Jon Stewart Confronts Al Gore On Selling Out To Big Oil [Video]
The Al Gore to Al Jazeera transaction has raised eyebrows, especially if “going green” had to do with cold, hard cash.
Jon Stewart, the host of Comedy Central’s Daily Show, had some inconvenient questions for Al Gore who recently sold Current TV to Al Jazeera, which is supported by the oil-rich country of Qatar.
Gore is both promoting a new book and engaging in damage control about the Current TV sale according to The Hollywood Reporter:
“Gore has faced blowback from the sale of his news network Current TV to Al Jazeera, which is backed by the oil-rich Middle Eastern nation of Qatar. The networked fetched $500 million, a fifth of which Gore is pocketing — troubling to some, given his fierce advocacy against climate change.”
Noting that the former VP was the “poster boy” for global warming, Stewart wanted to know if the mogul Al Gore could coexist with the environmentalist Al Gore in the context of selling the low-rated TV network to what he called a more sustainable choice, i.e., a non-fossil-fuel-based buyer. In that context, Stewart politely called the sale an “odd move.”
Stewart, who also seldom challenges fellow liberals or Democrats aggressively, in this instance did challenge Al Gore to some extent as follows:
“In your cost-benefit analysis, one of the major factors would be, I would think, sustainability. You had an opportunity to make a statement, probably, about your principles. And for some people would feel — and me as well, I thought it was an odd move, not because of some of the other things, but because it’s backed by fossil fuel money … Can you see how people at home might think, ‘Well, he’s asking me in my life to make choices about light bulbs, and the cost-benefit analysis, for the purpose of sustainability, when I just want to see my book.’ “
Gore claimed that it was an “easy choice” after he conducted his due diligence, and that he is “proud” of the transaction. He also claimed that Al Jazeera has the best climate coverage of any network in the world. Although Al Jazeera has been criticized as being anti-American, Gore insisted that the network is an ally of the United States.
Gore incorrectly asserted, however, that Al Jazeera will be commercial-free once it is up and running as a replacement for Current TV this spring.
The Inquisitr previously reported that soon-to-be-unemployed Current TV staffers feel that Al Gore is full of it in his failure to practice what he preaches.
There has some speculation that Al Gore rushed the sale of Current TV in late 2012 to avoid higher 2013 taxes.
In appearance with David Letterman this week, the host also wondered how Al Gore could do “business with this country that’s enabling your ultimate foe of climate change.”
Watch the Jon Stewart interview with environmental activist/green energy advocate Al Gore about his sale of Current TV to Al Jazeera:
