If there was ever any doubt whatsoever about exactly who Republicans
work for and represent, or who is directing their time and money-wasting
agenda in the U.S. Congress, an event in Texas reveals what most
Americans already know.
If one was unaware of what era this is, they may think it is the 16th
Century and congressional Republicans are the
high and holy roman catholic cult attacking science and scientists for contradicting god
almighty and the 'christian' bible. But this is 21st Century America and
instead of
“the church” conducting an inquisition and attacking
science and scientists, it is the fossil fuel industry using
congressional Republicans to impugn and “
intimidate” scientists for being scientists contradicting the fossil fuel industry.
At a Texas Public Policy Foundation event
this week where the fossil fuel industry gathered to plot their attacks
on the climate, the owner and CEO of coal giant Murray Energy thanked
the industry’s leading inquisitor for using the U.S. Congress to attack
scientists. The recipient of the glowing praise, heartfelt gratitude and
effusive congratulations was anti-science Chairman of the House Science
Committee Smith (R-TX). The Murray Energy CEO, Robert E. Murray,
enthusiastically praised Smith for leading an inquisition into noted and
prominent climate scientists and environmental officials tasked with
gathering empirical data to help protect Americans’ air and water.
Murray, after “
congratulating” Smith for doing the lord’s
work in issuing a congressional subpoena to the head of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) head Kathryn Sullivan,
issued further orders to Smith. Murray demanded that Smith immediately
issue more congressional subpoenas and start investigating the American
Meteorology Association (weather forecasters) and the Union of Concerned
Scientists; two private nonprofit organizations that serve the
scientific community and the American people. According to Murray, the
organizations also “need to be investigated” because they have empirical
scientific data and mounds of research contradicting the fossil fuel
industry’s claim that global climate change is a liberal hoax to rob
Americans.
It is noteworthy that the anti-science climate-denying attendees, all donors to the Texas Public Policy Foundation, were “
inadvertently”
disclosed
as billionaires at Koch Industries, ExxonMobil, Chevron, VF-Russia,
ConocoPhillips and Murray Energy among many others. The president of the
event’s sponsor, Brooke Rollins, explained how and why event was
conceived and why it is “critical” to the industry’s assault on
scientists, the environment, and Earth’s climate. Rollins
said,
“
About a year and a half ago, a supporter of ours that I know
well and is a good friend, said ‘Brooke, I think we really need to pull
together the best and the brightest who are debunking the myth of
climate change and global warming.'” Rollins then revealed that the filthy rich “
supporter and good friend” was none other than noted hydraulic fracturing executive and climate change denier Bud Brigham; a real piece of fossil fuel work and Smith cohort.
Since the anti-science Smith has chaired the House Science Committee,
he has led a series of unrelenting fossil fuel-funded attacks on the
scientists and scientific consensus around global warming. Smith even
wastes taxpayer money by holding congressional
hearings
for the sole purpose of allowing Koch Republicans to each take a turn
at berating NOAA, National Science Foundation (NSF), and National
Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) scientists involved in
providing empirical data necessary for climate policy founded on
reality.
Smith has also
proposed
Koch-ALEC legislation to create new fossil fuel industry-mandated
criteria for all future National Science Foundation studies and duly
slashed the budgets of scientists involved in climate research; he has not yet prohibited the words “
climate change”
from being uttered like other state-level Republicans, but it is likely
on the near horizon. Smith has rapidly ramped up his aggressive tactics
against science and scientists that garnered high praise from the coal
industry’s largest corporation and inspired Smith to get serious about
expanding the industry’s crusade and inquisition.
For example, in June, after NOAA scientists published a
study
in the highly-regarded peer-reviewed journal Science that used
scientific research and empirical data to refute the absurd Republican
claim that global warming they claim does not exist has “
paused,” Smith immediately issued congressional subpoenas to the scientists who participated in the study.
The very serious House subpoenas included NOAA director Kathryn Sullivan demanding, not more scientific data, but all
personal “
communications between or among all NOAA employees.” It is what Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson(D-TX)
charged was just Smith’s way of “
furthering a fishing expedition.”
Less politically-correct human beings would label Smith’s actions a
religious witch hunt or what they truly are; 16th Century Vatican-like
inquisitions and
attacks
on science that targeted the likes of Galileo and Copernicus. In Koch
Republicans’ minds, disagreeing with the fossil fuel industry is
tantamount to disputing the authority of the holy roman catholic cult
and dog almighty himself, and they have congressional authority to do
something about it.
Americans not beholden to the Kochs’ fossil fuel industry say Smith’s
investigations are deliberate attempts to intimidate scientists whose
research may pose a financial hardship to the fossil fuel industry which
donates heavily to Republican politicians; including Chairman of the
House Science Committee Lamar Smith. As well-regarded scientist and
Slate writer Phil Plait
notes, Smith’s subpoenas are “
politically-motivated strong-arm tactics,” and not remotely related to “
an actual attempt at oversight.”
Although Plait is highly-respected in the scientific community, and by
this author, it is curious he failed to question how on Earth a
science-denying moron and fossil fuel industry puppet like Smith could
possibly provide any oversight to scientists, but perhaps that is why
Phil is a noted and respected science spokesman.
This week, seven leading scientific societies issued a damn tersely-worded
letter to the anti-science Smith asserting that, “
Scientists
should not be subjected to fraud investigations or harassment simply
for providing scientific results that some may see as politically
controversial.” It is true, of course, scientists should not be
investigated or harassed for doing their jobs with due diligence, but
this is America controlled by fossil fuel acolytes and driven by a 16th
Century religious mindset with congressional subpoena power; power
bestowed on them by the Koch brothers’ fossil fuel industry.
It is not difficult to imagine how far back in time Republicans will
eventually take America. First it was deluded teabaggers
driving to return to the 1950s, and then it was evangelical fanatics
lusting to return to old testament theocratic rule. Of late, it is a
small vocal group of Republicans intent on tactics devised by Adolf
Hitler’s Nazi regime and now it is the Koch-Republicans drawing
inspiration from the 16th century roman catholic cult attacking
scientists. Besides a push to leave the 21st Century, the only
connection between all the wingnut’s attempts to “
take their country back”
in history is that they are driven by special interests. And it is not
the interests of the incredibly stupid people who continue putting
Republicans and their fossil fuel masters in power.
