Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL), who is working to solidify his hold on the Republican nomination for President Obama’s former Senate seat, is providing another data point in his drift to the right and away from his previous position as a moderate Republican: A noncommittal answer on whether human beings are responsible for climate change.
The Associated Press asked the Illinois Senate candidates from both parties: “Do you believe human activity contributes significantly to global warming? Why or why not?”
“Many factors contribute to changes in climate, both man-made and natural,” Kirk answered. “Regardless of your views on global warming, we should all agree that reducing our dependence on foreign oil and cutting air pollution without doing economic harm to our citizens will benefit our national security, environment and public health.”
Kirk previously voted for the climate-change bill, with its cap and trade program based on the whole premise that humanity is responsible for climate change. Back in September, he amusingly changed his position in the middle of a speech to a local Republican crowd, telling them he would oppose it in the Senate if elected — and the crowd cheered.
