Al Gore, who has permanently ratcheted the rhetoric up to “11” when discussing global warming, drew wide ridicule last week for his claim that the federal government was creating a “Category 6” for measuring hurricanes. In an interview with the Washington Post‘s Ezra Klein, Gore said the new category was necessary because global warming was going to lead to more powerful storms. Late Friday, Klein fell on his sword and said he might have misquoted Gore.
Here is what Klein originally reported on Gore’s remarks:
“The extreme events are more extreme. The hurricane scale used to be 1-5 and now they’re adding a 6.
Gore’s office pushed back aggressively and reported that Gore’s actual remarks were:
“The scientists are now adding Category 6 to the hurricane; … some are proposing we add Category 6 to the hurricane scale that used to be 1-5.”
That is one hell of a misquote. Klein responded to the Gore camp at his blog:
That doesn’t offend my memory of the discussion and it’s entirely possible I missed Gore’s qualifying sentence while trying to keep up. If so, that’s my fault, and I apologize.
Klein also wrote that he was out of town and couldn’t access his tape recording of the interview. A very convenient truth.
Keep in mind, this is the same Klein who famously organized JournoList, an email listserve between liberal journalists, activists, and Democrat staff. Conservatives have alleged that JournoList was an attempt to coordinate talking points and media coverage on pressing issues.
Just the kind of vehicle that could rally to protect Al Gore from another of his over-the-top claims. Without it, Klein is left to take the fall by himself.
It has been more than two decades since a category five hurricane struck the United States. It is doubtful we’ll need a new Category six anytime soon.
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