EmailABC News’ Paul Fidalgo Reports: Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., butted parliamentary heads with Senate Environment and Public Works Committee chair Barbara Boxer, D-Calif. over his questioning of former Vice President Al Gore, who testified before the committee Wednesday.
Inhofe, who considers the crisis of global warming "the biggest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people," presented Gore with what he considered to be simple "yes-or-no" questions, and tried to get Gore to commit to a pledge to have his own residence use no more energy than the "average American" home within one year. When Gore took issue with some of Sen. Inhofe’s phrasing, Inhofe was quick to try and curb the former Vice President’s responses.
Boxer then put a stop to the exchange, and chastising Inhofe for not allowing Gore to respond in full, declared, "elections have consequences," a line made famous by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., when explaining senatorial acquiescence to President Bush’s Supreme Court appointments.
"I’d love to have breakfast with you sometime," Gore said to Inhofe, "and talk to you without the cameras and without the lights about why I feel so strongly about this."
"Well, you did in your opening statement," said Inhofe, who continued his questioning in like fashion.