Gore equates global warming skeptics with Bernie Madoff

Former VP Al Gore compared scientists who question global warming with indicted stock swindler Bernie Madoff Friday, arguing that they are all guilty of perpetuating a fraud.

During testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the VP turned environmental advocate got into a brief verbal tussle with global warming skeptic Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) who questioned Gore's statistics about carbon emissions.

"It is important to look at sources of science you rely on," Gore told Barton. "With all due respect, I believe you have relied on people you have trusted who have given you bad information. I don't blame the investors who trusted Bernie Madoff but he gave them bad information."

Gore also took aim Global Climate Coalition, which represents the oil and coal industry, calling the group the "Bernie Madoff's of global warming."

The NY Times reports today that the group ignored it's own scientific advice in trying to keep alive doubts about the science behind climate change.

"They have committed a fraud larger than Madoff's fraud....they lied to people who trusted them in order to make money," Gore said.

Gore's assault on global warming skeptics came as the House deliberates a "cap and trade" bill sponsored by Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Ed Markey (D-MA) that would mandate carbon emission cuts.

Gore lauded the energy bill as "one of the most important pieces of legislation ever introduced in the Congress," and compared it to landmark legislation including the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe after WWII and 1960s Civil Rights bill.

"This bill will simultaneously address the climate crisis, the economic crisis, and the national security threats that stem from our dependence on foreign oil," he said in his opening statement to the committee.

"We cannot afford to wait any longer for this transition. Each day that we continue with the status quo sees more of our fellow Americans struggling to provide for their families. Each day that we continue on our path, America loses more of its competitive edge. And each day we wait, we increase the risk that we will leave our children and grandchildren an irreparably damaged planet," Gore said. "Passage of this legislation will restore America's leadership of the world and begin, at long last, to solve the climate crisis. It is truly a moral imperative. Moreover, the scientific evidence of how serious this climate crisis is becoming continues to amass week after week."

Gore's testimony caps off four days of hearings on the legislation. Former VA Sen. John Warner and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich also testified before the committee Friday.