TODD AKIN, COMEDIAN…. Maybe it’s just my sense of humor, but I don’t think there’s anything funnier in American politics than listening to House Republicans explain their thoughts on global warming.
Take Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), for example, who offered some thoughts on environmental policy this week on the floor of the House.
“This whole thing strikes me if it weren’t so serious as being a comedy, you know. I mean, we just went from winter to spring. In Missouri when we go from winter to spring, that’s a good climate change. I don’t want to stop that climate change, you know. Who in the world want to put politicians in charge of the weather anyways? What a dumb idea. […]
“Some of the models said that we’re going to have surf at the front steps of the Capitol pretty soon. I was really looking forward to that. […]
“We’ve been joined by another doctor, a medical doctor but also a guy who graduated from high school science as well, from Georgia, my good friend, Congressman Gingrey…. So to have actually a guy who’s passed high school science is tremendously helpful. And Dr. Fleming from Louisiana.”
The House Republican caucus put Akin on the House Science Committee and the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.
But he presumably passed “high school science,” so I guess we’re supposed to overlook the fact that Akin doesn’t know the difference between weather and climate.
When Republican lawmakers complain that their substantive ideas aren’t taken seriously, they ought to remember this amusing little example.
