October 02, 2014 12:23 PM UTC

Beauprez Climate Change Denial Gets National Stink-Eye

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• by: Colorado Pols

National progressive blog Think Progress picks up GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Beauprez's comments about climate change from this week's Denver Post debate–so far overshadowed by the controversy over Beauprez's ill-advised statements on "abortifacient" IUD birth control from the same debate, but remarks we nonetheless expect will further damage Beauprez with moderate voters:

In Colorado, a state with a recent history of severe drought, epic wildfires and historic floods, the Republican candidate for governor is not backing down from his stance denying the role of humans in driving climate change.

In a debate with incumbent Democrat John Hickenlooper Tuesday night, GOP nominee Bob Beauprez was asked whether humans are contributing significantly to climate change and whether we can reverse it. No and No, answered Beauprez.

Five years after he characterized those who are concerned about climate change as religious zealots, Beauprez said “powers bigger than us” are in control of Earth’s fate.

“But are we going to end or alter the path that Earth’s evolution is going to take? I don’t think so,” Beauprez said in the debate hosted by the Denver Post. “I think the Earth’s already figured that out and powers bigger than us have figured that out.”

Which contrasts markedly with the opinion of Gov. John Hickenlooper:

Hickenlooper, for his part, said humans are contributing to climate change that to reverse it will take “a concerted effort, not just on the part of the United States, but worldwide.” Of course, 97 percent of climate scientists agree that human activity is driving recent global warming.

Think Progress also notes Beauprez's 2009 book A Return to Values, in which he says flat-out that climate change is "at best a grossly overhyped issue and at worst a complete hoax foisted on most of the world."

The intensity of opinion on the issue of global climate change, and mankind's contribution to it, does not register quite as high in public opinion surveys as other issues like the economy, foreign policy, and women's reproductive rights. With that said, there is near universal scientific agreement, and solid majority view among the public, the human-caused climate change is occurring and needs to be addressed. Hickenlooper may not be the left's best messenger on climate and energy policy, but as you can see, he's much closer to mainstream consensus on this issue than Beauprez will ever be.

Once again, the contrast between the reasonable middle and the fringe of the issue is very clear in this race.