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Amy Barrett trolled as Kamala Harris corners her on climate change: 'Why are Republicans stupid at science?'

Barrett refused to reply saying she 'will not express a view on a matter of public policy especially when it's a politically controversial cause that's inconsistent with the judicial role'

Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett is in the middle of a four-day confirmation hearing at the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. In the first two days, she has been questioned by the Democrats and refrained from revealing her opinion on hot-button issues such as abortion and more. However, on Wednesday, October 14, Senator Kamala Harris had President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee almost pushed into a corner with her questions on climate change.

Democrats have long opposed Trump’s pick of Barrett for SCOTUS. As per Newsweek, they have accused Republicans of hypocrisy in advancing Trump's Supreme Court nomination with only weeks left until Election Day. Speaking via teleconference, the Democratic senator and vice-presidential nominee asked Barrett whether she "accepts Covid-19 is infectious." "I do accept that Covid-19 is infectious," the judge replied. "It's an obvious fact, yes." Harris went on to ask Barrett whether she accepts that smoking causes cancer. "I'm not sure exactly where you're going with this," she responded. "Yes, every package of cigarettes warns that smoking causes cancer." Finally, in her last question, Harris asked, "And do you believe that climate change is happening and is threatening the air we breathe and the water we drink?" A user tweeted the video of the hearing. 

To this, Barrett refused to answer. "You have asked me a series of questions that are completely uncontroversial, like whether Covid-19 is infectious, whether smoking causes cancer, and then trying to analogize that to eliciting an opinion from me that is a very contentious matter of public debate," the judge said. "And I will not do that, I will not express a view on a matter of public policy especially when it's a politically controversial cause that's inconsistent with the judicial role." Harris then replied, "Thank you, Judge Barrett, you have made your point clear that you believe it is a debatable point."

Not just Barrett, even Trump has faced scathing attacks on his climate change policies. In the first presidential debate of 2020, POTUS barely managed to detail his administration’s climate policy. Trump is also known to have called climate change a "hoax". He has pushed to take the United States out of the 2015 Paris Agreement to combat climate change. POTUS has also supported greater use of declining fossil fuels such as coal which are considered as harmful for the environment, as reported by Reuters.

When Barrett argued that climate change does not relate to her work as a judge, Harris argued Barrett's views are relevant, especially considering the scientific community's warnings about the impacts of climate change on the planet. Now the Internet is slamming Barrett for being poor on subjects like science. Harris later tweeted, “Amy Coney Barrett will admit that COVID-19 is infectious. She’ll admit that smoking causes cancer. But whether climate change is real? Apparently, that’s up for debate.” A user poked fun at Barrett, “So.... My 6-year-old knows enough to opine on what causes anthropogenic climate change, but I sure wouldn’t put him on the #SCOTUS. To be fair, I do believe #AmyConeyBarrett is competent enough however she showed her political allegiance by denying the scientific fact.” 

A social media user slammed the GOP along with Barrett, “So Amy Coney Barrett is a climate change skeptic, too. Why are Republicans so stupid when it comes to science?” Another user lashed out at Barrett, “A dangerous woman who openly doubts #ClimateChange. Appointing someone with such power to the high court of the USA is devastating news for our planet.” A user said she cannot take the position set vacant by former iconic judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg. “She unqualified to sit at RBG'S chair.” A user joked, “Senate: What are your thoughts on climate change?” However, one felt that Barrett was right, “Kamala. I’m a big supporter. However, In this example you are incorrect, and as a judge, she’s absolutely right! Smoking & Covid are givens. But, with Climate Change there are as many leading scientists who don’t believe in it, as there are who do. Therefore, it’s up for debate!” 

These remarks were made by the Internet and individual organizations, MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and nor does it support these claims being made on the Internet.