Legal Insurrection readers may recall our report that Secretary of State John Kerry asserted that air conditioners and refrigerators pose as big a threat to “life on the planet” as the threat of terrorism.
Know who didn’t get the memo?
President Obama. Our Commander-in-Chief just suggested their use in this country’s fight against Zika (hat-tip Tammy Bruce).
In his weekly address released on Saturday, President Barack Obama criticized the Republican Congress for not assenting to his request for “emergency resources” to “combat Zika,” and said that Americans should protect themselves from the virus by, among others things, “using condoms properly.”“Because Zika can be spread through unprotected sex, it’s not just women who need to be careful–men do too,” the president told the nation. “That includes using condoms properly.”Obama also advised Americans: “Stay in places with air conditioning and window screens.”
Of course, given Obama’s notorious absence from security briefings and his penchant for golf, no wonder there is now mixed messaging on the danger of air conditioning!
At the beginning of the month, I noted the petition to remove air conditioners from State Department offices was signed by over 40,000 people. It is now about 5,000 short of its 50,000 signature goal.
I guess we should stop signing at this point!
Meanwhile, new reports indicate that hearing loss is now recognized as a potential birth defect when pregnant women are infected with the pathogen.
Recognizing the link to mosquitos and Zika, and the virus’ impact on fetuses, The Wall Street Journal did a detailed review of the U.S. locations that are prime spots for the vector and the population density of women within child-bearing age:
These locations seem like good places to have air conditioning.
So, given the risks of Zika and terrorism, versus the risk of global warming, the question to ask is: To air condition or not air condition.
As for myself, I will crank up the A.C. and pour myself a tall, cold glass of craft beer.
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