On Tuesday’s edition of All In, MSNBC host Chris Hayes slammed congressional Republicans for dismissing the Green New Deal while simultaneously giving a public service announcement in support of the measure. Hayes’s climate change activism should not come as that much of a surprise, since he once referred to global warming as “the single most important thing we face” long before Green New Deal architect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez burst onto the national political stage.
Hayes opened his monologue by declaring that “amidst massive flooding in the Midwest and one of the worst weather-related disasters in the entire history of the continent of Africa, Mozambique, ideas and ambitious as controversial as the Green New Deal would seem to warrant some serious consideration.” Hayes proceeded to trash Republican Senator Mike Lee, whom he described as “determined to make juvenile, wickedly unfunny jokes instead.”
Hayes played a clip of Lee sarcastically speculating as to what methods of travel the Green New Deal would allow for since the original fact sheet for the Green New Deal promised to make air travel obsolete; Lee was specifically talking about the problems Hawaii would face. Following the conclusion of the clip, Hayes quipped “I think they edited out the laugh track in that one.”
Channeling his inner Al Gore, Hayes warned that “what’s happening with the Earth’s climate is actually a challenge to civilization, the likes of which human beings have never seen.” Hayes complained that in spite of this, “Senator Lee and his Republican counterparts in the House and basically the entire party still insist that Democrats want to take away their cows.” Apparently, Hayes forgot that one provision in the Green New Deal indicates a desire to “fully get rid of farting cows.”
After playing some more clips of Congressional Republicans addressing the provisions of the Green New Deal, this time focusing on cows, Hayes resumed his climate change alarmism: “their approach would itself be laughable but for the fact that there are literally hundreds of millions of people’s lives on the line here in this country, around the world.”
Hayes closed the monologue by noting that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's “ploy to have a show vote in the Senate backfired.” Hayes was referring to the vote that took place on Tuesday where nearly every single Senate Democrat elected to vote “present” rather than vote in favor of the Green New Deal. While this upset his colleague Katy Tur, Hayes ironically appeared relieved that Senate Democrats did not tether themselves to the radical Green New Deal; which he described as a “bold and polarizing policy.”
While the debate about the Green New Deal appears to be going nowhere, at least in this Congress, Hayes will likely continue to serve as a passionate advocate for the ideas and goals it espouses. The hyperbolic Hayes once compared the fight to combat global warming with the fight to end slavery. Based on his monologue Tuesday night, it looks like Hayes has completely abandoned his belief that climate change is a “ratings killer.”
A transcript of the relevant portion of Tuesday’s edition of All In With Chris Hayes is below. Click “expand” to read more.
All In With Chris Hayes
03/26/19
08:48 PM
CHRIS HAYES: Amidst massive record flooding in the Midwest and one of the worst weather-related disasters in entire history in the continent of Africa, Mozambique, ideas as ambitious and controversial as the Green New Deal would seem to warrant some serious consideration, but not for Republicans like Senator Mike Lee, who’s determined to make juvenile, wickedly unfunny jokes instead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SENATOR MIKE LEE: Tauntauns, Mr. President. Now, while perhaps not as efficient in some ways as airplanes or as snowmobiles, these hairy bipedal species of space lizards offer their own unique benefits. All residents of Hawaii would be left with is this. This is a picture of Aquaman. I draw your attention, Mr. President, to the 20-foot impressive seahorse he’s riding. Under the Green New Deal, this is probably Hawaii’s best bet.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HAYES: I think they edited out the laugh track in that one. What’s happening with the Earth’s climate is actually a challenge to civilization, the likes of which human beings have never seen. Global carbon emissions hit a record last year, according to a newly released report. Senator Lee and his Republican counterparts in the House and basically the entire party still insist that Democrats want to take away their cows.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)
LEE: We would go from about 94 million cows to zero cows. No more milk, no more cheese, no more steak, no more hamburgers. Every cow I spoke to said the same thing. Boo.
REP. DUSTY JOHNSON: In this dream, there are no South Dakota dairy cattle. That means there are no, there’s no South Dakota milk and that means there are no South Dakota milkshakes.
(END VIDEO CLIPS)
HAYES: Are they just, are they bringing along the drums for the room shots? Do they have an audience in place? Their approach would itself be laughable but for the fact that there are literally hundreds of millions of people’s lives on the line here, in this country, around the world. Republicans have not suggested any meaningful alternative in the face of the bold and polarizing policy called the Green New Deal but, put forward by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Ed Markey. Today, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s ploy to have a show vote in the Senate backfired.
