Some scientists are beginning to understand that it is not "fact" that creates acceptance of new concepts, like evolution or global climate change, but rather our gut inclination to believe those facts. This is influenced by the culture and beliefs of people around us. Thus, Al Gore's work seemed directed at people already with his cultural orientation, which includes an overpowering value for science and technology compared to the average person, let alone those with predominantly religion-based beliefs. 

No wonder it backfired when, in lecturing about science, he is felt to have talked down to (if not bullied) and insulted the people he needed to convince in order to facilitate the formation of a consensus on global climate change. Any teacher knows, or should know, that memorizing facts does not lead to critical understanding of an issue. Addressing people as being ignorant is not the way to help them be open to accepting new ideas.

In the end, Al Gore may have strengthened opposition to global climate change at a time when lots of people were on the fence. He was preaching/teaching to the choir, to those already inclined to believe his information. Unfortunately, his work, with the organized lobbying and disinformation campaigns from vested interest groups and conservative media, was a casualty of our national culture war rather than a successful educational tool for a transition to more rational government policies towards energy and our environment.