As the Tillerson Senate hearings continue on, Sen. Tim Kaine used a good deal of his time to grill Secretary of State wannabe and Russian oil-lover Rex Tillerson on his time at ExxonMobil and the company’s continued financial backing of junk climate denial science and research. Sen. Kaine specifically cited the Los Angeles Times’ and Inside Climate News’ reporting on what ExxonMobil knew and when they knew it.
Kaine: There was a three-part series in the Los Angeles Times and Inside Climate News produced a nine-part series that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. One, ExxonMobil concluded as early as the 1970s that pollution from CO2 released from burning fossil fuels was affecting the climate in potentially destructive ways. Two, despite this knowledge ExxonMobil took public positions against the scientific concensus regarding climate science. Three, ExxonMobil funded outside organizations that publicly denied, downplayed, and obscured the scientific consensus; and four, ExxonMobil—despite claims to the contrary—continues to provide funding, even at a lower level to outside groups that deny, down play, or obscure this scientific consensus. are these conclusions of ExxonMobil promoting and funding climate science denial, despite it's internal awareness of the reality of climate change, during your tenure with the company, true or false?
Tillerson: Senator, since I'm no longer with ExxonMobil I'm in no position to speak on their behalf.
Kaine: I’m not asking you on behalf of ExxonMobil.
Sen. Kaine points out that for half of Tillerson’s 42-year career at ExxonMobil, he has been in an executive position. Republicans like Sen. Lamar Smith are already working tirelessly to carry ExxonMobil’s dirty water up Capitol Hill. Sen. Kaine pressed Tillerson, to which Tillerson once again said Sen. Kaine would have to ask ExxonMobil since Tillerson’s mind was instantly erased the moment he said he wasn’t CEO of ExxonMobil.
Kaine: Do you lack the knowledge to answer my question or are you refusing to answer my question?
Tillerson: A little a both.
Kaine: I have a hard time believing you lack the knowledge to answer my question.
Meanwhile, across the country, Donald Trump told us that Russian influence on our elections was less important than whether or not Hillary Clinton received debate questions beforehand.