One of the exciting aspects of John Kerry serving as Secretary of State is the fact that Kerry hopes to use this prestigious post to elevate the climate crisis on the international stage. Indeed, this came up during his confirmation hearing yesterday, explaining, "I'll be a passionate advocate, but not based on ideology, based on fact, based on science."
One high-profile Republican was unimpressed.
That's too much effort to put on climate change, according to Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, a leading early contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.
"I don't think it's the most pressing foreign policy issue facing America," Rubio told POLITICO outside Kerry's confirmation hearing on Thursday. "There's a lot of things government can do but changing the weather isn't one of them."
I'm reminded of an interview Rubio did with GQ a few months ago, in which he was asked how old he thinks the Earth is. The Republican responded, "I'm not a scientist, man," before immediately shifting to a theological discussion, and concluding that the age of the planet may simply be unknowable. "It's one of the great mysteries," Rubio said.
And yesterday, Mr. I'm Not A Scientist, Man suggested that, as far as he's concerned, combating global warming is an impossible effort to "change the weather."
Why does the political establishment consider the far-right Floridian a rising star with limitless potential? It's one of the great mysteries.
