The Gift That Keeps On Giving: Dana Perino Reveals The Awesome Benefits Of Global Warming

While White House Press Secretary Dana Perino may lack the showstopping musical theatre skills of her doppelganger, Kristin Chenoweth, she nevertheless provides us with almost daily entertainment. She's also recently remarked that parody and criticism of her efforts don't bother her in the least. When asked if ribbing of the sort she's been receiving from Doonesbury this week "gets under her skin," she brushed it off: "I hardly have time to check it out." Bully for her! She won't mind, then, if we put her under the microscope. Please join us on these pages for "The Gift That Keeps on Giving," and if something at the gaggle makes you gag, feel free to share your thoughts.

While the California wildfires and the upcoming Iraq supplemental bill dominated the early part of yesterday's presser, the conversation eventually turned to the testimony of CDC director Dr. Julie Gerberding, whose testimony on the public health impact of climate change was alleged to have been "heavily edited" by the Washington Post (well, the Post says "heavily edited," anyway--their source says "eviscerated").

When directly questioned on the deletions (which included Gerberding's blanket conclusion, "CDC considers climate change a serious public health concern"), Perino launched into a four paragraph dodge in which she claimed to not have seen the edits, touted the administrations "open book" policy on climate change, and orated a lengthy filibuster in praise of the CDC. Near the end of these remarks, however, Perino took a flying leap into the eternal sunshine, saying: "And so the decision on behalf of CDC was to focus that testimony on public health benefits -- there are public health benefits to climate change, as well, but both benefits and concerns that somebody like a Dr. Gerberding, who is the expert in the field, could address."

Public health benefits? Yea, verily, this was a theme Perino tried to advance, in spite of the fact that she was simultaneously attempting to tout the President's concern over the issue:

Anybody who wants to look at what the President thinks about climate change looks -- needs to only look back three weeks ago to when he gave a major address on climate change when he invited all 15 of the major economies of this world to come together to work on a solution -- work on a path to get to a solution to help the growth of greenhouse gas emissions.

Still, you have to be intrigued at the prospect of possible health benefits from global warming. As Steve Benen of the Carpetbagger Report blueskies, "Less hypothermia? Fewer instances of frostbite? A steep decline in the number of snowball-fight-related injuries?"

Lest you think that Perino had blinded the White House Press Corps with pseudo-science, someone did eventually question her assertion. Perino's response:

...this is an issue where I'm sure lots of people would love to ridicule me when I say this, but it is true that many people die from cold-related deaths every winter. And there are studies that say that climate change in certain areas of the world would help those individuals. There are also concerns that it would increase tropical diseases and that's -- again, I'm not an expert in that, I'm going to let Julie Gerberding testify in regards to that...

Uhm...but they didn't let Gerberding testify to that, did they?

Comments

[retrohib]

Dear Dana Perino, congratulation. I was born in Rio Frio Puerto Rico, between three towns, mountains and rivers , and is the best site to live, but we loves the American Way, Don't you?

[moodygirl]

I find this picture disturbing. It is not professional for a boss (president) to hug his employees. Even if you have a good working relationship, physical demonstrations cross the line as there is no way if employeed found this embarrassing, they could voice it to their boss without consequences.

[szlevi]

Hey, censor: why did you delete this from the other thread?

Anyway, here's it again: I think Dana Perino looks like a nerve-wrecked shemale from the Third Reich (imagine that!)
She's not simply ugly but rather more: {s)he's scary, lacks any feminine charm, grace.

And icing on the (shemale)cake? She's a real DUMB f*ck. There you go, imagine what kind of loser would marry this mess...

[olivia]

Here you go, little Dana!

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latestnews/index.php?id=10477

[leatherneck]

Anyone who voted for or serves in George[6]Walker[6]Bushjr[6] white house is without a doubt as likely a candidate for the biblical prophecy as I have seen in many years..., is it a coincidence that Bush announced his bid for presidency in 1999....invert those 9's and one gets a [666], he was born July [6th], 194[6], served [6] years as Governor of Texas, was 4[6th] Governor of Texas, and can anyone remember how he mocked the female inmate on death row on public television laughed at her claims of finding god and repenting? One might find it insignificant unless one knew he communted only one death sentence as governor of Texas, a man named Lucas, alleged unrepentant serial killer with 40 some odd murders too his credit as well as a professed devil worshiper, now I find this ironic, scary that a man who claims too believe in god, is guided by Jesus denies mercy too a woman who found god and gave it too a unrepentant devil worshiper, anyone care too compare the bible description of the man of prophecy he will decieve many, be worshiped as a messiah by his followers [29% die hard republicans], lead a powerful army [US military without doubt the most powerful in world today], preach peace but make war [anyone remember his speeches of spreading democracy, but he does it at point of guns and bombs], bible says if god did not shorten his power in his 7th year mankind might not survive [Bush lost congress/senate in his 7th year], considered a lame duck president, I think one could really laugh at all these things if one is a atheist, but me being a christian he scares the devil out of me....

[Rescisco]

Why do we tolerate such stupidity? Is there absolutely no way that the "Dana Perino's" of this world can be shamed off of the public stage? This country seems to be overly respectful of the lunatics in public life and excessively critical of anyone having even a hint of intelligence. It seems that to string incongruities and absurdities together, and to be totally unaware that they are absurdities, is the basis of success in contemporary American politics. That I just don't get this obviously means there is something very wrong with me I suppose. I must not be a good contemporary American.

[jrizal]

She may be a mouthpiece for Bush, but she's still HOT!

[starrianna]

She may be pretty on the outside, but on the inside she's one of the ugliest people around.

Or she simply has sold her soul. Sad.

[radiojunkie]

looks like a hot.....squirrel

[shanlee]

Global Warming?

So your telling me that if I pay someone more in taxes or for stupid carbon credits that I am doing my share to save the planet? You people truly need help. Do you think the earth is going to stop changing just because we tell it to? Go to your local museum and see how the area you live in has changed over the millions of years!! Species come and go on this planet and as the once kinda smart George Carlin once said when the world is done with us it will flick of off like fleas. Ask the dinosaurs. I would buy into the fear if someone said the earth has stopped changing because then it would mean it is dead. This is a natural cycle of the earth and no human can prove that it is not or that it is because we have not been around long enough to prove anything. These so called scientists that clam that global warming is certain because we all think so is damn funny it makes me laugh. I could find just as many that say the opposite so what does that prove. Would Einstein go around and take a vote on his findings? I think not!!! This is simply a matter of shifting power and it is palin as the nose on my face. I am a mother earth reader for so many years and I look for real ways to keep my life clean but paying abunch of money to Tithe to the temple of democrats I will not do. Inspire people with tax credits for solar, pay inventors large amount of money to invent alternative power for cars and appeal to people to do whats right but to try to make new laws to create more and more revenue for a totally corrupt goverment is only showing the true socialist agenda the democrats are pushing. We are a great nation because we are not socialist and if you want it so bad move the hell out of here and tax yourselfs to death elsewhere!!!!

[phansen]

Shanlee:

1. of course the earth has natural cycles... but the effects scientists are measuring are not part of those cycles... even the ones that occurs over millions of years. anything beyond a third grade education and you could figure that out.

2. would Einstein take a vote on his findings? YES jackass, he would. it's called peer review, and in Einstein's case, it continues long after his death... but yes, of course his peers critiqued his work. had they all thought it worthless, we would never have heard of the man. think about it.

3. American socialism... well, for one, I certainly hope you never need the police or fire department... because you don't pay for those services in cash. That, and if we spent a *little* more on things like public education, maybe you would have a decent command of English grammar. But of course, you'd rather be illiterate than have some right wing nut on TV tell you you're socialist, wouldn't you?

[thos]

Follow the money!
http://www.generationim.com/about/team.html

[mari2JJ]

Truly the earth has cycles. But, unfortunately what does NOT have cycles is our degradation of this planet. Only a mental ostrich would assume that global warming has no connection to man's horrible treatment of the environment. All these anti- environmentalists sound exactly like the naysayers in Christopher Columbus days. Not to worry, many of us Christian Ex-Republicans understand that this issue alone condemns this administration, never mind their suspension of Habeas Corpus, their illegal war, their constant lie telling, their lack of caring for people in trouble, and their suspension of legal adherence to the constitution.

[LeaderofMen]

My mother used to say that she could keep a messy house because she didn't care that in a hundred years someone would say 'I couldn't eat off her floor'.

Your statement is exactly as stupid as that. Who gives a shit what will happen in a million years. Who gives a shit that the Earth has gone thru climatic changes over it's 4.5 billion year history. The fact of the matter is that this particular climate change is happening in OUR LIFETIME. That is, YOUR life will be affected in the SHORT run, not over a period of a century, a millennium, an eon or an epoch. A lifetime. That is all it takes to completely change everything. To make us all lose our assets. To produce wildfires the likes of which we've never seen before. To cause ports to no longer be able to operate because sea level has changed - disrupting commerce on a GLOBAL scale.

You see, you neocon morons don't think things thru. You just read the talking points and regurgitate them. You think that those you spout them to don't have a brain and can't see the implication of global climate change. It's global. The entire planet is economically interconnected. When entire regions are altered due to people no longer being able to live in them it doesn't just affect that region. It affects all those who are connected in any way to that region.

Global climate change is simply too complex for your simpleton mind to understand - so you vomit BushCo garbage phrases to make your so-called 'point'. Sorry, idiot. We're far too smart for your kindergarten understanding.

[T.Roll]

Don't worry, moonbats. When Hillary is elected, her press secretary will tell you exactly what you what to hear. The economy's bad. Global warming will kill your children. Your job will eventually be outsourced. America and Americans are evil. There is no hope. There is no future. And the moonbats wil be like "Finally, a White House press secretary that keeps it real".

[ignatov]

We're all Americans, T.Roll. We all want civil servants that care about us and speak truth. Why call us moonbats? Don't let the corporate media fill you with hatred for your fellow citizen. It's you and me against the world.

[Southrnbelle]

Is it possible someone can be this ignorant???

[olivia]

First Bimbo Dana Perino kills children for $161,000 a year. Literally.

[greendrake]

THE RULES

1. Climate change isn't occurring.
2. The people who say it is occurring are only in it for the money.
3. Even if it really is occurring, it’s not our fault.
4. Anyway, there's nothing we can do about it.
5. If it is occurring, and it is our fault, and there is something we can do about it, doing so would wreck our economy.
6. In fact that’s the point of all this so-called climate science, it’s actually a liberal plot to destroy America! Damn those omnipotent liberals!
7. We need to study this subject more before we take any action.
8. Hey, it’ll be a good thing! Yeah, that’s the ticket….
9. Besides, climate change isn't occurring, anyway.
10. Remember: it’s controversial!!!

Select one or several. Repeat as needed. As long as no positive action is taken, success has been achieved.

[talkingdog]

Perino: Like,...(gum chewing sound) the California fires; lots of people have to start the fire themselves,...to have a fire. So see,.......its helping people.

[mari2JJ]

wWhat you posted far out-intelligenced mine. HERE!!!! HERE!!!! All right, all right, so I made up a word.

[olivia]

Immoral, evil, whore - anyone who would shill for this administration. I don't care how much they are paying you or how much you think you need this for your career.

Whore.

[starrianna]

Rich whore. $161,000+ per year.

Still a whore.

[olivia]

Would you kill a child for $161k? Because that's what Dana Perino did.

[Doug]

Fearmongering - The weather is out to getchya!!!!

Reality - Radical Islam wants to destroy western society.

[RepigsLuvOxycontin]

The only entity seriously threatening western society is the repig party and their bootlickers.

[willfarnaby]

All Nazis - such as banal evil creeps working in the Reich Ministry of Propaganda - should hang.

And Global Warming? No such thing AND (BTW) Global Warming - it's good for you.

Yes, it's just part of the psychological, (anti-)social and political complex of the Reichwingers - whether old hack or Fresh-out-of-the-Pod - that believe viscerally - deep in their nauseating guts - that it'd be _wonderful_ to take the world down with them...