Rick Perry Says Fossil Fuels Will Help Stop Sexual Assaults
The spin masters are having fun with this one from Energy Secretary Rick Perry.
The Washington Post is reporting on a story from Matthew Daly from AP. Rick Perry, during a visit to Africa, stated that he thinks fossil fuels can help prevent sexual assault.
It all began when a young African girl told him that electricity was important to her because she has to read by the light of a fire with noxious fumes. Rick then spun that to say that electricity was important "...from the standpoint of sexual assault. When the lights are on, when you have light that shines the righteousness, if you will, on those types of acts."
Secretary Perry and President Trump are promoting increased domestic energy production as part of a strategy to achieve U.S. "energy dominance" in the global market. It takes a certain type of person that combine sexual assault and fossil fuels. Does Secretary Perry get any points for trying? No. At least not from Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club.
The Sierra Club is the nation's largest environmental group. Mr. Brune called Perry's comments offensive. In a statement he stated...
"It was already clear that Rick Perry is unfit to lead the Department of Energy, but to suggest that fossil fuel development will decrease sexual assault is not only blatantly untrue, it is an inexcusable attempt to minimize a serious and pervasive issue. Women, and particularly women of color, are among the most severely impacted by the climate crisis, and it is these same communities that are most at risk of sexual assault. Perry’s “attempt" to exploit this struggle to justify further dangerous fossil fuel development is unacceptable.
He also said the Perry should resign immediately.
Perry's office didn't immediately respond to request for comment to the article in the Washington Post.