Presidential Candidate Rick Perry, is He a Hypocrite or Just Ignorant

In the Republican National debate last night on Sept. 7, 2011 Governor Rick Perry of Texas was asked, “You said that weekly or even daily scientists are coming forward to question the idea that human activity is behind climate change, which scientists have you found most credible on this subject?

“Well I do agree that there is, the science is not settled on this, the idea that we would put Americans economy at jeopardy based on scientific theory that’s not settled yet to me is nonsense. I tell somebody that just because you have a group of scientists that have stood up and said here is the fact, Galileo got outvoted for a spell, but the fact is to put Americans economic future in jeopardy… asking us to cut back in areas that would have monstrous economic impact on this country is not good economics and I’ll suggest to you it’s not necessarily good science. Find out what the science truly is before you start putting the American economy in jeopardy.”

John Harris then asks, “Well just to follow up quickly, tell us how you have done that, are there specific scientists or theories you have found especially compelling as you educate yourself?”

Rick Perry responds saying, “Let me tell you what I find compelling, is what we’ve done in the state of Texas using our ability to regulate our clean air. We’ve cleaned up our air in the state of Texas, more than any other state in the nation during the decade. Nitrous oxide levels down by 57%, ozone levels down by 27%, that’s the way you need to do it, not by some scientist somewhere saying, ‘here is what we think is happening out there.’ The fact of the matter is the science is not settled on whether or not the climate change is being impacted by man to the point where we’re going to put America’s economics in jeopardy.”

I guess no one told Rick Perry that those men helping Texas clean up their air were scientists. Rick Perry is right that it is important to know the scientific facts before taking action. It would be great if he took his own advice, if he cannot name one scientist that he believes has compelling evidence than he is clearly not educating himself on the issue. If he had, it would have been much smarter for him to answer the question with a few names of scientists or theories that he believes is true, rather than giving praise to men he must not have known were scientists themselves for cleaning up his air.

Rick Perry is either two things, ignorant about science or knows the science and is lying. His top industry contributor is oil and gas at $11,189,103, according to the National Institute on Money in State Politics, which is an extremely compelling argument for why he would be lying. Perhaps what he was referring too when mentioning the cutting back in areas that would have monstrous economic impact, was really just the impact it would have on his pocket book. It is hard to believe he could be so ignorant on science, and much easier to believe he is controlled by money, which is something our country’s politics already has enough of. If this is the case, he is putting American lives at risk in return for money and power. For a man who is an outspoken Christian and holds prayer rallies, this seems extremely hypocritical and immoral. Is he pretending to be Christian to convince the public he has morals or just ignorant? Let’s hope the public is smart enough to see this and can decide for themselves if he is a hypocrite or just ignorant, but neither is worthy of a vote for President.


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