Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) took a shot at Republican climate change deniers Tuesday, throwing the “I’m not a scientist” line back at those in his own party who he said stubbornly refuse to believe scientists.
“Late Night” host Seth Meyers asked Graham, who has previously urged his GOP colleagues to break from the party on environmental issues, if he’s “surprised” to find so many climate change deniers in the party’s ranks.
“Well I’m not a scientist,” Graham responded. “but here’s the problem I’ve got with some people in my party: When you ask the scientists what’s going on, why don’t you believe them? If I went to 10 doctors and nine said, ‘Hey, you’re gonna die,’ and one says ‘You’re fine,’ why would I believe the one guy?”
The “doctor” line is one Graham has used often, and he’s been one of the most outspoken 2016 Republican candidates on the issue. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), former Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX), and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) each have climate denialism on the books, while Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI), former Gov. Jeb Bush (R-FL) have tried to avoid talking about climate change altogether.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is the lone candidate who’s been unequivocal on climate. Christie told reporters in May: “I think global warming is real. I don’t think that’s deniable.”
Graham also offered some dry answers to Meyers’ prodding about Donald Trump, saying that he would make Republicans in Congress “step up to the plate” on immigration, where Obama has “failed miserably.”
Watch the full clip below, via Late Night:
