But it's time to make it clear that outright climate denialism -- denying that global warming is occurring, or that human activity is contributing to it -- is outside the pale. It is no longer an acceptable position for a mainstream organization to take.

It's time to bring shame to bear. Shame is a powerful social force, and any company with their name associated with CEI should be publicly and mercilessly shamed, whether or not their money went directly to this ad campaign. This campaign should make CEI a pariah, outside the bounds of civil society. It's equivalent to denying that cigarettes cause cancer.

We've been too hesitant about this, too willing to allow deniers newspaper and TV time to make their case. But their case has been utterly and irrevocably destroyed by science. At this point, they are engaging in dishonest, morally reprehensible behavior, for transparently self-interested reasons. It's time to call out the organizations -- corporations, media, whoever -- that enable them.

We've put up with this bullshit for too long. There's too much at stake.