The GOP has released its โTalking Points on the Democrat National Energy Tax,โ in an effort to get all Republicans under the same tent in their ad hominem attacks on the Waxman-Markey โAmerican Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009โ currently being debated by Congress.
According to the GOP, โThe truth behind the Democratโs [sic] cap and tax plan is that it will lead to more taxes, fewer jobs, and more government intrusion.โ
Dang, Obama thought theyโd never figure out his master plan! The GOP is so good!
The talking points are part of the GOPโs plan for a โcommunications offensive over the next four weeksโ to assert that the Waxman-Markey legislation โamounts to a national energy tax that will destroy jobs and increase costs for every singleย American.โ
Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), who stayed on message (sort of) when he stated recently that the cap and trade legislation โamounts to an economic declaration of war on the Midwest by liberals on Capitol Hill,โ has been named by House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) to head the new House GOP American Energy Solutions Group (a.k.a. the Drill Baby Drill!ย Group).
The group is co-chaired by Pence and Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI) and John Shimkus (R-IL).ย Shimkus has recently spouted some truly outrageous statements in an effort to appear relevant in the climate and energy debates, although he isnโt making much sense in theย process.
According to Environment and Energy Daily (subscriptionย reqโd):
Last week at an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing, [Shimkus] said that he considered the [Waxman-Markey] bill โthe largest assault on democracy and freedom in this country that I have ever experienced. Iโve lived through some tough times in Congress โ impeachment, two wars, terrorist attacks. I fear this more than all of the above activities that have happened.โ
A month earlier, Shimkus quoted the Bible and Godโs promise to Noah that God would not send another devastating flood onto the Earth. โThe Earth will end only when God decides itโs time to be over,โ Shimkus said. โMan will not destroy this Earth. This Earth will not be destroyed by a flood.โ
Shimkus even suggests higher temperatures arenโt such a bad thing. โDid you know that more people now die from cold than from heat?โ he asked a reporter during an interview this week.
[Source: Environment and Energy Daily, โFor this congressman, skepticism is a matter of faith,โ April 30,ย 2009]ย
Apparently, Shimkus didnโt get the memo with the GOP talking points, instead relying on his Manual for Rapture-Ready Republicans. Shimkus is just fine with being viewed as a raving lunatic, telling E&E News that โTo be branded as a lunatic based on your values โฆ thatโs probably very similar to great leaders of the past and the founding fathers who were viewed by many as radicals.โ
Sure it is!ย Keep telling yourselfย that.
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