'Is he really that stupid?' Twitter aghast after Ron Johnson says climate change will 'benefit' US

United States Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) believes climate change is beneficial to the United States.

Heartland Signal shared a clip of Johnson's spiel via Twitter, writing, "Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) says climate change will be good for the U.S. because it will be less cold: 'Global warming will actually be beneficial ... Why wouldn't we take comfort in that? ... Y'know, concerned if you're in the hot region of Africa ... but we're in good shape.'"

Johnson was making the argument against a study by Dr. Michael Greenstone, professor and Director of the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC), Director of the Becker Friedman Institute, which shows the dangerous impacts of climate change.

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"In terms of excess deaths.. in my own state (of Wisconsin) your study shows we have the reduction mortality of somewhere between 54 and 56 people per 600,000," Johnson said pointing to a map of the United States included in Greenstone's study. "Why wouldn't we take comfort in that?"

Greenstone said, "the effects of climate change are going to be very unequal. If you look more carefully (at the map), there are large swatches of the country where the damages will be much larger."

The senator interrupted by alleging more people die in the United States from cold than from heat.

"In terms of global health, in terms of excess death, we're actually in a better position to prevent death by having the climate increase in temperature a little bit, right?" the GOP leader asked.

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Greenstone replied, "I'm not familiar with that study. What I am familiar with is my study. There are 49 other states in the United States, and many of them will suffer. They will suffer more than Wisconsin will gain."

Twitter is stunned by the senator's assertions.

@GaryKoepnick: "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 ass will be dead"

Essenviews: "The irresponsibility is astonishing."

Dani: Let's teach our kids science literacy so they don't become senators who say stuff like this."

Elie Mystal: "If you made an evil Senator in a disaster movie say what Ron Johnson just said people would say the character was unbelievable."

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Nancy Lee Grahn: "Wisconsin! You can't want someone this blatantly stupid representing you, can you? I mean come on, he's seriously off the charts embarrassing. Fix this, ok?"

@AmericaPlsAwake: "Calling him an idiot is an insult to all idiots."

@wapplehouse: "Literally one of the most evil arguments you will ever hear someone make."

Sherrilyn Ifill: "Wisconsin voters you just elected this guy to another 6 year term. You have got to do better. This is universally horrifying, but climate change is a top issue for young people. Can you imagine how they feel when they hear this?"

Christian Christenson: "Try and grasp just how dumb these people are. Then grasp that they are running the country. But, sure, the problem is Gender Studies at universities."

@blossomedchild: "Dear rest of the World, We're sorry. We are sorry and ashamed of our selfish and dumb Senior Senator from Wisconsin. I want you all to know that half of us who live here do care about the health of the Earth and your well-being too. Sincerely,, Sane Wisconsin"

Watch the video below or at this link.

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