thinkprogress.org

How far John McCain has fallen. Four years ago, he explained that California wildfires were the kind of extreme events that are “symptoms, of the violent climate conditions that result from climate change.”

Now he’s just another Tea Party extremist:

“There is substantial evidence that some of these fires have been caused by people who have crossed our border illegally,” McCain said Saturday at a press conference. “The answer to that part of the problem is to get a secure border.”

Wow. From recognizing legitimate scientific evidence to blaming scapegoats in convenient human form. What’s next, accusations of witchcraft? 9_9

…a Forest Service spokesperson said, “There’s no evidence” that immigrants started the fire. In fact, one week ago Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell testified in front of the Senate:

“Throughout the country, we’re seeing longer fire seasons, and we’re seeing snowpacks that, on average, are disappearing a little earlier every spring,” he said, as well as devastating droughts. As a result, fire seasons have lengthened by more than 30 days, on average.

“Our scientists believe this is due to a change in climate,” said Tidwell.

Once upon a time John McCain acknowledged this:

I’m not saying that these forest fires that you all are hearing about in California are a direct result of climate change, but I will say to you that we are experiencing weather and conditions such as severe droughts all across the Southwest, such as all the sudden and torrential rains that are symptoms, that are symptoms, of the violent climate conditions that result from climate change.

Read the whole thing, which also has YouTube clips of McCain’s prior statements.