"The weight of the science indicates that if there's any human behaviour involved, it's a modest amount." - Tim Pawlenty
Pawlenty is speaking about climate change. Like many Americans who clearly skipped high school science, Pawlenty isn't convinced that anthropogenic climate change is real, and he appears to be genuinely sincere in his ignorance, given that he also has a soft spot for teaching intelligent design in public schools as if it were on an equal scientific footing with evolution. Alas, sincerity in the service of stupidity is not a virtue.
Sadly, Pawlenty isn't some outlier in the Republican Party on this issue. Indeed, he represents what passes for the "mainstream" within the Party these days. Rather than tell the truth to the American people, they continue to peddle what the oil industry lobbyists pay them to say - that there's nothing to worry about. I could quote scientific report after scientific report that shows Pawlenty is about as wrong as you can be on this, but I figured I'd let one of wittiest political pundits provide some perspective.
Bill Maher, the floor is yours.
His best line?
"These people are so stupid, they make me question evolution."
None of the evidence makes any difference to Tim Pawlenty and the other Republicans, of course, a fact which should make a difference to the American people, who need honest leaders who tell them the truth, even when it's an inconvenient truth.
Paul Kimball
