Devil's advocate: When's the last time a fringe* conspiracy theorist's agenda has been able to effect legislature?
EDIT: Added the word "fringe". As in, a conspiracy theory that doesn't get media coverage.
EDIT: Added the word "fringe". As in, a conspiracy theory that doesn't get media coverage.
"Satanic Ritual Abuse" aka Satanic Panic also had a field-day in the courts, if not the legislature.
The tide seems to be turning, but until quite recently, it was an article of faith (literally, on occasion) among many conservatives that climate change was a liberal-media bogeyman. This was true even among the more respectable conservative publications and commentators, and not just the wackos.
In terms of science we can.
In terms of politics or society we can not, but we can distinguish political reporting from science reporting, even on a scientific issue which has political implications.
By no means am I suggesting it's a legitimate movement or a non-fringe movement amongst scientists, or that it deserves equal airtime. The viewpoint is largely bunk. Its adherents, however, are legion.
There certainly are other senses of the word "fringe", some of which they fit, others of which they don't.