When New York Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer shared information from the climatologists at NOAA about global warming and climate change, people who understand science were concerned. Others, like Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas, were confused.
Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, posted:
"July 2019 was the hottest month ever, of any month, on record."
"Climate change is the greatest threat facing our planet."
"It’s about our kids. It’s about our health. It’s about the future."
"We must act."
July 2019 was the hottest month ever, of any month, on record. Climate change is the greatest threat facing our pl… https://t.co/CATDX6bhPc— Chuck Schumer (@Chuck Schumer) 1565974852.0
Senator Cornyn responded:
"It’s summer, Chuck."
It’s summer, Chuck https://t.co/ccZdMtTD31— Senator John Cornyn (@Senator John Cornyn) 1565984516.0
Whether Cornyn thinks the scientists at NOAA missed that detail or just Schumer was unclear.
Also unclear is whether Cornyn knows it is only summer in the northern hemisphere. It's currently winter in the southern hemisphere.
But judging by responses to Cornyn's Twitter post, the vast majority thought the Texas Senator clearly missed something.
@JohnCornyn On climate change, it's sometimes difficult to tell if Republicans are genuine-stupid, or pretend-stupi… https://t.co/fkWjIGe1a7— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@Mrs. Betty Bowers) 1565999442.0
@JohnCornyn It's winter in literally half the world, dip-shit.— Pé Resists (@Pé Resists) 1565986039.0
@JohnCornyn Also, it was the hottest July ON RECORD. And since July is ALWAYS SUMMER (at least in half the world),… https://t.co/oBydMoqMxD— Pé Resists (@Pé Resists) 1565986272.0
@tonyposnanski/Twitter
@tonyposnanski @JohnCornyn I still don’t understand people who don’t listen to science and facts.— Tom (@Tom) 1565991504.0
@hbennett357 @TFM0716 @tonyposnanski @JohnCornyn Lobotomies and lots of in depth research to ensure the dis- ease… https://t.co/sYeeOqfv0P— tRump - for Prison 2020 - or sooner! (@tRump - for Prison 2020 - or sooner!) 1565996115.0
@JohnCornyn Right, this is the first July that ever happened in summer, so it's unfair to compare the record heat t… https://t.co/CceQy2NesF— Kevin M. Kruse (@Kevin M. Kruse) 1565994167.0
@JohnCornyn It is the hottest summer in the history of the planet. Let that sink in to your brain. #ClimateCrisis… https://t.co/PSMlGHkNui— 🌊❄️🆘🏳️🌈 Dexter (@🌊❄️🆘🏳️🌈 Dexter) 1566002936.0
@JohnCornyn You're as dumb as an atmosphere full of toxic emissions.— John Iadarola (@John Iadarola) 1565997004.0
@JohnCornyn This really is a dumb tweet.— David Weissman (@David Weissman) 1565993098.0
@davidmweissman @JohnCornyn Climate change deniers aren't known for their intellect.— Ellen Hopkins (@Ellen Hopkins) 1565993976.0
@EllenHopkinsLit @davidmweissman @JohnCornyn Even still this is an entirely new league of stupid. There is a differ… https://t.co/kbvDqqqhhn— Jaws_19 (@Jaws_19) 1566020956.0
@JohnCornyn Bragging about how absolutely clueless you are isn’t a good look.— Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ (@Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ) 1565985764.0
Some reminded Cornyn he's up for reelection in 2020.
@JohnCornyn When we vote you out you're definitely not going to be able to get a job in the field of science.— Adam Best (@Adam Best) 1565992252.0
@adamcbest @JohnCornyn He's not going to be able to get a job in the field of big-box retail greeting.— Jason A. Quest ✏️🌈 is unverífied [IM🍑] (@Jason A. Quest ✏️🌈 is unverífied [IM🍑]) 1565994228.0
@jasonaquest @adamcbest @JohnCornyn But he’ll be able to get a job in the field of lobbying.— Tom Herron (@Tom Herron) 1565994796.0
@JohnCornyn That is just the type of flippant remark that reveals the depth of you ignorance, #ComradeCornyn. Texas… https://t.co/rSjf97Ner0— James Peck (@James Peck) 1565988911.0
@JohnCornyn You guys are really good at playing intentionally obtuse. Those in the middle and left shake their head… https://t.co/VIWxHYh84D— Tara ❤️🇺🇸🦅 (@Tara ❤️🇺🇸🦅) 1566011470.0
@JohnCornyn John no longer works for his constituents or the American People. His loyalty is to #MoscowMitch,… https://t.co/NxjQU9E5YG— Randy Ferrell🍑🆘️ #VetsResistSquadron (@Randy Ferrell🍑🆘️ #VetsResistSquadron) 1565999348.0
@JohnCornyn Hey everyone! This is John. John thinks climate change is a funny joke. John is also up for re-electi… https://t.co/1elkDKPUh3— Jenn Votes Blue PA Σ #DemCast (@Jenn Votes Blue PA Σ #DemCast) 1565987641.0
Many questioned Cornyn's knowledge of science. And English.
@bschapiroMD/Twitter
@KatzOnEarth @JohnCornyn .@MerriamWebster Might we have the definition of the word "ever" to assist the Senator, please?— 💜🍀💜 Lisa 💜🍀💜 (@💜🍀💜 Lisa 💜🍀💜) 1565986573.0
@JohnCornyn John Cornyn must have studied science at Trump University.— Trumpy Trumpy (parody) (@Trumpy Trumpy (parody)) 1565993359.0
@JohnCornyn I'm going to pretend that you're not dumb enough not to know that it's winter in half the world in July.— JRehling (@JRehling) 1566017587.0
@JohnCornyn Trump university degree John?— truthbetold (@truthbetold) 1566010904.0
Others simply had no patience for ignorance, willful or otherwise.
@JohnCornyn You call yourself a leader and you can't tell the difference between climate and weather. Are you that… https://t.co/Ii6kRA8WmK— Joe Lockhart (@Joe Lockhart) 1565987149.0
@JohnCornyn You really are a dick. You’re going to be long dead and responsible for creating a hellscape that my ki… https://t.co/a2jwMViE40— 🌊💙🐕🐕🐕KarenLaRiv🐕🐕💙🌊 (@🌊💙🐕🐕🐕KarenLaRiv🐕🐕💙🌊) 1566012528.0
@DavMicRot @JohnCornyn @BetoORourke Worse than your moronic, sneering comment is the fact that you use your positio… https://t.co/pCU0RaMqQo— Melody Alger (@Melody Alger) 1566035777.0
@JohnCornyn Once more for those in the back- July 2019 was the HOTTEST MONTH EVER, OF ANY MONTH , ON RECORD. GET… https://t.co/f7UwhvBPuZ— Patricia Arquette (@Patricia Arquette) 1566000075.0
@JohnCornyn Less tweeting, more reading, John.— John Pavlovitz (@John Pavlovitz) 1565998629.0
@JohnCornyn If you can’t tell the difference between weather and climate you must be a #Republican… https://t.co/ontMjVyAmJ— Uncle Sam (@Uncle Sam) 1566018280.0
@JohnCornyn One day your grandchildren will be embarrassed to admit that you're related.— Osa Ray (@Osa Ray) 1566016802.0
@JohnCornyn I thought this was SARCASM when I read it. But FFS, you MEANT it, didn't you. You know CLIMATE and WE… https://t.co/sEeFamF0a4— becky roe🍑🆘️ (@becky roe🍑🆘️) 1566024346.0
Cornyn—who faces a field of challengers lead by decorated combat veteran MJ Hegar for his Senate seat in 2020—has yet to respond to the backlash his ill advised attempt to be clever provoked.
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