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Al Gore had an extremely profitable month in January, after selling Current TV to the Qatari government-owned network Al Jazeera for a hefty $500 million. Gore's share in the transaction? $100 million. So when the former vice president stopped by "The Daily Show" to promote his new book, "The Future," Jon Stewart asked why a man so committed to climate change activism would sell his company to an entity that makes its money selling oil.
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"I'm proud of the transaction, " Gore said of the sale at the beginning of the interview. "It is gonna really be a positive addition to the U.S. media landscape."
But later, Stewart questioned whether "Activist Al Gore" could reconcile himself with "Mogul Al Gore."
Gore passionately insisted that Al Jazeera had an "established reputation for excellence" and the best climate change coverage of any news network in the world. He also called out American journalists for their "pathetic" failure to bring up climate change during the 2012 presidential campaign.
"In your cost-benefit analysis, one of the major factors would be, I would think, sustainability," Stewart countered.
You had an opportunity to make a statement, probably, about your principles. And some people would feel -- and for 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.
AdvertisementCan you see how people at home might think, 'But 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'?
Watch the interview below:
