On July 30th, I wrote a blog entry titled “Black Politician Heralds Organization that Combines Race, Class, Victimhood and Global Warming.”
The central thesis was that Blacks are disproportionately affected by global warming and that there needs to be some form of “climate justice” for African-Americans. Of course, I thought that this was crap and I so stated.
“’All justice is climate justice.’ What is this crap? Justice? Are these loopy liberals saying that unless we embrace communism or socialism – equally sharing everything -- that there is injustice? Climate justice? What the hell is climate justice and what does that really mean?”
I went on to explain that I thought that global warming was just another convenient vehicle to enhance the funding and political power of groups by jumping on the media bandwagon.
“If there is any doubt in anyone’s mind that global warming is more about politics and funding, let it be clearly demonstrated why I have very little faith in the environmental movement to arrive at a truthful conclusion on which to base broader policy decisions. It is my personal opinion that the environmental movement has been co-opted by the far-left socialists to the detriment of all American citizens.”
Putting it into practice …
It seems that Pastor Robert Jones, the Senior Pastor at Oak Park United Methodist Church. attempted to spout the party line at a committee hearing. Politely requesting that his community be included in the discussion when emissions-related fees and issues are discussed.
As reported by the Sacramento Bee, CapitolAlert.com …
“Wiggins swears at committee witness”
“Pastor Robert Jones went to the Capitol last Wednesday hoping to make his voice heard.”
“What he got instead was a swear-word laden rebuke from Democratic Sen. Pat Wiggins, who interrupted Jones' testimony to say, ‘I think your arguments are bull---.’"
“The exchange left Jones, the senior pastor at Oak Park United Methodist Church, stunned and offended. ‘It is a slap in the face," he said in an interview.’”
“The outburst occurred as Jones, 46, testified at an informational hearing on how California will cut global warming emissions. Jones, who is African American, said he went to urge lawmakers to consider minority communities when drafting those regulations.”
Word-for-word …
"’Our communities are the ones who suffer more than any other communities - the poor and the underrepresented...,’ Jones said. ‘It is important to have our perspective.’"
“But after less than two minutes of speaking -- and before he could finish -- Wiggins blurted out, ‘Excuse me, but I think your arguments are bull----.’"
See for yourself…
“A stunned Jones turned to Wiggins and could muster only a ‘well...’ before Sen. Christine Kehoe, a San Diego Democrat and the chair of the hearing, interjected.”
Democrats step in to mediate …
"’Let me step in here, Pastor Jones, we very much appreciate your presence here today and you're right. The community should be part of the discussion and it is,’ Kehoe said.”
Agent provocateur?
In an interview on Saturday, Jones called Wiggins' comments "extremely disturbing" and said he had not yet been contacted by the senator, or her staff, to apologize.
“A plan, he said, was "’in the works’ to ‘respond to this affront.’"
Is this a publicity play to further hype the idea of "climate justice?"
Backing down …
“Wiggins' office issued a statement in response to a request for comment from Capitol Alert in which the Santa Rosa Democrat said she ‘deeply regrets her comment and looks forward to apologizing to the pastor personally.’"
No apology should be necessary …
While the Senator’s comment may be intemperate and ill-advised in a political arena, she should not apologize.
If anything the Pastor should admit that he was merely mouthing the words of another radical political organization and that, truth-be-told, African-Americans are not disproportionately affected by global warming any more than any other poor citizen. Which the Pastor correctly states. What the Pastor does not seem to realize is that climate is not a racial, religious or political issue: it is a scientific issue that needs to be studied further before public policy to solve an ill-defined and possible non-existent problem is implemented.
Although the Pastor did not get this far in his request for inclusion, the idea that one needs some form of special notice, privilege or affirmative action program based on the climate is both ludicrous and insulting. Senator Wiggins should be commended for speaking her opinion and, in this case, the truth.
If anything, the Reverend should apologize to the committee for wasting its time with his prepared pitch for inclusionary socialist claptrap.
The Reverend is symptomatic of the problem …
Here is a religious man interfering in both politics and science based on nothing more than conjecture spewed forth by organizations such as the "Commission to Engage African Americans on Climate Change," an organization which, in my mind, is all about money and politics and has relatively little to say on the subject of global warming.
Inclusive is OK, but someone needs to tell the truth when a witness or guest is full of crap …
"’She very much believes that the process of drafting regulations, as well as the pursuit of environmental justice issues generally, should be all-inclusive,’ her office said in the statement. ‘One of the main reasons for holding a legislative hearing is to seek input and testimony from a broad range of groups and individuals.’"
What can YOU do?
Let your elected officials know that you are proud of them when they stand up to those who are seeking media attention with positions that are irrational and cannot be defended.
Openly condemn those who demand some form of special privilege or affirmative action that is based on media hype and a non-existent problem.
It is about time to say “enough is enough” to these racial charlatans who promote a wider racial divide in America by attempting to push their socialistic agenda on the rest of America.
For a democrat, Wiggins should be congratulated for her actions. In fact, had she been better prepared, she should have demolished his argument by simply asking, “doesn't everybody deserve to have their voice heard?” And demanding that he explain how the participation of the African American community will change the global climate? After all, isn’t that the purpose of the hearing.
In my opinion, it's all about money and being seen as a "leader of your community." A public relations exercise with no value to those who make public policy.
One single statement would have shut down the Pastor's argument: "Pastor, your community IS represented through your elected officials and you should be working through them and not appearing at a committee meeting stating the obvious."
-- steve
Quote of the day: “Nonsense is so good only because common sense is so limited” – George Santayana
A reminder from OneCitizenSpeaking.com: a large improvement can result from a small change…
The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. -- Marcus Aurelius
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