Republican Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy knocked Democrats for the attempted “Kardashian-ing of America,” when they tried to tout Olympian Gus Schumacher as a climate expert.
Kennedy recounted how the cross-country skier was trotted out by Democrats to testify at a Senate hearing about how “The Nature of Climate Costs” affects winter sports.
During the hearing, Schumacher was introduced as an expert witness, but had a hard time answering Kennedy’s questions about carbon dioxide’s role in climate change.
“Carbon dioxide is, what I see it as, you know, a gas that exists in our atmosphere,’ Schumacher stated.
Democrats want to spend $50 TRILLION to become carbon neutral & held a hearing to tell us why.
Dem witness: Carbon dioxide is "a huge part of our atmosphere."
Me: "It’s actually a very small part of our atmosphere." (0.035%)
Dem witness: "Well, okay. But, yeah. I don’t know." pic.twitter.com/sSdbtsX7aq
— John Kennedy (@SenJohnKennedy) March 21, 2024
When Kennedy baited him into a well-designed trap by asking if carbon dioxide was a “major part” of the atmosphere, the three-time junior gold medalist incorrectly replied that it is “a huge part of our atmosphere.”
“It’s a very small part of our atmosphere,” Kennedy shot back.
“Well, okay. But, yeah. I don’t know. What are you asking specifically?” the skier posited.
“You said we need to reduce carbon emissions,” the Louisiana senator retorted. “I’d like to know first if you know what it is.”
During his interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Monday, Kennedy acknowledged that Schumacher is a “superb skier,” but he was presented by Democrats as a climate change expert that was supposed to be able to advise the Budget Committee on climate change legislation.
“And Mr. Schumacher could neither defend nor substantiate his rhetoric,” Kennedy told the show’s host. “I suppose his testimony is an example of the Kardashian-ing of America.”
“I don’t mean to be cruel, but Mr. Schumacher’s testimony reminded me so much of, how can I put this, the gormless pop singers and movie stars who partied with Harvey Weinstein who incessantly lecture the American people,” he continued. “Who also have to lie down if they think too hard.”
“And I’m sorry Mr. Schumacher had a difficult day, but you shouldn’t hold yourself out as an expert or have an opinion if you can’t defend it,” he concluded.
During the hearing, Kennedy questioned the cross-country skier about his previous social media posts, which included retweeting a post in 2020 that claimed the “war on drugs” was created to put black people behind bars.
“Who intentionally created the ‘war on drugs’ to put black people in jail,” Kennedy asked. Schumacher said he couldn’t remember making the post, and tried to deflect that he was just there “as an athlete” who was detailing what he has experienced in his field.
The Louisiana Republican asked about another tweet, which called for the police force to be “abolished.”
“You think we ought to abolish the police?” Kennedy interrogated. “Should we do that before or after we get rid of fossil fuels?”
At the time, Schumacher said that he wasn’t going to address the post, but in an interview explained that he was nervous during his testimony and was trying to “diffuse” a line of questioning he believed to be a “distraction” from the topic at hand.
“On reflection I retweeted these things during the time around George Floyd’s killing and the unrest and that high emotion around that time, it was especially a show of support for the black community,” he said in a interview with the Daily Mail. “I don’t know, maybe the police shouldn’t be abolished.”
Schumacher also noted that Kennedy’s line of climate change related questions “definitely” left him “a little bit flustered.”
“That spoke to my inability to answer questions on CO2, but I wasn’t too red in the face,” he remarked.
Schumacher also told the outlet that Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who invited him to speak to the Budget Committee was “pretty cheerful” after the hearing, but sorry for how the skier was interrogated.
“He apologized for Sen. Kennedy and mentioned that it’s not the first time he’s done that aggressive line of questioning that’s not entirely related,” he commented.
“I don’t think anyone from my team was expecting that approach, he did a good job of making these questions really silly.”