GOP’s Sen. Inhofe Claims that Using Oil and Gas Doesn’t Create Pollution

Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) took to the Senate floor today to make a statement that even by his lofty standards was out there. Inhofe claimed that using oil and gasoline doesn’t create pollution. The senator said, “Their argument there is “Well, we don’t want to use oil and gas because we think it pollutes” — which it doesn’t.” I guess Exxon bought his common sense along with his vote.

Here is the video:

Inhofe was shilling for domestic energy drilling rights on the Senate floor, when he said, “People complain that we are buying — importing from the Middle East — oil and gas. And then they find out that we have it all right here. We don’t have to do that. If their argument there is “Well, we don’t want to use oil and gas because we think it pollutes,” which it doesn’t, but if that’s their argument, then why are we willing to import it from Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East?

According to Opensecrets.org, the oil and gas industry are the top industrial donor to Inhofe’s campaign. Do you think that this little fact might be the reason why he would go on to the Senate flow a spew such nonsense? These Republicans do realize that there are cameras on floor, and that people are watching, right?

Oil and gasoline have always been known pollutants, so for a United States senator to make such a ridiculously untrue claim, on the Senate floor is a little hard to take. Is it possible that Inhofe’s pockets are so full of industry money that he will say whatever he needs to do to keep his corporate masters happy, or could it be that Inhofe is a victim of hyper-pro-business ideology that caused so many Republicans to stick their head in the sand, and deny facts? Either way, he is wrong.

(H/T: Think Progress)

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association