Rick Perry Charms Energy Audience, Quiets Protestors 

WASHINGTON – Energy Secretary Rick Perry continues to take heat for comments he made about climate change, but on Tuesday he used his classic Texas charm to diffuse a tense moment at an energy meeting.  
 
Perry was speaking at the U.S. Energy Information Administration's annual conference, coinciding with the Trump administration's "Energy Week," when he was interrupted by two protestors. 
 
"You're an energy denier," said the first demonstrator. 
 
Perry diffused the situation with humor. 
 
"You're one of the more interesting EIA employees," he said, prompting laughter from the crowd.   
 
The protestor continued shouting at Perry, who then told her, "If you'll sit down, young lady… I'll finish my remarks." 
 
"Answer my question. Why will you not say that climate change is caused by carbon dioxide?" she pressed.

"For your information… I didn't say that," Perry responded. "I said it's not the main dial…"

The criticism stems from an interview Perry did last week with CNBC "Squawk Box" host Joe Kernen.

He told Kernen that carbon emissions are not the primary cause for climate change.

"No, most likely the primary control knob is the ocean waters and this environment that we live in," Perry said.

In an interview with CBN News, Perry commented on some of the backlash he's received. 
 
"I've talked to enough scientists that say the science isn't settled," he said. "So let's not be afraid to, you know, have that conversation. I consider those that say, 'You're a skeptic of the science, therefore you're a Luddite,' to be the ones that are really narrow-minded."