Why do they "want to hear" that, though? Sure, some people are just reflexively anti-big oil, but still, that stance does illustrate that trying to prevent global warming also has useful side effects in simply limiting pollution.
Climate change has become a political issue for both sides - one of those things you can't really afford not to have any opinion on, even though very few people have even half a clue about the details (and I won't pretend to be among them). But in terms of "telling them what they want to hear", the climate change deniers who use any flaw in the model as an excuse to not cut down on emissions are certainly more open to that accusation than the supporters, whose stance after all does require them to make at least some sacrifices and try to cut emissions. Though when it actually comes down to making real changes in their lifestyle, I agree that not too many even among the "believers" walk the walk - eating more local and less exotic food, using their cars less, wasting less energy on their personal comforts, and so on.