Joe Barton not interested in moral implications of climate change 15

On Tuesday, I attended a hearing of the House Energy & Commerce Committee on “Allowance Allocation Policies in Climate Legislation.” By and large, the testimony came from economists and executives from affected industries. But there was one exception: Rev. Dr. Maria Castellanos of the United Church of Christ.

Rev. Castellanos was there to make a moral plea. She pointed out the immense suffering climate change is imposing and will impose on the global poor, and appealed to Congress to step up to its ethical obligations and protect those most vulnerable.

A minute or two into her testimony, ranking minority member Joe Barton (Tex.)—who had heretofore been paying close attention, having, after all, been the one to insist on the hearing in the first place—sighed,  picked up a newspaper,  and began reading. Conspicuously.  I asked Meghan McNamara, sitting next to me, “Is Barton reading the newspaper?”

She peered in his direction. “Yes,” she said. “It’s the sports section.”

So there you have it. Joe Barton wants it to be very clear to the Reverend that he doesn’t give a rat’s ass about her moral appeal.

[UPDATE: Aaron Wiener at the Washington Independent writes to note that this is not the first time Barton has used the newspaper as a deliberate insult in a hearing. He did the same thing to venerable Republican Sen. John Warner (Va.) at a hearing in April. Stay classy, Smoky Joe.]

David Roberts is staff writer for Grist. You can follow his Twitter feed at twitter.com/drgrist.

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  1. randino Posted 4:46 am
    12 Jun 2009

    Thank you David, for a magnificent example of the mentality we are dealing with. Randy Cunningham 

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  2. Baby Boomer Posted 6:58 am
    12 Jun 2009

    Are you telling me this guy wanted the hearing and then felt he had the right to be rude to a citizen testifying to her concerns?  No matter the viewpoint or idealogy, elected officials have the duty and obligation to listen and be respectful.  Being a southern lady I won't call the guy a d**** bag, but I'm thinking it.

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    1. Sean Casten's avatar

      Sean Casten Posted 7:09 am
      12 Jun 2009

      Come on, Baby Boomer!  I'd like to hear it.  Even d*****bag sounds vaguely pleasant in a nice enough (female) southern accent.  I say go for it.  Certainly well warranted.

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      1. Baby Boomer Posted 7:35 am
        12 Jun 2009

        I spent 15 years in New Jersey so I'll think of creative ways to express my disdain.  On the other hand, I might shock a family member at Grist so I'll be careful.

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  3. enviroperk Posted 7:25 am
    12 Jun 2009

    After attending a number of these hearings, and seeing nothing accomplished as a result, I am puzzled as to why they are held. I have yet to see a viewpoint changed or an open mind. What I have seen is the opposite: bad, preconceived notions galvanized into permanence under the auspices of "openness".

    Our lawmakers, for reasons I do not fully comprehend, have historically proven to be incapable of determining and executing solutions to our social and environmental problems. It is up to us. I believe we will be continually disappointed by focusing all our eyes and hopes on Washington, DC, for solutions.

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    1. Green Granny's avatar

      Green Granny Posted 8:04 am
      12 Jun 2009

      Enviroperk, you say you "do not fully comprehend" why our lawmakers continue to fail us.  It's really rather simple: they represent their corporate contributors instead of constituents.  The only way to change that is to make them pay attention.  Low voter turn outs and apathy are what they expect from us.  If we start voting en masse -- and paying attention to what our representatives are up to once they head to Washington --  if we start sending emails/letters, making phone calls, etc. before and after key votes -- they might start looking for solutions instead of protecting the status quo. Winston Churchill famously said, "make me do it."  We must make our elected representatives do "it."  And we must hold them accountable -- vote them out regardless of party affiliation when they fail and bug the bejeezies out of them in the mean time. 

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    2. Sean Casten's avatar

      Sean Casten Posted 9:25 am
      12 Jun 2009

      Enviroperk,I don't think you need to be so cynical about it.  Having testified in these types of hearings at the federal and state level, I can say with a high degree of confidence that these hearings are about theater, not education.  The committee organizing the hearing does not invite people to participate who are not sharing information the committee has not already pre-screened.  That's not to say that everyone on the committee supports, nor that there is never any insight that comes out of them, but rather that legislator education occurs in other fora.  E.g., legislator non-involvement at these hearings is not necessarily equivalent to legislator non-interest in the topic (or legislator non-desire to learn more about same.)

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  4. Chris Pratt Posted 9:26 am
    12 Jun 2009

    Green Granny,I have voted my whole life 52 years, a lot of good it has done us.  Money talks everyone else walks.  When we change that paradigm we will broken throught to a new reality that makes more sense.  I vote with my dollars, I never give money to people who already have too much, if I can help it.

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    1. Green Granny's avatar

      Green Granny Posted 9:54 am
      12 Jun 2009

      Yes Chris, voting with dollars is important, useful, satisfying, and successful.  I keep seeing corporate products now labeled "without high fructose corn syrup".  Snapple and a few bread companies are just the latest.  That's driven by consumer demand and the fact that organic foods continue to gain market share, even in this poor economy.  Voting with dollars works.  But it is not an either or proposition.  I believe that, if we want real change and real results, we must use all the tools available.  Voting with votes, writing letters, attending public rallies, peaceful demonstrations, posting on the internet etc. may prove to be useful tools for getting legislators to pay attention to what's best for all instead of only what's best for the wealthy businessmen who "buy" the elections.The Obama campaign proves that lots of "small" money, added together, is better than just "big" money.  His campaign raised far more that Hillary.I also believe that we must each, as individuals and in groups, "be the change we wish to see." 

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  5. ids's avatar

    ids Posted 7:38 pm
    12 Jun 2009

    Barton already won.  The bill is so weak and bound to get weaker, even by losing, he wins.  That is a good win.  He doesn't have to pay attention.  Also, considering the justice in the bill that passed, none, it's hypocritical to be talking morals.  Republicans have less tolerance for hypocrisy than Democrats do, i find in general. I am surprised to see Sean thinks d*****bag is appropriate for Grist.  then here it is for Grist: douchebag.

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  6. ed abbey Posted 6:57 am
    15 Jun 2009

    Joe Barton has always been low-life. He has a 0% rating in the League of Conservation Voters' Vote Scorecard for the 110th, 2nd session. Barton took third place in the Fossil Fools Award and swept the field in The Earth Killer Awards .  His mother must have been frightened by the planet when she was carrying him.....unless, of course, he doesn't come from this planet.

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  7. Global Changes Posted 7:22 am
    15 Jun 2009

    Its not fair that climate change will effect the worlds poorest countries first, seeing as its mainly the worlds richest that responsible for causing it. We owe it to these people to stop it before its too late for them.

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    1. Sean Casten's avatar

      Sean Casten Posted 7:25 am
      15 Jun 2009

      Global Changes,Agree.  You might enjoy this white paper, which does a nice job of quantifying the ethical obligations of GHG abatement (note in particular, the figures starting on page 12). 

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    16 Jun 2009

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