Recently, Sen. John Kennedy criticized professional cross-country skier Gus Schumacher, who appeared before Congress as an “expert” witness. In addition to his athletic endeavors, Schumacher has also taken up climate activism. However, Kennedy thoroughly tested his understanding of the matter he was advocating for.
Off the bat, the senator hit the professional skier with a basic grade school science question, “What is carbon dioxide?” Schumacher responded, “I went to high school but that’s a, carbon dioxide is a gas…I’m not I’m not a non professional to talk about carbon dioxide so much.”
Pointing out that Schumacher is supposedly testifying as an expert, Kennedy further pushed him to demonstrate his insight into climate change. “So what is it you want us to do?…I mean you’re here as an expert, tell me more about what carbon dioxide is,” the senator said.
Schumacher responded, clarifying that he was only an expert in his discipline of cross-country skiing, where he has observed noticeable changes to the environment in which he competes. “I’m here as an expert cross-country skier who sees changes in my winters and the landscape that I live in, in Alaska. And so carbon dioxide is what I see it as is, you know, it’s a gas that exists in our atmosphere,” he said.
“Is it a major part of our atmosphere?” Kennedy further asked. The athlete responded, “It is a huge part of our atmosphere.” The senator quickly corrected Schumacher saying, “It’s actually very small part of our atmosphere.”
The Republican lawmaker continued, “Well, you say we need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. I’d like to know first, if we know what it is. You wants to abolish fossil fuel?” he added. “What do you think we ought to do with fossil fuels?”
Kennedy additionally sought to determine if Schumacher was familiar with the financial implications of a rapid shift to green energy to reduce carbon emissions. “How much will it cost for us to become carbon neutral in the United States by 2050?” he asked. Watch the footage of Kennedy grilling Schumacher below:
Schumacher answered, once again noting that he does not have the proper insight to give a detailed response to the senator’s question. “I’m not a professional on that. I don’t have any idea.” Kennedy doubled down, pressing, “No, you just think well to spend the money?” The skier hit back, “I’m not an economist.” Kennedy informed him, “Right, but it’s going to cost trillions of dollars to come carbon neutral by 2050.”
“I think as an athlete, I think if we spend that money and invest in our future, hopefully those temperatures stopped rising, and maybe the snow at least stabilizes where it is for me. But yeah, I don’t think anyone knows for sure. I don’t know anyway,” he added at one point during Kennedy’s questioning, emphasizing his limited expertise on the details surrounding climate change.
“Well, when my colleagues invite witnesses to come to us to tell us advise us on passing legislation I always check out the background of our witnesses. Because we’d like to know I’m talking to check yours out Mr. Schumacher, and I want to be sure I understand that as I evaluate your testimony,” Kennedy explained. During the testimony, the GOP senator further questioned Schumacher on politically charged tweets he allegedly made on topics such as abolishing the police.
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