GOP Senator On Climate Change: ‘Civilization Thrives’ In Warm Weather!

FILE - In this May 13, 2016, file photo, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., speaks with reporters in Green Bay, Wis., ahead of the Wisconsin Republican Party convention. Johnson and his Democratic challenger Russ Feingol... FILE - In this May 13, 2016, file photo, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., speaks with reporters in Green Bay, Wis., ahead of the Wisconsin Republican Party convention. Johnson and his Democratic challenger Russ Feingold want to be elected to the U.S. Senate, but neither one of them talks much about the nearly 24 years they've already spent there. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer, File) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), who is engaged in a tough re-election fight against former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI), said Monday that he is not concerned about climate change because “civilization thrives” in warm climates.

During an interview on Wisconsin radio station WHBY highlighted by the Huffington Post, the Republican senator said the climate was warmer during the “rise of civilizations in Mexico and Greece.” He then pivoted to note that people enjoy living in places like Florida and Texas.

“How many people are moving up toward the Antarctica, or the Arctic? Most people move down to Texas and Florida, where it’s a little bit warmer,” he said.

Johnson acknowledged that the climate has changed and said that humans have an impact on the environment, but he suggested that combating global warming should not be a priority.

“Climate has always changed, always will. I’m just not an alarmist. We will adapt,” he said.

“Obviously, man affects the environment, and we should do everything we can to maintain a clean environment, but you need an affluent society. You need a strong economy to do it,” he later added. “Let’s not shoot ourselves in the foot with policies.”

Johnson has previously expressed skepticism about climate change, arguing in an August interview on the Glenn Klein Show on the WRJN radio show that the planet is not warming.

“First of all, the climate hasn’t warmed in quite a few years. I mean, that is proven scientifically. So, that’s why they’ve changed the terminology from global warming to climate change–that covers everything,” he said.

Latest Livewire
57
Show Comments

Notable Replies

  1. This, of course, explains all of the housing developments being built in Death Valley.

    And the half of Florida that’s going to be underwater will, I’m sure, give rise to a new Renaissance.

  2. Senator Johnson: Saying anything to be a somebody to stay in the Senate.

  3. A true moron’s moron.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

51 more replies

Participants

Avatar for paulw Avatar for jw1 Avatar for pearlywhite Avatar for sooner Avatar for clunkertruck Avatar for jackster Avatar for imkmu3 Avatar for kilgoretrout Avatar for commiedearest Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for inlabsitrust Avatar for sickneffintired Avatar for sherlock1 Avatar for arc_of_the_universe Avatar for khaaannn Avatar for benthere Avatar for milwauken Avatar for misterneutron Avatar for gladysnite Avatar for canary02 Avatar for brdman Avatar for asturcot Avatar for maximus Avatar for heavylifting

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Deputy Editor for News:
Deputy Editor for Audience and Strategy:
Editor-at-Large:
Contributing Editor:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher & Digital Producer:
Senior Developer:
Senior Designer: