Eventually hucksterism and just wrong wacky ideas are excluded from science by the process, but once great names and reputation may not fall as quickly as they should (thanks for the link Bjarne)
Sometimes reputation of background is used as part of hucksterism. Notable examples include a small group of physicists, complete unskilled in cancer research, who worked in support of the tobacco industry to take advantage of the fact that most people don't understand how science works and what confidence levels mean to derail effective tobacco regulation for years. This same core group then went on to discredit the science of global warming working for the fossil fuel industry.They effective sidestep science entirely and spout their pseudo-science directly to the public often through clueless politicians and a media that feels like it needs to give equal time to completely crank viewpoints. The time we have lost will greatly cost those who are young now as well as those who haven't been born yet.
Merchants of Doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway is an excellent read on the subject of groups with scientific credentials taking advanage of a scientifically illiterate public and group of lawmakers. Highly recommended!
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