In the beginning, the environmental movement (from which much of the sustainability movement came) was seen as a fringe ideology.[verification needed] It became increasingly mainstream over the next few decade but as it did so it became for some right wing politicians a convenient scapegoat.[verification needed]
During the 1992 presidential campaign, George H. W. Bush mockingly dubbed Al Gore "ozone man" and said, "This guy is so far out in the environmental extreme, we'll be up to our necks in owls and outta work for every American."[verification needed]
In 2007 his son toured a hybrid car factory.[1]
[Editorial note: This article doesn't really explain the title and needs a lot of TLC to help it express this aspect, with solid and interesting facts and reasoning that resonate in a wider, not-just-US context.]