Rex Murphy: Dupe or Liar? Is Rex Paid to Shill?

Rex Murphy is given a national platform each week on the CBC to spout off about whatever he wants – and the truth be damned, apparently. He is entitled to believe whatever he wants, of course. But when he speaks – during the CBC news time slot – he should be held to the same standards of truth that the rest of the show is. I cannot imagine the CBC allowing Mr. Murphy to cite uncredentialed quacks while giving advice to people with cancer, but that is exactly what he does with climate science.

In his timeslot and on the CBC’s website, Mr. Murphy recommends ignoring Canada’s climate scientists in favour of two deniers, neither of whom is a climate scientist. McIntyre is a retired mining stock promoter and McKitrick is an economist, but this doesn’t stop either of them from claiming expertise in climate science. McKitrick, like Murphy, has ties to the Libertarian Fraser Institute, which receives funding from Big Oil.

At best, that Rex believes these two calls into question his sense. At worst, his integrity is in doubt. Is Rex Murphy receiving compensation of any kind from fossil fuel or auto companies?

I don’t know, but it is hard to imagine that CBC fact-checkers and editors are not well aware that he is spouting stuff and nonsense. After all, they check the news every day and have discovered that the climate scientists are telling the truth. So why would the CBC put up with Murphy speaking anti-science on the news?

Perhaps it’s part of a deal with certain advertisers? No doubt the oil, coal, and auto industries would much prefer the CBC to send mixed messages on climate than to report only the truth, which would put them in a very bad light indeed. Better to have Reassuring Rex come on after all that bad climate news that people get every day, to tell people

Those dumb scientists don’t know what they’re talking about. Let me tell you what this ex-mining stock promoter has to say! Who knows climate science better than mining stock promoters? Or how about this economist? Economists know everything.

Don’t  worry your silly little heads, little people. If there were serious problems, then serious people would be taking care of them. Large corporations like Exxon and General Motors pay money to public relations organizations that promote climate denial because that’s just good business, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

In fact, if there were a problem, you can bet that corporations would be the first to identify it and jump on a solution, because that’s how the magic market works. In theory. In reality, a few corporations like Exxon and GM do pay a few bucks for good PR, but I think we all know that climate scientists live in ivory towers divorced from the reality of the economy.

Scientists: You can’t trust ‘em. Mining stock promoters, economists, people paid by Big Oil – those are my sources.

Well, Rex would never say that last sentence, but that’s the truth.

I dare Rex Murphy to talk to Canada’s climate scientists and report back why he thinks M&M are more reputable. And when he is shown to be plainly, incontrovertibly, and shamefully wrong, I hope he has the courage to say as much – but I doubt it.

I encourage everyone to:

1. Write to the CBC’s ombudsman that Rex Murphy should be taken off the air for stating false and dangerous information.
2. Write to the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council.
3. Write to the CRTC.

Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion on global warming. Everyone is not entitled to spout it on the CBC News as if it were truth, especially when it is dangerous nonsense.

To atone for this travesty of truth, the CBC should:

1. Immediately begin subjecting Rex’s Meanderings to the same standards of truth, credibility of sources, and so on as the rest of the news.
2. Immediately announce that they are doing this because some of his pronouncements were suspected to be less than completely in accord with the facts.
3. Have me fill one of Rex’s slots with an attempt to make up for his years of prior less-than-truth.
4. To undo years of Rex’s nonsense, alternate his spot with one from the science side. I’ll fill in until the CBC can get Dr. David Suzuki. Both shows will be fact-checked.

UPDATE – Less than an hour after posting the complaint to the CBC Ombudsman, I received the following email:

I write to acknowledge receipt of your e-mail, which I have shared with Jennifer McGuire, General Manager and Editor in Chief of CBC News, along with the request that your concerns be addressed.

Sincerely,

Vince Carlin
CBC Ombudsman

UPDATE #2

A friend of mine was also disgusted that Rex Murphy can speak blatant untruths on The National, and wrote the CBC. The response is priceless – and will make you want to cry. It is from Mark Harrison, Executive Producer of The National and I will quote only some relevant passages. Mr. Harrison points out that the CBC has covered climate change extensively, which is true…but much of that is undone by Rex Murphy directly contradicting what the reporters have just stated.

“…allowing the expression of the widest possible range of views is at the heart of the notion of fairness and balance in journalism.”

Now, what well-known “news” organization has the motto “Fair and Balanced.” Could it be…FOX NEWS?!

“…almost any opinion may contain a grain of truth that helps to illuminate the whole truth.”

Well, I suppose that’s true…but it sure opens the door to allowing anyone to speak their “truth.” Why not allow blatant racists and hate-mongers their time on Point of View? Surely there’s a grain of truth in what they say?

“…it is not the CBC’s obligation to determine what is “truth”…”

Honestly, I have a hard time believing I just read that. First, that apparently the CBC thinks “truth” belongs in quotes, implying that all truth is subjective; there is no such thing as truth to the CBC. How reassuring. And second, that the CBC feels under no obligation to determine truth. I suppose that makes sense if there is no such thing as truth. No doubt if Mr. Harrison ever gets bad news from his doctor, he will brush it off as the doctor’s “truth.”

This is truly shocking news. I thought more of the CBC and The National, I really did. Now, who knows if what they say is “true,” or perhaps was ‘re-truthed’ by advertisers or ideologues? I am deeply disappointed in the CBC. No wonder people want its taxpayer funding cut.