'Greedy, selfish, self-serving': Ron Johnson blasted for 'taking comfort' in global warming

'Greedy, selfish, self-serving': Ron Johnson blasted for 'taking comfort' in global warming
World

The late talk radio host Rush Limbaugh was a major climate change denier, repeatedly claiming that global warming was a "hoax." And he also argued that if climate change were a reality, it would be a good thing because it would mean more agriculture in Scandinavian countries like Sweden and Norway. Limbaugh neglected to mention, however, that if sea levels rise considerably because of climate change, a long list of coastal cities — from Miami to New York City to Malaga, Spain — will, according to scientists, be in trouble.

Limbaugh, who also denied that cigarette smoking was harmful, died of lung cancer in February 2021. But his argument that climate change could have a beneficial side hasn't gone away. And far-right Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) made some pro-climate change arguments during a Senate Budget Committee hearing on Wednesday, April 26, claiming that apart from areas of Africa, "global warming" would be "beneficial."

Johnson told Dr. Michael Gladstone — a University of Chicago economics professor who testified during the hearing — "In terms of excess deaths, a warming globe is actually beneficial.... In my own state, we'd have a reduction mortality…. Why wouldn't we take comfort in that?"

READ MORE: 'Weaponized nonsense': Lauren Boebert ripped for calling climate change a 'religion'

Gladstone replied, "The effects of climate change are going to be very unequal… There's large swaths of the country where the damages will be much larger."

But Johnson tried to spin a Lancet study to show that climate change would do much more good than harm, citing "deaths caused by cold" rather than heat.

Johnston told Gladstone, "You're concerned if you're in the really hot region of Africa, but in terms of the United States and most of Europe, we're in pretty good shape."

The Wisconsin senator is being slammed on Twitter in response to those comments.

READ MORE: 'What a weirdo': Twitter shreds 'cartoon character' Republican for declaring 'there is no climate change'

Twitter user Gary Koepnick, @GaryKoepnick, posted, "Is he really that stupid? How the hell does he think the planet is going to compensate for the rising temperature? Problem is he doesn't care that flooding will be devastating for Midwest farmland 50 from now because his greedy selfish self serving a** will be dead."

@Electricboyo argued, "Hey Ron: What if the weather gets so bad that it kills 1/2 of us? I suppose that's OK with you if it doesn't kill your supporters?"

@18TruckaMan wrote, "So @SenRonJohnson, according to your 3rd-grade analysis of climate change, you'd be ok with our Southern & Atlantic states slowly consumed by the Atlantic & CA by the Pacific? So long as the dairy cows of Wisconsin don't get their cloven hoofs wet, do I have that right?"

Watch the video below or at this link:

READ MORE: 'You've got to be kidding me': MSNBC host spooked by revelation that climate change is making fungus deadlier

Understand the importance of honest news ?

So do we.

The past year has been the most arduous of our lives. The Covid-19 pandemic continues to be catastrophic not only to our health - mental and physical - but also to the stability of millions of people. For all of us independent news organizations, it’s no exception.

We’ve covered everything thrown at us this past year and will continue to do so with your support. We’ve always understood the importance of calling out corruption, regardless of political affiliation.

We need your support in this difficult time. Every reader contribution, no matter the amount, makes a difference in allowing our newsroom to bring you the stories that matter, at a time when being informed is more important than ever. Invest with us.

Make a one-time contribution to Alternet All Access, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you.

Click to donate by check.

DonateDonate by credit card
Donate by Paypal
{{ post.roar_specific_data.api_data.analytics }}
@2022 - AlterNet Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. - "Poynter" fonts provided by fontsempire.com.