GOP Rep. Louie Gohmert, of Texas, triggered an avalanche of negative comments on social media after he asked a representative from the U.S. Forest Service if it was possible to “alter the orbit of the moon or the Earth as a way of combating climate change,” though it was unclear if he was being serious.
Gohmert’s bizarre question came during a House Natural Resources Committee hearing on Tuesday.
“I understand from what’s been testified to the Forest Service and the BLM [Bureau of Land Management], you want very much to work on the issue of climate change,” Gohmert said to Jennifer Eberlien, associate deputy chief of the National Forest System, adding that a past director of NASA had once told him that orbits of the moon and the Earth were changing.
“Is there anything that the National Forest Service, or BLM [Bureau of Land Management] can do to change the course of the moon’s orbit or the Earth’s orbit around the sun?” Gohmert asked Eberlien. “Obviously they would have profound effects on our climate.”
“I would have to follow up with you on that one, Mr. Gohmert,” Eberlien responded.
“Well, if you figure out a way that you in the Forest Service can make that change, I’d like to know,” Gohmert added.
As NASA explains in a blog post, Earth’s orbit changes from being close to perfectly circular to being slightly more elliptical in a cycle that takes about 100,000 years. The orbit is currently around as close to being circular as it can be.
The angle at which the Earth tilts also shifts slightly or “wobbles” on its axis over the course of tens of thousands of years.
According to NASA, these small changes in the earth’s orbit have a relatively minor impact on the planet’s seasons and are not behind global warming.
Che Gohmert’s question and some of the reactions below.
This literal insanity has to stop,
we need to implement a psych evaluation and Constitutional minimum competency exam to hold office.
— n_pedersen (@mbDunningKruger) June 9, 2021
Mo Brooks was coming for Louis Gohmert's title as the dumbest member of Congress. Louis said: "Somebody hold my Lone Star."
— Bub the Zombie (@bub_zombie) June 9, 2021
Example #6467445 why the gop needs voted out at every level of govt.
— duder (@cptstevedave) June 8, 2021
People keep calling this sarcasm. This is not sarcasm, he was probably trying to insult her belief of climate change. It doesn't matter, he still asked them to do that & that was dumb AF! There is no reason for those words to come out of annoying mouth!
— Gaia (@Gaia26596497) June 9, 2021
Shit like this should be a bigger deal. Legislators should be expected to know *more* than the average person on relevant subjects, not way way way less.
— Not Jeff (@srsjeff) June 9, 2021
you know how you have to pass a basic written test to get a driver's license? I'd like to see that for elected office
— Dan Price (@DanPriceSeattle) June 9, 2021
He's trying to make the audience believe that nothing can be done about climate change, because obviously the Moon and Earth can't be shifted out of orbit.
This isn't stupid or ignorant. It's propaganda aimed at people who are both, like the entire GOP base.
— Xopher Halftongue 🏳️🌈 (@Halftongue) June 9, 2021
What the hell did I just watch?????
— liz marasco 🦊 (@liz_marasco) June 9, 2021
Holy hell, how do you not have to have basic levels of intelligence to get elected to positions where your decisions affect the country?
"Is there anything they can do to change the course of the #Moon's orbit?" 🤣 pic.twitter.com/TUalZmztM9
— Billy (@BillyBagadonuts) June 9, 2021
What’s worse… he makes a mockery of serving the public by asking such a stupid question
… or….
He’s freaking serious….— jrfjr (@jrfjr4) June 9, 2021
