Ah, patriotism. These are the guys that believe in American exceptionalism? That believe the US is the greatest country in the world? Not so much.

Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) says the United States can’t compete with China to make solar panels and wind turbines, and that the government should no longer subsidize green-energy programs. And he’s the guy in charge of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, which has been pushing the Solyndra witch-hunt.

Apparently it’s not enough for the Republicans that the program was started under Bush, approved by a Republican Congress, and voted for by such GOP stalwarts as… Cliff Stearns.

Apparently it’s not enough that Soynldra’s application was moved along during the Bush years (but finally approved under Obama).

It’s not enough that the entire program has financed 28 projects with $16 billion in loan guarantees, created at least 17,000 current jobs, and moved the US forward on high-tech and energy independence.

Nope. Now that it’s a Democratic program, if it doesn’t bat 1,000 it’s a total failure and must be stopped.

Stearns says he doesn’t believe in subsidies, but:

Rep. Cliff Stearns… also has backed projects promoting green jobs. Stearns… endorsed a plant that makes batteries in Jacksonville. The Saft America plant makes lithium-ion battery cells for military hybrid vehicles and solar and wind energy storage. The plant received a $95.5 million grant from the Energy Department. Stearns and other lawmakers from Florida also backed a Florida company’s bid to win a loan guarantee for biofuel refinery plant in central Florida. New Planet BioEnergy received $50 million from the Energy Department and a $75 million loan guarantee from the Agriculture Department.

And don’t hold your breath – despite this week’s rhetoric, I’m guessing the GOP isn’t about to start an anti-subsidy jihad that will shove big oil, big coal, big ag and big nuclear hogs away from the public trough.

And Stearns says considering the $30 billion China has sunk into solar subsidies, it’s too late for us. He wants us to put money in areas the US has a chance of winning. Nice move – we’re in the second inning of the World Series of solar, and Stearns wants us to throw up our hands and walk away.

Patriotism.

PS: Followers of Congress – and John Stewart – will probably remember Stearns as the jerk who inserted language into the Zaroga act insisting that before 9/11 first responders like cops and firemen who are now dying of cancer can get financial assistance – get this – their names have to be cross-checked against the TERRORIST WATCH LIST. To make sure… what? That Al Qaeda didn’t infiltrate the NYPD and have agents on the ground at ground zero, who are now sneakily taking advantage of taxpayer dollars to cover their jahidist cancer? WTF? As John Stewart put it, “We’re thinking about arming the Libyan rebels, and we’re not cross-checking THEM against the terrorist watch list…”

This guy is a world-class jerk, and he just doesn’t make any sense at all. Par for course for Republicans in Congress these days.

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