Congressman Shimkus Says His Quote on Global Warming and God Taken Out of Context

• @Anonymous: You said: "Putting a Bible thumper into the chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee is like Bristol Palin hocking abstinence." Isn't that different than different than Separation of C&S? Weren't you saying that a Christian shouldn't hold that position? Because I don't think that Separation of C&S means that only agnostics are allowed to hold office (or chair a committee)...

• @KFP: I'm not against Christianity as much as I'm for Separation of Church and State. Keep the religion out of politics. It isn't chocolate and peanut butter even though it might look like it.

• Once an individual states that the Bible contains the infallible word of God, they should be legally prevented from seeking public office. Other people with mental disorders are unable to run and win a congressional seat. Why should they?

• @KittyLitter I agree with you on Shimkus; I think he is just a moron. I actually believe, and I'm speaking truthfully here, that 80% of our elected officials are idiots. I think that they are SO narcissistic that they think they actually ARE the truth; that whatever they say must be truthful. It is painful to watch. @Anonymous If your analogy is supposed to mean that a Bible Thumper in that position will mean the destruction of the earth due to the rapid increase of "global warming", then I should point out (AGAIN) that one of the premier scientists leading the push to halt climate change is an outspoken Christian (or, Bible Thumper). His name is Sir John T. Houghton; google him. Don't let your disdain for Christianity blind you...

• Putting a Bible thumper into the chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee is like Bristol Palin hocking abstinence. Where the fuck do these people get off?

• I never said "greedy oil companies." But they (and various governments, for that matter) are opportunistic, and trying to figure out how much money they can make because of global warming. FWIW, compared to health care and big pharma, oil companies haven't given Shimkus much money. So, I chalk the statements up to general nuttiness or a poor rebuttal to theologians.

• Mr. Shimkus is delusional. The verses he quoted were about a promise from God that HE would not again use water in destroying the earth (not that it would never happen or that anyone else wouldn't TRY). I believe he, as well as ALL Republicans, are those referred to in another Bible verse (which Mr. Shimkus will eventually be made VERY aware of): Revelation of John Chapter 11 Verse 18: "And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth." Read the entire chapter in context here... http://kingjbible.com/revelation/11.htm

• @Chad- That is a good point; I don't actually know for sure that they used scripture. But, what I do know for sure is that the IPCC is using Christian Theologians to push the global warming theory. And, that doesn't seem to bother you (at least in the context of this article where someone is doing the same thing for the opposite team). I'm not going to hand deliver anything to you, but look into Sir John T. Houghton, et al... @KittyLitterKing I'm sure that oil companies will do there best to extract oil, wherever they can and wherever the bureaucracy will allow them. No doubt about it (in my mind). But, if I use your train of thought, then I guess I could say that the greedy fishermen will be looking to profit from the same thing. Also, the greedy animals will be migrating up there, since the warming will create more food for them to eat up there. Of course, the greedy wolves will follow the greedy reindeer... and so it goes. What I'm saying is, everyone is just trying to eat...

• @Kenny Powers: I'm not convinced that the theologians at the hearing actually quoted Bible versus warning of global warning -- as Shimkus alleges. I find it curious, though, that Shimkus had a Bible at the ready to dispute their alleged claims.

• Chad's a big boy, and can defend himself, but take a look at recent copies of The Economist and Fast Company, every country with claims to the Arctic (Russia and Greenland, in particular), are trying to secure their rights to the area because they believe huge amount of oil/gas will be accessible as a result of global warming. Or just keep reading The Weekly Standard and NewsMax. Your call.

• I love the global warming debate, brings out the idiots on both sides!! KittyLitter must have forgotten that most global warming theories explain that the melting of the ice-caps will just be a temporary problem; that it will actually cause an ice age. So, the "greedy oil companies" will be working in condition far more harsh than the current ones. And I'll just point out the obvious here... Chad doesn't want to write a story about how using the bible in support of global warming is idiotic; only using the bible to dispel the theory is idiotic. ($10 to the first person that finds actual logic in that thought process)

• Or maybe the large oil/gas companies are thrilled to access enormous amounts oil and gas where the ice caps used to be. That couldn't be it, could it?

TotalComments: 12