For some strange reason the U.S. State Department has been focused on oceans this week and yesterday’s big event was a Twitter Q&A between Bill Nye the Science Guy and Secretary John Kerry:
Tomorrow @ 10am (2pm UTC), @JohnKerry & Bill Nye @TheScienceGuy will take your questions about oceans – Tweet using #OceanChat
— PDatState (@PDatState) June 16, 2014
Yes, because that is what Americans are clamoring for answers on – oceans.
https://twitter.com/chelseagrunwald/status/478898584826306561
Seemingly aware of the absurdity of leading a discussion on oceans with the Middle East in flames, this exchange was wedged into the Twitter chat:
Any awareness of climate change in Iraq-Iran? @JohnKerry #OceanChat
— Bill Nye (@BillNye) June 17, 2014
.@TheScienceGuy There is awareness in the Middle East – a number of countries engaged in transition.
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) June 17, 2014
H/T: Red Alert Politics
This ham-handed insertion of climate change into Middle East politics predictably led to these snarky responses:
@TheScienceGuy @JohnKerry I'm sure climate change is a top concern for people in Iran and Iraq right now.
— Paul Matthews (@etzpcm) June 17, 2014
@TheScienceGuy @JohnKerry Are militants executing truck drivers for religion being wrong, or for driving a big polluting semis? #ThoughtSo
— Kyle (@yoohoo26) June 17, 2014
https://twitter.com/ImPoliticalWill/status/478909048855601153
https://twitter.com/Aaronson_David/status/478901792604819456
https://twitter.com/Cameron_Gray/status/478883958269415424
To his credit, Kerry did respond to a question about priorities and the timing of the chat:
#OceanChat How is it you have time to chat with Iraq in flames and a major crisis in Israel? #tcot
— typo (@TypoDynamofo) June 17, 2014
.@TypoDynamofo: 1/2 Have talked to 3 foreign leaders in the region this morning on #Iraq. What happens to our ocean is int'l security issue.
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) June 17, 2014
.@TypoDynamofo: 2/2 Big countries handle ore than one challenge at once.
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) June 17, 2014
But Twitter users quickly pounced on those lame answers:
https://twitter.com/SMadurski/status/478916532987523072
.@JohnKerry thank you for reminding the world this admin is completely unserious. @TypoDynamofo #tcot #gop #Iraq
— Simon Templar (@SimonTemplarPV) June 17, 2014
No, @JohnKerry terrorists overrunning #Iraq is an int'l issue not #climatechange #epicfail @TypoDynamofo
— Suzanne Olden (@suzieqolden) June 17, 2014
https://twitter.com/ddurbin1963/status/478934556209188865
https://twitter.com/Dcoxboomer/status/478944863015018497
https://twitter.com/jon_jononymous/status/478948096768888832
@JohnKerry True, but we have complete idiots in charge who have real trouble prioritizing these challenges.
— Dirk McGirk (@Sluggo0330) June 17, 2014
@JohnKerry We definitely know you and @BarackObama can fail more than one challenge at once @TypoDynamofo
— Joshua H 🇺🇸 (@orThatGuy) June 17, 2014
https://twitter.com/BertDifig1/status/478970627798618112
Unfortunately the fun was cut short by, you know, actual State Department work:
https://twitter.com/HollyRFisher/status/478941424453300224
