Presidential candidate Jeb Bush, fossil fuel supporter and climate denier, recently lightened his criticisms of Pope Francis, who released an encyclical regarding climate change today, reported CBS News.
“I think Pope Francis is an extraordinary leader of the church whose teachings I try to follow,” said Bush. “It doesn’t need to get any more complicated than that. That’s why I go to Mass. I don’t go to Mass for economic policy of for things in politics.”
As a Republican, Bush couldn’t be any more full of crap. All Republicans do is use religious teachings to guide their politics. That applies to anything including homosexuality, women’s rights, economic policy, abortion, birth control, and definitely climate change. One would be hard pressed to find a Republican whose politics aren’t guided by religion.
So, when Jeb says he doesn’t go to Mass “for things on politics,” he’s either an idiot or an absolute liar.
“I’d like to see what he [the pope] says as it relates to climate change and how that connects to these broader, deeper issues before I pass judgement,” continued Bush. “But I think religion ought to be about making us better as people and less about things that end up getting in the political realm.”
Bush’s voter constituency wouldn’t like to hear that. His logic is a woven tapestry of Republican contradiction. People like him use religion as the basis for their politics, but because Bush, who has strong ties to the fossil fuel industry, doesn’t agree with the pontiff, he’s saying the religion should only be personal, and not political.
But when the Republican debates arrive, Jeb will likely deliver star-spangled rhetoric peppered with religious fervor, saying things about how God is leading him and will save the government. It may not be of Mike Huckabee proportions, but come on, Jeb has conservative evangelical voters to win.
Jeb’s statements all boil down to one thing: protecting his fossil fuel interests. He has ties to Texas based fracking companies and has family members in Texas state petroleum groups. He would let this planet burn if it meant protecting his interests.
