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Chris Matthews Criticizes ‘House Anti-Science Committee’…but Makes His Own Small Science Misstep in the Process

Nov. 14, 2012 2:50pm Liz Klimas

During his segment on MSNBC Tuesday, Hardball host Chris Matthews discussed the candidates for House Science Committee chairman.

Criticizing the scientific background of the three Republican applicants for the position, Matthews said it would appear “they’re vying for a post on the House Anti-science Committee.” Only a couple minutes later though, after detailing just why the candidates appear ignorant of scientific issues, Matthews made a little scientific mistake of his own, as News Busters’ Mark Findelstein pointed out.

Matthews brought up a comment by Rep. Dana Rohrabachrer (R-Calif.) at a U.N. climate change hearing where she said “is there some thought being given to subsidizing the clearing of rainforests in order for some countries to eliminate that production of greenhouse gases?” He then responded: “Well, as we all learned in grammar school—younger people watching—trees absorb carbon monoxide.”

Although he’s technically correct, some plants can absorb carbon monoxide, the term Matthews was really looking to use is carbon dioxide. It’s a difference of CO versus CO2.

Carbon monoxide more notably is why some homes might have a special detector so the colorless, odorless gas doesn’t asphyxiate a family while they sleep. Here are some sources of household carbon monoxide, according to the EPA:

Unvented kerosene and gas space heaters; leaking chimneys and furnaces; back-drafting from furnaces, gas water heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces; gas stoves; generators and other gasoline powered equipment; automobile exhaust from attached garages; and tobacco smoke. Incomplete oxidation during combustion in gas ranges and unvented gas or kerosene heaters may cause high concentrations of CO in indoor air.

In addition to Rohrabachrer, the other contenders for the position include Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) and Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tx.), both of whom Matthews links to denalism of man-made global warming.

“Anyway, regardless of which of the bunch gets the chairmanship, they’re evidently not looking for, well, they’re not exactly looking up—things aren’t looking up for the Science Committee,” Matthews said ending the topic on the show.

Watch the clip:

Featured image via Shutterstock.com.

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Comments (37)

Former Patriot
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 11:41am
I want Chris Matthews to be my life coach. Like him I also want to be wrong about almost everything, worship a dishonest fool that hates me, make a jacka$* of myself on a daily basis and feel no shame or guilt- all while keeping a well paying job exempted from obamacare.

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elosogrande
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 11:07am
It is quite simple to explain the re4ason for the Matthews gaff. He has proven time and again that he is a stupid man.

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asybot12
Posted on November 15, 2012 at 12:34am
hey Chris maybe that tingle was a warning from your brain telling you about the danger of CO

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- RobKraft
  Posted on November 15, 2012 at 6:19am
  Chris Matthews, like most Liberals, is not going to let facts and the truth get in the way of their agenda. Read fresh political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
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wwwjr
Posted on November 14, 2012 at 10:13pm
Chris Mathews miniature brain defies all scientific evidence. It has been proven that a creature the size of a human being could not survive with a brian too small to be observed by the naked eye. Yet, here is chris mathews with a brain too small to be seen with an electron microscope and he is alive. Incapable of rational thought, but yet alive.

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sparkyrules
Posted on November 14, 2012 at 6:49pm
Shut that piehole Tingles.We all know your retarded.

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Independent4233
Posted on November 14, 2012 at 6:34pm
“Well, as we all learned in grammar school—younger people watching—trees absorb carbon monoxide.”

Hahahahahaha!

Another brilliant liberal intellect.

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- asybot12
  Posted on November 15, 2012 at 12:38am
  There is no such thing as a brilliant liberal intellect, Scientists all over the world funded by the tax payer have been looking for decades! ( oh I guess the funded by the taxpayer is the problem).
  
  Report this comment
Kathleen3
Posted on November 14, 2012 at 6:24pm
What scientists really must investigate is how floured dough and be shaped to look like a man and then get a job as an anchor on MSNBC.

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- asybot12
  Posted on November 15, 2012 at 12:35am
  Tnx lol
  
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Glensrighthand
Posted on November 14, 2012 at 5:51pm
I have a feeling we have dribble running down the leg again, or was that trickle?

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- asybot12
  Posted on November 15, 2012 at 12:40am
  No CO and it creeps up the leg!
  
  Report this comment
saranda
Posted on November 14, 2012 at 5:48pm
Sorry Liz. Your Story fails when you refer to Dana Rohrabachrer as a “she”.

When your entire story is about a nitpicked mistake, you cannot afford to make mistakes yourself.

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Larry E
Posted on November 14, 2012 at 5:34pm
As a supposed journalist I have to wonder how much science education this nincompoop has? He obviously believes that Al Gore is some sort of scientific genius, along with other progresso-commie rocket scientists like himself.

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- asybot12
  Posted on November 15, 2012 at 12:42am
  No matter what any-one says about Gore he has screwed enough people with out going to jail and become a billionaire!
  
  Report this comment
rp454
Posted on November 14, 2012 at 5:22pm
Chrissy is as dumb as a box of rocks.

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GETLIFE
Posted on November 14, 2012 at 5:09pm
I doubt he thinks he made a mistake.
The whole nasty carbon footprint ideology makes more sense his way.

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peteto1
Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:17pm
Al Gore took ONE science class in college, and he earned a C- (minus) in the class. He’s a world-class hypocrite living a life with a HUGE “carbon footprint” (i.e.- lives in 9 bedroom mansion alone, travels by SUV (biggest one) convoy, and exclusively by private jet (usually alone w/ personal assistant). He also owned one of the only global companies that sell “carbon credits”. What a coincidence, huh??…..

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- Wayner
  Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:51pm
  The world would be a better place if Chris Matthews absorbed some carbon monoxide
  
  Report this comment
South Philly Boy
Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:17pm
The star of HARD HEAD

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Canada_Goose
Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:07pm
In trying to highlight Mr. Mathews’ mistake in slamming the anti-science committee, Ms. Klimas made her own mistake as a political journalist.

Matthews brought up a comment by Rep. Dana Rohrabachrer (R-Calif.) at a U.N. climate change hearing where she said “is there some thought being given to subsidizing the clearing of rainforests in order for some countries to eliminate that production of greenhouse gases?

Sorry Liz, but Dana Rohrabachrer is actually a dude – definitely not a “she”.

Touche Ms. Klimas

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golfmax13
Posted on November 14, 2012 at 3:45pm
If there is anyone more worthless than Tingles I am yet to meet them. By the way, Rohrabachrer is a guy.

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- Wayner
  Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:55pm
  He should really be mad at his parents for giving him a girls name.. I’ve heard of guys named Dane.. but never Dana.
  
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JWGCCW
Posted on November 14, 2012 at 3:27pm
Mathews didn’t make the mistake, it was his teleprompter.

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Unbelievable
Posted on November 14, 2012 at 3:22pm
Who the heck cares what Chissy Tinkles says… He shouldn’t even be allowed to speak to the public after he said he’s glad Hurricane Sandy destroyed and killed so many lives.

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drphil69
Posted on November 14, 2012 at 3:18pm
Maybe if we all stop posting on any article with CHRISSY MATTHEWS, they will stop writing articles on him. He gets more viewership here than on tv!

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- lwilli201
  Posted on November 14, 2012 at 10:01pm
  We can laugh at his stupidity without giving him rating points for his TV show.
  
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HUGGINGMYBABIES
Posted on November 14, 2012 at 3:14pm
And Chris is an oxygen absorber who’s carbon dioxide footprint is causing polar ice caps to disappear.

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The-Monk
Posted on November 14, 2012 at 3:08pm
FYI,

Pork_Anvil (who was) EtchASketchy; is a paid troll… he’ll clock out right before 5 pm.

Don’t bother replying to it because that’s what it wants.

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TarheelFlyer
Posted on November 14, 2012 at 3:01pm
Someone point me to the science that proves MAN is responsible for global warming. I’m not here to debate IF the climate is warming only the cause. The science that I have read keeps pointing to the actual temp. rises we see, but that doesn’t necessarily show causation.

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- jetblast3500
  Posted on November 14, 2012 at 4:05pm
  Tarheel, The term is now Climate Change as the earth has actually been getting cooler for the last decade. While I do believe that we are a contributing factor, we are by no means the primary factor. Anything we do to reduce our “Carbon footprint” would be insignificant. A good sight to check out is http://climateaudit.org/ by Stephen McIntyre. He was the first to challenge Dr. Mann’s claims of manmade global warming. Some of it gets a bit technical, but a good read none the less Personnally, I believe that the Earth is getting ready to swap its magnetic poles in the next few hundred years and this is just a precursor.
  
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progressiveslayer
Posted on November 14, 2012 at 3:00pm
Matthews you need to test a gas chamber,you go inside and I’ll make sure the gas fills the room and the door is locked.

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- tightline
  Posted on November 14, 2012 at 3:10pm
  I’ll bring the beer…..
  
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- HUGGINGMYBABIES
  Posted on November 14, 2012 at 3:15pm
  I’ll bring junior mints and popcorn.
  
  Report this comment
- TROLLMONGER
  Posted on November 14, 2012 at 3:21pm
  You gotta love the violent nazi speak coming straight from the right wing tea people…LOL!
  
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- rp454
  Posted on November 14, 2012 at 5:27pm
  I’ll bring some steaks if you think we will have time to grill them.
  
  None for you trollmonger. Go play on Huffpo or something.
  
  Report this comment
wianno94
Posted on November 14, 2012 at 2:56pm
I caught that when he said it. Perhaps if your education doesn’t go beyong the second grade, you can say those things. How many times have you heard Chrissy make fun of others who make a mistake? Dozens.

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