James Cameron backs out of debate with climate-change skeptics
posted at 8:58 pm on August 23, 2010 by Allahpundit
Verrry curious. The excuse, I’m sure, will be that he didn’t want to “legitimize” skeptics by sharing a stage with them. But (a) it’s odd that that didn’t occur to him when he agreed to the debate initially, promising to “call those deniers out into the street at high noon and shoot it out with those boneheads,” and (b) given the sliding support for global-warming legislation in the western world, he’s almost uniquely positioned to turn the tide. If you want to convince Joe Public that skeptics are cranks, what better way than for the tool who directed “Avatar” to thrash them at a public debate? The media’s dying to see it happen, I promise. Why, we might even get MSNBC to interrupt live coverage.
But then as the debate approached James Cameron’s side started changing the rules.
They wanted to change their team. We agreed.
They wanted to change the format to less of a debate—to “a roundtable”. We agreed.
Then they wanted to ban our cameras from the debate. We could have access to their footage. We agreed.
Bizarrely, for a brief while, the worlds most successful film maker suggested that no cameras should be allowed-that sound only should be recorded. We agreed
Then finally James Cameron, who so publicly announced that he “wanted to call those deniers out into the street at high noon and shoot it out,” decided to ban the media from the shoot out…
And then, yesterday, just one day before the debate, his representatives sent an email that Mr. “shoot it out ” Cameron no longer wanted to take part. The debate was cancelled.
A real shame. Would have been fun to watch the reaction to him calling skeptics “swine” to their faces, for once. Exit question: Forgive and forget? C’mon — he has important things to do this week!
Blowback
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It’ll take more than an iceberg to sink Cameron’s ego however.
Yakko77 on August 23, 2010 at 9:01 PM
Well, Avatar pretty much proves AGW, doesn`t it?
ThePrez on August 23, 2010 at 9:02 PM
They know its a lie and want to preserve the idea of man-made climate change for as long as possible. After all, there is money to be made from the leftist rubes who still buy into this crap.
sharrukin on August 23, 2010 at 9:02 PM
Y’know…it made sense when George Lucas re-released the movies 20 years after they were in theaters.
It made sense when you could buy collector’s editions of home movies so you could see deleted scenes.
How f**king out of ideas is Hollywood when they re-release movies months after they first came out???
MadisonConservative on August 23, 2010 at 9:02 PM
Coward.
Rocks on August 23, 2010 at 9:03 PM
James Cameron is remaking an old classic right now: Running Scared /s
Cookies Mom on August 23, 2010 at 9:04 PM
Can James Cameron really be considered to be an honest arbiter on “climate change”? Hell, if it weren’t for climate change, that iceberg would’ve never broken off of the polar ice cap, the Titanic wouldn’t have sunk, and James Cameron would still be making two-bit movies about nothing and we wouldn’t be having this conversation. He’s just another algore waiting for another ocean liner to sink so he can make a movie about it and make some big green bank.
ted c on August 23, 2010 at 9:05 PM
What a wus. Time to get back into that sleep cylinder thingy.
JohnnyMojo on August 23, 2010 at 9:05 PM
Barack barack barack says the chicken.
GnuBreed on August 23, 2010 at 9:07 PM
Hey AP… Your “things to do” link is not pointing where you may have intended.
roscopico on August 23, 2010 at 9:07 PM
Hey thar Mr Titanic, wy dontcha go to Mecca and sing that thar Climate song and sees how they likes it…..after all they wrote the book on that thare Tolerance thingy. Happy travels Smurfy.
PappyD61 on August 23, 2010 at 9:07 PM
Maybe his private jet is in the shop, so he`s stuck in his McMansion.
ThePrez on August 23, 2010 at 9:08 PM
What an Avatard!
Monica on August 23, 2010 at 9:08 PM
Maybe now he’ll have more time to prove that Jesus didn’t exist, and Linda Hamilton ain’t all that.
greggriffith on August 23, 2010 at 9:09 PM
What’s the point in having non-experts debate climate change science? Cameron isn’t an expert and neither are most climate change ‘skeptics’. I’d rather see a group on NASA scientists and other qualified experts discuss the science.
bayam on August 23, 2010 at 9:09 PM
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Ann McElhinney, one of the people he was to debate. She’s fearless, intelligent, and would have wiped the floor with Cameron. He is totally out of his depth with this group.
Maybe he’s great with special effects….with facts on global warming…not so much.
manateespirit on August 23, 2010 at 9:09 PM
Cameron backed off because
he actually wanted to debate
Glenn Beck , but it didn’t happen…..
hehehehehe
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/the_big_picture/2010/03/glenn-beck-to-james-cameron-it-was-a-joke-you-knucklehead.html
macncheez on August 23, 2010 at 9:10 PM
Well he did plug the damn hole in the Gulf…no wait…
Must not have been anyway he could make money on it.
d1carter on August 23, 2010 at 9:11 PM
Of course James Cameron is an authority on science because he’s been a hip hop science fiction producer/director for years. I’m soooo excited to hear this one man’s opinion on the subject, since he’s soooo qualified.
Rovin on August 23, 2010 at 9:12 PM
Didn’t Cameron help Hussain plug that hole in the gulf of mexico ?
macncheez on August 23, 2010 at 9:12 PM
Cookies Mom,
Zing! Good one.
Mike Honcho on August 23, 2010 at 9:14 PM
How many kids has he raped?
artist on August 23, 2010 at 9:14 PM
The point is the publicity. That’s the only thing that kept AGW going in the first place. While nameless scientists debating would be more useful to determine the truth, it doesn’t actually change public perception.
sharrukin on August 23, 2010 at 9:14 PM
No surprise here move along!
xler8bmw on August 23, 2010 at 9:16 PM
Speakin’ of plugin’ holes, why has the media missed the fact that 75% of the oil is still present in the gulf?
Rovin on August 23, 2010 at 9:16 PM
Because he can’t and he knows it. He like that childhood bully in the schoolyard who upon getting his ass kicked is still hurling insults while the winner walks away.
Tommy_G on August 23, 2010 at 9:17 PM
You say that like NASA is actually an objective party in all this when they’re in bed with those who have pushed this fraud.
Part of the Western worlds problem is, we’ve let ourselves fall into a tyranny of “experts” who, now rather then be go-betweens with humans and the divine now speak for the holy church of science and wear lab coats instead of collars.
Sharr on August 23, 2010 at 9:18 PM
why has the media missed the fact that 75% of the oil is still present in the gulf?
Rovin on August 23, 2010 at 9:16 PM
D in the WH.
artist on August 23, 2010 at 9:19 PM
Obama made a victory speech about plugin` the hole. They can`t show him up now.
ThePrez on August 23, 2010 at 9:19 PM
O/T
==============
Miss Universe is on!!!
canopfor on August 23, 2010 at 9:20 PM
*That is in abdication of our own common sense.
Sharr on August 23, 2010 at 9:20 PM
Oh Hot Dog!
Maddie’s in here.
I’m going for my galoshes now. Back in a few.
hillbillyjim on August 23, 2010 at 9:20 PM
The media’s dying to see it happen, I promise. Why, we might even get MSNBC to interrupt live coverage.
==================================================
That would be epic!!!
He might be too tied up,with Avatar 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
canopfor on August 23, 2010 at 9:21 PM
how? did he stand around and yell “makeup!” “action!” or “cut!”…?….
typical lefty. Always worthless, always in the way causing problems.
ted c on August 23, 2010 at 9:22 PM
James Cameron is typical of the liberal. Remember Al Gore will not debate anyone too about climate change. They spread their lies and venom to suit their agenda but when confronted with facts they will run like the rats that they are.
flintstone on August 23, 2010 at 9:23 PM
ted c on August 23, 2010 at 9:05 PM
======================
Didn’t Cameron help Hussain plug that hole in the gulf of mexico ?
macncheez on August 23, 2010 at 9:12 PM
macncheez:Hopey’s Abyss!!!!!!!!!:)
canopfor on August 23, 2010 at 9:23 PM
HAAAAAA…..HAAAAAA….HAAAAAA!!!!!
This is so pathetic on so many levels…
ohhhh….no “real” debate…lets round table it….
ohhhhhhhh….no cameras,no audio……..
….in other words ….lets not have a record of my total ignorance of this issue.
Liberals are only so strong as the media/MSM allows them to be by controlling the narrative and not allowing any real dissent to expose them.
….wonder if super smart hollywood liberal Matt Damon ever took Kristol up on his offer to debate?????
Also reminds me of Micheal Moore agreeing to be interviewed by Bill O’Rielly only if he did it live so that there could be no “editing” done.
Unbelievable O’Rielly did not call Mr. cut-n-paste himself to the mat for such hypocrisy.
Now Cameron can join Mr. Carbon Credit himself Al Gore in exposing himself as a total pu$$y when it comes to backing up all of his liberal drivel.
Baxter Greene on August 23, 2010 at 9:23 PM
As opposed to those who don’t know what they are talking about. After all anyone with a 10th grade edumacation can be a brain surgeon, you just need a bit of faith and some good old fashined elbow grease.
harry on August 23, 2010 at 9:23 PM
This is one of the things about this whole thing that really pi$$es me off.
If it’s such a dire threat to the earth, why don’t we have a nationalized, televised debate on it??? These people are telling us the sky is falling and yet they won’t come out and back it up.
If it isn’t the scam I’m 99% sure it is, why not come out and try and convince people that it isn’t??? Why rely on one sided papers, documentaries, etc????
You either got nothing or yer lying your a$$es off.
BigWyo on August 23, 2010 at 9:26 PM
NASA is too busy making Muslims ‘feel good’.
HellCat on August 23, 2010 at 9:27 PM
Cameron is a blowhard? Who knew?
Left Coast Right Mind on August 23, 2010 at 9:28 PM
IIRC, Lord Monckton had invited Al Gore for a debate on global warming too. That didn’t happen either.
Cameron and Gore, hollywierd pu$$ies
macncheez on August 23, 2010 at 9:29 PM
Listen:
All of you naysayers;
James Cameron has the same credentials as Jesus Christ.
They’ve both got the same Leading Capitalized Initials.
What more proof do you need?
This is a sarcastic comment to experiment a little.
We’ll see what happens next.
Tee hee hee.
hillbillyjim on August 23, 2010 at 9:29 PM
I think this calls for an upgrade to Titanitard.
James on August 23, 2010 at 9:29 PM
I can already feel the love…
hillbillyjim on August 23, 2010 at 9:31 PM
Coming in November…………………………
==================================================
Cameron’s Titanic Two………………..
—————————————-
Starring,Hopey as Capt’n Smith…
Gibbyzee in the crows nest…..
Reid as Jack Dawson………..
Pelosi as Rose DeWitt Bukater…….
Rahm as Caledon ‘Cal’ Hockley……..
GaffeBiden as Thomas Andrews…………………
And the entire steerage passengers,as the DNC!!!
(snark).
It Will Be A Night To Remember!!!!!
canopfor on August 23, 2010 at 9:32 PM
We should make him watch “Titanic” and “Avatar” as punishment.
KillerKane on August 23, 2010 at 9:32 PM
I wonder if all Cameron’s earlier demands were attempts to find a demand that his opponents would refuse, so that he could blame them for the debate not happening.
Steven Den Beste on August 23, 2010 at 9:33 PM
does any of this mean that JC’s next movie will include a cute nekkid redhead on a couch like Titanic did???
jus askin..
ted c on August 23, 2010 at 9:33 PM
What an Avatard!
Monica on August 23, 2010 at 9:08 PM
Monica: *Ding-ding*,dats good,lol!!:)
canopfor on August 23, 2010 at 9:34 PM
this just further reveals what level of “validation” the left bestows upon guys like J. Cameron, Polanski or Allen. They are guys that make products that are fantasy, starring people who make their careers portraying fantasy characters that do fantasy things. It just goes to follow that James Cameron is tapped to go further the fantasy that is AGW….he’s a fantasy-meister and perfectly qualified and validated.
ted c on August 23, 2010 at 9:36 PM
Has he called the “deniers” racists yet?
SouthernGent on August 23, 2010 at 9:36 PM
It doesn’t take an expert to tell me the Earth has and always will undergo wide spread change in temperature and the environment.
Did I say anything about faith? Nope.
And yes just because an expert says it does not mean you shouldn’t question or doubt their conclusions.
Lets not dare question those with PHDS and doctorates, we may as well turn all policy decisions over to “experts” in whatever field they practice – I mean, they know better than me. Such would completely remove the difficulty of having a Republic or actually thinking for one self.
Sharr on August 23, 2010 at 9:36 PM
Yep. Gore avoids debate and will not allow the media to view his presentations. No dissent is allowed.
onlineanalyst on August 23, 2010 at 9:36 PM
The knowledge James Cameron has in the field of science is probably less than the knowledge that Sally Field and Sissy Spacek about farming.
listens2glenn on August 23, 2010 at 9:37 PM
does any of this mean that JC’s next movie will include a cute nekkid redhead on a couch like Titanic did???
jus askin..
ted c on August 23, 2010 at 9:33 PM
ted c: With the windows steamed up,with her hand,
SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEing down the
pane of glass……..
with OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH GAWD!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)
canopfor on August 23, 2010 at 9:37 PM
Canopfor:
I regret to tell you that I am compelled to report you to the Robert J. Fishy Foundation, and its associated Gestapo. Good luck in the future in avoiding the Big Brother Foundation and its Completely* Compelling Catastrophe Coordinators.
Don’t drink the water.
sarcalistic/
hillbillyjim on August 23, 2010 at 9:38 PM
OT Penny Lee is on Hannity right now. Besides the Mr. Ed smile, she’s pretty cute.
ted c on August 23, 2010 at 9:38 PM
Maybe Cameron could hire that redhead still standing in the unemployment line.
onlineanalyst on August 23, 2010 at 9:40 PM
ted c: You forgot Oliver Stone(d).
onlineanalyst on August 23, 2010 at 9:41 PM
Canopfor:
I regret to tell you that I am compelled to report you to the Robert J. Fishy Foundation, and its associated Gestapo. Good luck in the future in avoiding the Big Brother Foundation and its Completely* Compelling Catastrophe Coordinators.
Don’t drink the water.
sarcalistic/
hillbillyjim on August 23, 2010 at 9:38 PM
hillbillyjim: No worries patriot,I’m formly requesting you,
as a bunk-buddy,in the Re-Education Camp,when
I,
SNITCH on you,hahaha!!!(sarc):)
canopfor on August 23, 2010 at 9:41 PM
Maybe Cameron could hire that redhead still standing in the unemployment line.
onlineanalyst on August 23, 2010 at 9:40 PM
onlineanalyst: The Redheaded Russian Spyette!!:)
canopfor on August 23, 2010 at 9:43 PM
Debates don’t lend themselves to “Shut up, Gaia-killing azzhat!”
Cammie didn’t really have much more than that.
Bishop on August 23, 2010 at 9:43 PM
Here’s the other thing. In order for it to have been broken I need to know what solid state/constant that we humans have knocked the delicate climate out of. What is the ideal temperature of the Earth? And how do we know that it is an ideal? On what bases are we reaching the conclusion?
Sharr on August 23, 2010 at 9:45 PM
yeah, another guy who only loves America for what he can suck out of it in movie tix $ and other box office earnings. His motto?, “come see how bad America and Republicans are at my next movie…” …kinda covers all his films I guess…
ted c on August 23, 2010 at 9:45 PM
Why does Cameron get Al Gore to sub for him?..:)
Dire Straits on August 23, 2010 at 9:47 PM
With all the changes Sounds like he was tring to get them to drop out so he could say they didn’t have the courage to face the truth. Now what will be the MSM spin? Most likely they just wont report it.
Gwillie on August 23, 2010 at 9:49 PM
What if we passed all this massive climate change legislation and floods still wiped out thousands of people, and droughts killed off crops here and there. Who gets blamed then, besides conservatives and Bush, I mean?
Bishop on August 23, 2010 at 9:50 PM
COWARD!
GarandFan on August 23, 2010 at 9:53 PM
Well see in many of these people minds not the least of which is an expert like Dr. Paul Ehrlich – we humans are an infestation, a threat, our simple living on the Earth is harm in and of itself.
Sharr on August 23, 2010 at 9:54 PM
It don’t matter, because the coasts are populated by lefties and they’d be culled from the fold first. A lot of the bitter clingers have boats and shooting skills so they could float, fish, shoot, and eat. After that, repeal the law, and just blame Bush as a punchline and laugh your way to the bank…./
ted c on August 23, 2010 at 9:54 PM
Brave James Cameron ran away
Bravely, ran away
When a challenge reared its head
He bravely turned his tail and fled
Yes, brave James Cameron turned about
And gallantly he chickened out
Bravely taking to his feet
He beat a very brave retreat
Cheshire Cat on August 23, 2010 at 9:54 PM
*Peoples minds.
Sharr on August 23, 2010 at 9:55 PM
Bishop:
Here’s the deal.
Not me.
Hillbillyjim told you that
hillbillyjim on August 23, 2010 at 9:57 PM
http://www.artofobama.com/2009/11/28/last-unicorn/#more-3599
I will be on the side that you know intimately.
hillbillyjim on August 23, 2010 at 10:00 PM
Looks like Cameron’s bluff was called and he ducked out before hammer fell.
clement on August 23, 2010 at 10:00 PM
Awesome. Even funnier, I read it as Titaniturd at first glance. Works either way.
Monica on August 23, 2010 at 10:02 PM
It means STFU racist.
/
Monica on August 23, 2010 at 10:04 PM
This guy gave us “Aliens” – one of THE best sci-fi or action movies EVER. What happened? Titanic was mediocre, Avatar was insultingly bad.
George Lucas is forgiven – maybe not for Jar Jar.
KillerKane on August 23, 2010 at 10:04 PM
Harry – whoa you convinced me. Your grasp of the issues at hand are amazying. /sarc dimwit.
CWforFreedom on August 23, 2010 at 10:05 PM
Never mind the silliness, hillbillyjim’s the one that is consistently conservative, and passionate about it. Don’t bother if you don’t want to come and get you some. Come on!
Dare you oyster-sucking chickenshit fucks.
hillbillyjim on August 23, 2010 at 10:06 PM
Hahaha! What a wuss.
TN Mom on August 23, 2010 at 10:06 PM
Sorry..
Dire Straits on August 23, 2010 at 10:07 PM
Brave sir Cameron!
Dark-Star on August 23, 2010 at 10:07 PM
Ohhhhhhhh, this is SO COOL! JINX, JINX, Allah! (I got to use a picture of a taunting T-Rex today because a completely over the top Gorebalist statement.)
Oh, I LOVE these guys.
tree hugging sister on August 23, 2010 at 10:08 PM
I’m
King of the Worlda whipped little weenie!profitsbeard on August 23, 2010 at 10:12 PM
If Cameron wants to be like the Na’vi in “Avatar”, I’ll be Leonidas in “300″. No prisoners, no mercy.
KillerKane on August 23, 2010 at 10:13 PM
Why smart people defend bad ideas
Sharr on August 23, 2010 at 10:15 PM
On the link I do think he’s completely wrong on the issue of the Mosque and falling into his own trap of being too smart for his own good, never mind asking the wrong questions which aren’t about distances but about symbolism.
Sharr on August 23, 2010 at 10:22 PM
3
I’m a pu$$y, but I’m a rich pu$$y….JC/
I wonder where in all this does Obama’s ‘I think there comes a time when you’ve made enough money’ comes in??
BigWyo on August 23, 2010 at 10:23 PM
Dancing with Smurfs?
profitsbeard on August 23, 2010 at 10:26 PM
Cameron was out of ideas when he first made Avatar, which is why he used the plot from Dances With Wolves, which used the plot from Disney’s Pocahantas…
itsnotaboutme on August 23, 2010 at 10:26 PM
Dances With Smurfs- Redux?
profitsbeard on August 23, 2010 at 10:39 PM
Liberals are really good at the feelings thing. They’re really good at the propaganda thing. They’re not really good at the facts thing.
Al Gore, Mr. I Won the Nobel Peace Prize guy, refuses to debate the issue. The truth be known, they can’t debate because the facts aren’t on their side and they know it. If the facts were on their side and they could prove their theories, they’d be debating nightly until they passed cap and tax.
This isn’t about global warming, or climate change whatever their name tag is for it this week, this is about Cap and Tax and giving liberals money to redistribute to 3rd world countries. They’re losing right now, but they’ll never give up. Just like health care legislation, once Scott Brown was elected we all thought the bill would be toned down so it could pass. The liberals forced it through so they wouldn’t have to do it. Now, they’re just trying to “get their message out” so they can pass it next time around.
bflat879 on August 23, 2010 at 10:41 PM
I agree, Aliens is on my Top 10 best movies ever.
The Cameron thing…he’s getting old…and as we get old, we start to contemplate DEATH a little bit more and more…
Back in the day, 70..80 years ago when the country was mired in the ignorance of the christian faith..more than now I mean…You had these rich industrialists like Ford, Carnagie, Mellon. I had a friend in my younger days that told me of the passage about the eye of a needle and a rich man going to heaven. Do you think all those rich ba$ards gave up all that money because they cared???
Guilt is 50% of liberalism…..if you have money. Lack of common sense and/or envy is 90% if you don’t.
BigWyo on August 23, 2010 at 10:42 PM
You have been Ava-Tarred! Genius!!!
antisocial on August 23, 2010 at 11:15 PM
Phew! Glad this debate thing isn’t going to happen. I mean think about it; a bunch of well educated men who are familiar with their own and their opponents viewpoints discussing their arguments so others could decide for themselves. What a waste of time! Just give us a wonderful three hour movie with all the nuance and perspective that we expect from Cameron./sarcasm
shick on August 23, 2010 at 11:17 PM
Right after he filled his pockets full of Wall St. and BP money…..
….but right before he filled his pockets full of Union Money.
It’s okay for liberals to be rich as long as they give money to liberal candidates.
Baxter Greene on August 24, 2010 at 12:11 AM
There’s a term for guys like this …. hmmmm.
Ah yes. Punk A$$ B!tch.
BowHuntingTexas on August 24, 2010 at 12:20 AM
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