Marc Morano of “Climate Depot” responded to my criticism of his piece yesterday, both via email and in the comments:

You may want to fact check what you write next time though.

[ Update: 1:55 PM EST: A GOP House source told Climate Depot that the Democrats on the Committee said “absolutely not” to allowing Monckton to appear during today's Gore hearing. The GOP committee “pushed at multiple levels” to bring Monckton in to testify but the Democrats “refused,” according to the GOP source. Former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich was called in to testify after Monckton was rejected by the committee Democrats, according to the Congressional source.]

First, I’m not sure why anyone would take Morano’s unnamed GOP house source seriously. Given Morano’s tendency to make things up, he would be wise to use publicly available sources in his reporting. Carrying water for industry by promoting foolish and dangerous policies isn’t easy, but Morano could at least make an attempt to come across as credible. Frankly, I’m embarrassed for the guy.

Second, this basically confirms my point from yesterday that Monckton was never scheduled to testify. As I pointed out pretty clearly, the hearing schedule was available on this site and elsewhere. If Monckton was confused about whether or not he was to testify Friday he has no one to blame but himself. Morano’s suggestion that I fact check before making a fool of him again is hilarious.

Fortunately, while jokers like Morano were peddling their industry sponsored lies, the big kids were taking care of business:

And honestly, that is what the American Clean Energy and Security Act is all about. We know that our current energy policies are unsustainable. They are a threat to our environment, our economy and our national security. As we transition to a sustainable energy economy there will be lots of pollution-funded naysayers like Mr. Morano trying to confuse the public. They will use fear tactics and lies to get their points across and they will say whatever their corporate funders want them to, but it doesn’t really matter. It doesn’t matter because nobody takes them seriously. It doesn’t matter because reality is on our side. It doesn’t matter because passing a climate policy that drastically reduces greenhouse gas emissions isn’t a matter of if, but a matter of when.

When reality deniers like Morano stoop to desperate lows like yesterday’s sloppy piece it is a clear sign of the futility of their work. They know the gig is up, and being irrelevant sucks. So while Morano and his ilk can go on denying reality for the rest of their lives, it doesn’t really matter. Reality can’t be fooled by anonymous GOP sources and science won’t wait for it to be convenient for industry to reduce emissions. All of the Marc Moranos in the world can’t change that.