Rep. Clouseau-Reichert still "investigating" global warming

It's a sign of "the silly season," but when it comes to global climate change, Dave Reichert deserves to be laughed at. From The Seattle Times' Alex Fryer--

Most of the laughs from the crowd of about 100 students and alternative energy entrepreneurs at the Seattle University event came when Gore talked about Reichert's beliefs about global warming.

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, who introduced the speakers, said Reichert doesn't think climate change is caused by humans.
"Did he say that?" interrupted Gore, whose film about global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth," grossed $23.7 million. "He's not sure it's caused by humans?"

"He's not convinced that it's caused by human beings," responded Nickels.

"C'mon! And this man is a United States congressman?" asked Gore. "You know, 15 percent of people believe the moon landing was staged on some movie lot and a somewhat smaller number still believe the Earth is flat. They get together on Saturday night and party with the global-warming deniers."

Reichert's campaign spokeswoman, Kimberly Cadena, declined to comment about Gore's remarks.

Reichert's Web site said the congressman "continues to investigate what causes global warming. Until he reaches a definitive conclusion, he will continue to pursue an environmental agenda that presupposes global warming is caused by man's activity, and support environmental legislation that seeks to counteract man's influence.

In a nutshell, this highlights the problems facing Reichert and many Republicans seeking re-election. As the ideological positions that support the fragile Republican coalition are undermined, candidates like Reichert have nowhere to go. Sticking with the hard core base is a losing proposition in a swing district this year, but abandoning the base is anathema in Karl Rove's play book.

So Reichert has to walk a tight rope on this and many other issues. Thus the "investigating" schtick. Get it? He was a sheriff, as if we didn't know.

It is indeed laughable. It brings to mind a mental image of Peter Sellers as Clouseau:

REPORTER: Congressman Clouseau-Reichert, did you know the vast majority of climate scientists believe that global warming is real?

CLOUSEAU-REICHERT: Yes, I kneuew that, beht I have recently rah-ceived a bimp in the polls.

REPORTER: Excuse me?

CLOUSEAU-REICHERT: A bimp you idiot!

REPORTER: I'm sorry, Congressman Clouseau-Reichert, I can't understand you.

CLOUSEAU-REICHERT: I won't stand here and be made a minkey of by swine reporters, I am an officer of the law who sol-ved one of the greatest cases of all times! Good day to you, gentlemen!