Katharine Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist at Texas Tech University. She is among the vast majority of climate scientists who accept as fact the overwhelming evidence that the world is getting warmer due to human-created carbon emissions in the atmosphere.
She is also an evangelical Christian, and has devoted much of her career to engaging and educating the evangelical community on the subject of global warming.
Dr. Hayhoe was recently asked to contribute an introductory chapter on global warming to a book of essays on the environment by Newt Gingrich. Gingrich was one of the few prominent Republicans who publicly acknowledged the reality of global warming, until he decided to run for president and changed his position to pander to the radical conservative wing of the party.
When Rush Limbaugh found out in December that Hayhoe was contributing to Newt's upcoming book, and one of Limbaugh's acolytes questioned Newt about this at a campaign appearance, Newt suddenly disavowed Dr. Hayhoe's chapter, said that he "didn't know they were doing that," and had told the publisher to "kill it."
The funny thing is, Dr. Hayhoe didn't even know that her contribution had been "killed." She found out when a reporter contacted her asking for a comment. As she commented on Twitter, "Nice to hear that Gingrich is tossing my #climate chapter in the trash. 100+ unpaid hrs I cd've spent playing w my baby."
This is quite a contrast: Dr. Hayhoe, an evangelical Christian, has devoted a major portion of her life to speaking out for what she believes, trying to convince other Christians to overcome their resistance to change, and to alter their views for the good of the planet. In doing so, she has left herself open to the wrath of Rush Limbaugh, the Koch Brothers, and others who are threatened by the truth.
Newt Gingrich, on the other hand, hypocritically changes his views at the drop of a hat to conform to what he believes will help him in his quest for greater wealth and power.
As a graduate of Texas Tech University, I am proud that Katharine Hayhoe is on the faculty. She is a credit to the university and to the Red Raider Nation.
I'm not the type of person to give up just because something gets rough. That's a coward. That's not me. See the link below for more info.
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