Not just some random conservative blogger ...

Benen: THE MAN WHO WOULD BE SPEAKER....

One of the difficulties in discussing global warming with conservative Republicans is that they're often reluctant to take reality seriously.

Minority Leader John Boehner described the overwhelming scientific consensus that carbon dioxide is contributing to climate change as "comical" during an appearance on Sunday, noting that cow flatulence contributes CO2 to the environment all the time.

Appearing on ABC's This Week, the Ohio Republican was asked what to describe the GOP plan to dealing with greenhouse gas emissions, "which every major scientific organization said is contributing to climate change."

Boehner replied: "The idea that carbon dioxide is a carcinogen that is harmful to our environment is almost comical. Every time we exhale, we exhale carbon dioxide. Every cow in the world, you know when they do what they do you've got more carbon dioxide."

The transcript of Boehner's remarks is online, and his office was proud enough of Boehner's on-air performance to post a video clip of his remarks to his YouTube page.

Remember, this isn't just some random conservative blogger or radio personality. John Boehner is an experienced lawmaker, the leader of the House Republican caucus, and the man who would be Speaker of the House in the event of a GOP majority. And yet, facing a serious climate crisis, Boehner doesn't understand the debate, doesn't have a coherent policy prescription, and is openly derisive of reality.

What a trainwreck.

• And in Boehner's remarks you have the embodiment of all that is wrong with the Republican party. They are ignorant, they lack curiosity,they embrace barnyard humor as truth, and they proud of all of it.
  

  Posted by: Ron Byers on April 20, 2009 at 8:13 AM | PERMALINK

Benen: ACCOMMODATING CONFUSION...

There was one other exchange from House Minority Leader John Boehner's (R-Ohio) discussion with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos that stood out for me. The host asked the GOP leader about the point of last week's "Tea Parties."

STEPHANOPOULOS: [O]n the issue of taxes, I think it's 43 percent of people who file taxes pay no income tax at all. For the middle fifth of taxpayers, they're paying just about 3 percent in federal income tax this year.

BOEHNER: Well, you want to go out and explain that to the hundreds of thousands of people around America that showed up for these rallies.

It's an odd response, isn't it? Stephanopoulos' point was reasonable enough, and it helps explain why most Americans believe the current tax system is fair. But Boehner seemed to suggest it doesn't matter whether existing tax rates are reasonable, what matters is whether conservative activists perceive existing tax rates as reasonable. He didn't think Stephanopoulos' evidence was wrong; he thinks his party's base thinks Stephanopoulos' evidence as wrong, and that's more important.

In other words, to hear Boehner tell it, the government should be responsive to the misconceptions of conservative activists. That's not exactly a compelling pitch.

Boehner suggested Stephanopoulos should try to "go out and explain" the relatively low tax burden "to the hundreds of thousands of people" who attended far-right rallies last week. But if Boehner is one of the most powerful GOP leaders in the country, shouldn't he "go out and explain" the facts to those who ostensibly look to him for policy guidance?