The Washington Post penned an excellent editorial yesterday deriding Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelliโs political attack against climate scientist Dr. Michael Mann, a former UVA professor whom Cuccinelli has targeted in a witch hunt. ย
The Post editorial notes that โthe overblown critique of climate science that emerged early this year continues to underwhelm,โ citingย several examples of the recent rash of politically-motivated attacks on climate science, including the much-ado-about-nothing โClimategateโ episode last winter, the repeated attacks against the integrity of the U.N. IPCC, and of course Mr. Cuccinelliโs witch hunt against UVA and Mikeย Mann.ย
This weekโs ruling by Circuit Court Judge Paul Peatross confirming that Cuccinelli lacked โan objective basisโ for his witch hunt โput a damper on a pernicious fishing expedition,โ the Postย says.
But that hasnโt checked โMr. Cuccinelliโs zeal,โ since he immediately announced plans to re-rig his fishing pole and try again to smear Dr. Mann, โthereby extending his assault on academic freedom,โ says the Post.
The editorial closes with sharp criticism for Cuccinelliโs attempt to โembarrass Virginiaโ:
โWe hope he rethinks his course. At this point all he can do is waste more taxpayer money, force the university to waste more of its money and embarrass Virginia in a way that can only harm its higher education system.โย
Check out the full editorial,ย โA judge puts a damper on Mr. Cuccinelliโs U-Va. witch hunt.โย
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