The Guardian newspaper is reporting that many of the world’s top public relations firms are now refusing to represent clients who do not subscribe to the concept of global warming.

“Now a number of the top 25 global PR firms have told the Guardian they will not represent clients who deny man-made climate change, or take campaigns seeking to block regulations limiting carbon pollution. Companies include WPP, Waggener Edstrom (WE) Worldwide, Weber Shandwick, Text100, and Finn Partners,” noted the article.

The one word that comes to mind on this political stand by these companies: Hypocrites.

If a PR firm is genuinely concerned about working with a client that is one thing. But to take a lofty politically correct stand against anyone who opposes global warming is a dangerous step.

Would they dump BP after the massive oil spill in the Gulf? How about a certain political candidate if he/she was from the wrong party? Will they refuse to accept money from alcohol or cigarette companies? It is doubtful.

Global firm Hill & Knowlton (a subsidiary of WPP) got the United States into a war in the Persian Gulf by manufacturing stories, including a completely false one that accused Iraqi soldiers of dumping babies out of incubators. H & K coached a sobbing, 15-year-old girl into telling the gruesome story to Congress.

Edward Bernays, who is considered the father of public relations, was also a huge proponent of ”propaganda.”

“The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democracy society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. … We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of. This is a logical result of the way in which our democratic society is organized. Vast numbers of human beings must cooperate in this manner if they are to live together as a smoothly functioning society. … In almost every act of our daily lives, whether in the sphere of politics or business, in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons…who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind.”

Bernays famously invented the term “Torches of Freedom” in order to get women to smoke. His Easter Parade PR stunt where he paid women to light cigarettes is considered a benchmark in PR history. He told women it was their “right” to smoke and no one can deprive them of it. And his campaign achieved its goal of increasing cigarette sales to women.

The fact that these PR firms, which represent clients of all types, now say they will not represent people who question climate change is ridiculous. They have no problem representing politicians, countries, corporations and anyone else who will pay dearly for their services.

This new policy of representing only politically correct clients is nonsensical and sets a precedent for all future clients they accept.