MR. GORE GOES TO WASHINGTON

Note: Gore ended the controversy about his personal energy consumption by explaining, under oath, that he and his family lead carbon-neutral lives by offsetting all consumption of carbon.

Gore implores Congress to save the planet
Nedra Pickler, March 21, 2007 (AP via Houston Chronicle)

WHO
Former Vice President Albert Gore, Jr.

WHAT
- Gore made made an emotional return to Congress to plead with lawmakers to fight global warming with moral courage.
- Republican Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, who has labeled global warming a hoax, complained that the Democratic leadership gave Gore extra time and advantages not afforded typical witnesses. Inhofe then grilled Gore about his personal energy use at his Tennessee mansion. When Gore tried to respond at length, Inhofe cut him off. Democratic Chairwoman Barbara Boxer kept trying to bring order to the hearing. She told Inhofe he can't control things anymore now that Republicans have lost their majority. "Elections have consequences, so I make the rules," she said, holding up her gavel to cheers from the audience. Gore sighed heavily and proposed that he and Inhofe have breakfast and privately discuss it away from the cameras.

WHEN
Wednesday, March 21, 2007

WHERE
Testimony was given before both House and Senate committees.

WHY
With the authority of an expert, Gore testified that global warming poses a "true planetary emergency."

QUOTES
- "You're not just off a little, you're totally wrong," said Texas Rep. Joe Barton, the leading Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, as he challenged Gore's conclusion that carbon dioxide emissions cause rising global temperatures.
- "The planet has a fever," Gore said. "If your baby has a fever, you go to the doctor. If the doctor says you need to intervene here, you don't say, `Well, I read a science fiction novel that told me it's not a problem.' If the crib's on fire, you don't speculate that the baby is flame retardant. You take action."
- "There is a sense of hope in this country that this United States Congress will rise to the occasion and present meaningful solutions to this crisis," Gore said. "Our world faces a true planetary emergency. I know the phrase sounds shrill, and I know it's a challenge to the moral imagination."