Is the National Press Club biased?
It seems that the Press Club is happy to have the Trade Unionist Paul Howes as its first speaker of 2010, followed by a succession of lefties: Gareth Evans, Peter Coaldrake, Malcolm Fraser, Geoff Lake, Susan Greenfield (who recently lost her job at the Royal Institution), Andrew Pesce but refuses to allow Lord Christopher Monckton to speak on climate change (see report on page 5 of today’s Canberra Times - sorry no link). Surely the Press Club – dedicated to free speech and debate – is mistaken to silence Monckton. Its aims include:
to provide a genuine national forum for the discussion of the issues of the day
If climate change is not an issue of the day, what is?
Advertisement
Admin
Sinclair Davidson
Ken Nielsen
Rafe
Samuel J
another typically uninformed post from Samuel.
Firstly Lord Monckton is an attention seeker and his much hyped mathematical debunking of climate change has been shown to be pure obscurantism, all bells and whistles (as if you could have a mathematical proof to debunk climate change). You would have a stronger case if it was something with more solid arguments like Richard Lindzen. Monckton’s only qualifications are Latin or Classics or some other toff wankery.
Secondly Greenfield is an accomplished neuroscientist. Do you know anything about her work at all to be commenting on her or is everything just coloured by your political obsessions? it appears not. I’m not much of a fan of her recent techno-luddism but it’s hardly ‘lefty’. Among others Miranda Devine has been citing her
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/were-losing-our-minds-over-technology-20090911-fkov.html
Jason Soon
January 19, 2010 at 7:53 am
I think Samuel is exactly right. It is despicable that the Press Club can pass itself off as being in favour of open debate and free speech while refusing to host Monckton but giving a platform to trade unionists, social democrats and the like. It is isn’t their place to decide the merits (or otherwise) of his position. To be sure they can decide who uses their property and the terms of its use, but then they cannot then claim to favour free speech. As long as he can meet their fee, does not damage their property, does not act unlawfully and they have no prior engagement I cannot think of why they would refuse him, except because they do not approve of his position.
This ‘the debate is over’ line has failed and can be seen in reading the thread from this Crikey post.
Sinclair Davidson
January 19, 2010 at 8:13 am
Come on Jason, anyone who still believes in AGW still believes in Santa Claus
Rococo Liberal
January 19, 2010 at 9:29 am
Monckton is the Al Gore of the skeptics. He’s best kept out of the limelight. Both play with facts.
However, Al Gore would be welcome so why not Monckton?
Getting Lindzen, Michaels, Lawson, Lomborg, McIntyre or one of the Pielkes or dozens of others would be better.
But that’s a side track. Do the past speakers and current line up have a political bias? It would appear so.
But how do you get anything non-subjective up about this.
Pedro X
January 19, 2010 at 10:35 am
Monckton is the Al Gore of the skeptics. He’s best kept out of the limelight. Both play with facts.
However, Al Gore would be welcome so why not Monckton?
Pedro X, I agree, but a debate involving both would be fun.
Getting Lindzen, Michaels, Lawson, Lomborg, McIntyre or one of the Pielkes or dozens of others would be better.
Absolutely.
dover_beach
January 19, 2010 at 11:31 am
Just as the wouldn’t invite Michael Moore, I should hope they would not invite Monckton!
Peter Patton
January 19, 2010 at 11:34 am
The balance on their website seems to be undoubtedly tipped in the favour of left and far left pollies, with the occasional speech by leaders of the opposition – Abbott and Turnbull – to provide the illusion of non-bias. If pressed maybe they’d put Mal Fraser on the right-wing side of things too.
Climate change skepticism, imo, isn’t necessarily a right-wing position though.
TimT
January 19, 2010 at 11:35 am
Oh but they would invite Michael Moore. In a heartbeat. A moronic comparison. Interesting that Monkton’s mockers – almost to a man – are too frightened to debate him. In 1991, the NPC hosted Ronyn Williams – the “scientist” and lying galoot who predicted a 100 metre sea rise if we didn’t “do something” about “global warming.”
C.L.
January 19, 2010 at 11:40 am
“Scientist” Tim Flannery also appeared at the NPC – despite being a notorious crank whose predictions are routinely, hilariously wrong.
C.L.
January 19, 2010 at 11:46 am
This is no surprise – surveys over the years have consistently found that a majority of journalists in all English-speaking countries support left wing politics, and most dream of being famous novelists. They are the students from the Arts faculty who had no interest in science, technology, economics or anything involving mathematics, and they still don’t. Their stock in trade is gossip, remarkably devoid of facts.
Having said that, the Press Club is the only program on ABC TV where you get to hear what the speaker has to say without left wing program producers editing things to suit their view of the world.
MAGB
January 19, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Tim Blair has written an excellent column on the Haiti quake and the different media treatment afforded to Pat Robertson and Danny Glover. He rightly observes that the old dinosaur media were all over the crazy Christian but gave the crazy Hollywood lefty a pass. This is why the old media is dying and no longer being taken seriously by people.
C.L.
January 19, 2010 at 1:30 pm
C.L. I have been horrified jumping around the Net and blogs at the incredible number of people exploiting this catastrophe to rant on with Marxist theories of US imperialism! Have these people no shame?
Peter Patton
January 19, 2010 at 1:47 pm
As a Canberra dweller, I’m interested in knowing where Monckton will be speaking, not where he won’t. Still, any publicity and all that.
Keith
January 19, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Doesn’t look like there is anything on in Canberra. Probably best to keep checking.
Sinclair Davidson
January 19, 2010 at 4:00 pm
Sinclair, I spent a lot of time at home playing Mr. Mom, so the ABC’s live parliament and Press Gallery guest speakers became my friends, during Junior’s afternoon kip. It didn’t take long before I couldn’t wait for the little blighter to wake up!
Peter Patton
January 19, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Re Glover – maybe the mainstream media know better than to worry about an ambiguous statement by someone who has never mattered politically. Robertson at least used to have political influence, and was crystal clear in his meaning.
steve from brisbane
January 19, 2010 at 4:26 pm
Steve:
Robertson at least used to have political influence, and was crystal clear in his meaning.
Mother Jones in blaming Bush/Cheney for Haiti.
http://motherjones.com/mojo/2010/01/us-policy-helped-keep-haiti-chaos
So you’re suggesting Glover isn’t mentally equipped to be able to handle such a question. But what’s Mother Jones excuse?
Personally I would argue the same for Mother Jones too. Lol.
jc
January 19, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Steve would fit right in with the geriatric media. Still running interference for Glover’s clearly enunciated belief that global warming and the COP15 debacle caused the Haiti earthquake.
C.L.
January 19, 2010 at 4:34 pm
…..And Bush Cheney caused it too according to Mother Jones……..
jc
January 19, 2010 at 4:35 pm
was crystal clear in his meaning.
.
on the contrary, he has been utterly misconstrued.
daddy dave
January 19, 2010 at 4:43 pm
I’ll be going to the Canberra event, regardless of where it is held.
(within limits)
daddy dave
January 19, 2010 at 6:43 pm
I agree that Monckton has been unhelpful with some of his language – he seems to have been carried away a little. But he did, after all, discover the draft Treaty prepared by the United Nations and that in itself assured its defeat. Janet’s article today is quite right http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/heated-moments-mar-monckton/story-e6frg6zo-1225821369435
Samuel J
January 20, 2010 at 7:03 am
Lock Monckton is nothing but a clown – he isn’t fit to address a kindergarten, let alone the Press Club. Paul Howes isn’t much better either however.
pauly
January 22, 2010 at 12:42 pm
CANBERRA
Wednesday 3 February,
15:00 – 17:00 Public Lecture, National Press Club, Download PDF
Afternoon tea and light refreshments will be available.
To register and pay $20, please contact NSW Farmers Assoc 1300 794 000
contact: Alix Turner, alixturnerATbigpond.com
http://joannenova.com.au/2010/01/monckton-plimer-tour-australia-dates-venues/
Where's Kevin Rudd Feb 03 2010
January 26, 2010 at 10:24 pm