick to jump on the latest missive, saying his utility bills are actually DOWN by 40 percent. The group [TCPR], Gore's spokeswoman said, didn't include the former vice president's gas bill in this round of press release claptrap, as it did last year. That bill has gone down 90 percent, she said. And when the Gores do power up, they pay for renewable resources, like wind and solar power or methane gas.” In 2007, Think Progress reported that Gore's office had stated: “Gore's family has taken numerous steps to reduce the carbon footprint of their private residence, including signing up for 100 percent green power through Green Power Switch, installing solar panels, and using compact fluorescent bulbs and other energy saving technology." Kreider was similarly quoted in The Washington Post saying that "[t]he power coming into their residence is green, renewable power."
As The Tennessean further reported on June 18, "[T]he Gores participate in the Nashville Electric Service's Green Power Switch program, which allows them to buy their electricity from renewable sources like wind power, solar power or methane gas." According to the Tennessee Valley Authority, which partners with the Nashville Electric Service and other local energy distributors to provide green power, "[a]lthough no source of energy is impact-free, renewable resources create less waste and pollution."
In 2007, after the TCPR issued a similar report criticizing Gore's energy use, Media Matters for America documented several media outlets that similarly omitted steps Gore was taking to reduce the effect of his home energy usage.
From the June 23 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor:
O'REILLY: Time now for “Pinheads & Patriots”: Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder; there's no question. But sometimes, a consensus is not good on the appearance front.
For example, Gus, the dog, has now been voted the world's ugliest pooch. That happened at a fair in Northern California. Now, this is not good for Gus' self-esteem. What canine would want to be the world's ugliest? So, I am making Gus, the dog, a patriot, simply because I want him to feel better. That's just the kind of guy I am.
On the pinhead front: Hello, Al Gore. The Tennessee Center for Policy Research says the former vice president is still using a massive amount of energy at his Tennessee mansion -- more than 20 times the national average.
The research group also says Mr. Gore has made about $100 million on his global warming projects. So it looks like Gore is a pinhead, but we would like to hear his side of things. And he has an open invitation to appear on the Factor.
We are energy concerned here. Candles lighting me right now.
And finally tonight, the mail. Just a quick note that we are having a big summer sale on Factor gear available on BillOReilly.com.
