Kirk Cites Al Gore’s Personal Life As Impetus For Climate Flip-Flop

Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Back when he was a member of the House, Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) was one of a few Republicans who voted for a far-reaching climate change bill. That legislation quickly fueled Tea Party rage, and conservatives went on the attack against the plan’s backers. So Kirk did an about face on the issue, and now blames… Al Gore’s personal life for the whole sorry episode.

“The consensus behind the climate change bill collapsed and then further deteriorated with the personal and political collapse of Vice President [Al] Gore,” Kirk told Greenwire.

He’s probably referring to this: in 2009, a massage therapist in Oregon went to the police and accused Al Gore of sexually assaulting her three years previously. Gore ultimately wasn’t prosecuted. Soon thereafter, he and his wife divorced separated. Still it’s hard to figure how whatever happened that night in 2006 has any bearing on the greenhouse effect.

[Ed note: This article originally claimed Gore and his wife had divorced. They are, in fact, separated. We regret the error.]

Latest DC
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: