An Unfunny Joke: Kara Russo on Climate Change

Kara D. Russo

Politifact Rhode Island declared congressional candidate Michael J. Gardiner's following statement mostly false:

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks grounded commercial air traffic, "there was a temperature drop while the airplanes weren't flying, for the week afterwards."

Fair enough. The paper Gardiner cited is disputed and Gardiner's statement didn't follow from the study. But Gardiner's main point was that man-made global climate change is a reality. On this point he is absolutely correct, but Politifact made only a weak confirmation of this claim.

Gardiner’s underlying point that humans are affecting the climate is accepted by the vast majority of scientists.

Gardiner is a Republican, and though I'm always gratified when a Republican takes a stand for scientific consensus, we should understand that the candidate was reacting to a statement from Kara D. Russo.

Russo questioned whether climate change even existed, considering there is "so much... propaganda about global warming."

Russo, no stranger to idiotic positions, statements and opinions, proved once again that she is in no way qualified to hold public office in any capacity. Her rejection of science and her summation of the evidence as "propaganda" demonstrates her clear separation from reality on this subject. 

Russo and her partner, Christopher Young, are joke candidates, like Mad Magazine's mascot Alfred E. Newman or Pigasus, the 1968 presidential candidate. I'd be tempted to call what Russo does political theater, done for the purpose of raising issues outside the mainstream or as political commentary, but unfortunately her seriousness and stridency demonstrate, to me at least, an intent to be taken seriously. 

To be taken seriously a candidate must take serious, reality based positions on various issues. Kara Russo has demonstrated no capacity to do this. The only joke Russo is playing is on her.

For a great breakdown on the scientific consensus on climate change, see this Wikipedia article, and then follow the links to the various sources used.