In what Democrats called a political stunt, the Senate voted on the Green New Deal Tuesday, which failed 0-57 with 43 Democrats voting “present” and obviously not one voting in favor. Now we’re learning that the Green New Deal isn’t meant to be taken literally — it’s really just for “shock value” to get the ball on climate change legislation rolling.

Funny, then, that the same Senate Democrats who couldn’t even vote in favor of the Green New Deal Tuesday, which has been presented as a series of life-or-death steps to rescue the planet from mankind’s influence, are happily rolling out the Special Committee on the Climate Crisis Wednesday.

The committee will be led by Sen. Brian Schatz, who voted “present” Tuesday. “We’re on offense of climate,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer, who also voted “present.”

Senate Dems announce the creation of an 8-member special committee on climate led by @brianschatz. “We’re on offense on climate” @SenSchumer said. pic.twitter.com/jvV614gFdX — Lisa Friedman (@LFFriedman) March 27, 2019

Schatz says the committee is going to treat climate change “like the planetary emergency that it is.”

.@SenSchumer: "We’re on offense on climate. Thank you Leader McConnell for accelerating our timetable.”@brianschatz, chair of this new informal committee: "The goofy stuff is done. We are treating this like the planetary emergency that it is." — Anthony Adragna (@AnthonyAdragna) March 27, 2019

Here’s Sen. Martin Heinrich, who voted “present” Tuesday.

Climate change is our most urgent challenge — we don’t have any more time to waste. I'm proud to join the Special Committee on the Climate Crisis to finally implement real solutions to #ActOnClimate now. pic.twitter.com/QDVFRLOFcA — Martin Heinrich (@MartinHeinrich) March 27, 2019

And those real solutions you’re going to implement to act on climate now are…? Weren’t they clearly laid out in the Green New Deal?

And here’s Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who also voted “present” on the Green New Deal. Remember how all the Democratic senators running for president in 2020 were tripping over each other to co-sponsor the Green New Deal when it was announced?

Climate change isn’t just some partisan squabble. It’s a national & global security threat—a fact that military leaders & Trump’s own intelligence officials admit. Anyone who cares about our national security must do whatever they can to combat climate change before it’s too late pic.twitter.com/wmiVPygnHX — Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) March 27, 2019

I was proud to launch the Special Committee on the Climate Crisis w/ @SenSchumer, @BrianSchatz & other @SenateDems today. We have to do more to save our planet—before even one more military base floods in the Midwest or one more wildfire tears through CA. https://t.co/q2RRUnsCdH — Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) March 27, 2019

So, “anyone who cares about our national security must do whatever they can to combat climate change before it’s too late” — with the exception of voting for the Green New Deal, which was written to combat climate change before it’s too late.

how did you vote on the green new deal? — Palmetto Joe (@Palmetto_Joe) March 27, 2019

Hey @SenDuckworth

Will the Special Committee on the Climate Crisis provide the following formation to the American people? pic.twitter.com/m1SA2qsgv6 — Bob McNeil (@RealBobMcNeil) March 27, 2019

Tammy, below what CO2 level (ppm) do wildfires in California allegedly stop happening? https://t.co/vo7IQsMB0K — Tom Nelson (@tan123) March 27, 2019

One day people will look back at these climate cultists like we do at the Aztecs who made regular human sacrifices to ensure the gods blessed their crops with rain. https://t.co/2nTzaMrQ1R — Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) March 27, 2019

Well, they are all pagans. This is the kind of thing pagans have always believed in. Funny how these people think they are "new" or "advanced" Go back 3,000 years and a lot more like them. — Willis Krumholz (@WillKrumholz) March 27, 2019

Related: