Ann Coulter says storm Harvey is more likely God’s punishment for Houston’s lesbian mayor than a result of climate change
Seemingly striving to cause the most offence with the lowest number of words, Ann Coulter managed to demean gay people and deny climate change in fewer than 140 characters.
The conservative provocateur has a long history of inflammatory statements that appear designed to stir outrage.
An historically devastating storm hasn’t slowed her down.
In response to an article linking tropical storm Harvey to climate change, Ms Coulter wrote that “God's punishment for Houston electing a lesbian mayor” is a more “credible” explanation for the storm than climate change.
I don't believe Hurricane Harvey is God's punishment for Houston electing a lesbian mayor. But that is more credible than "climate change." https://t.co/K7d7mopY5Q
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) August 29, 2017
While weather patterns are driven by a complex variety of factors, making it difficult to say an individual storm is caused by a given input, there is an overwhelming scientific consensus that humans are altering the climate by pouring greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
In addition to rising global temperatures, climatologists believe more intense weather patterns - from stronger storms to more frequent droughts - are potential consequences.
Warmer air and water could feed the size and wetness of hurricanes.
According to the National Weather Service, the more than 50 inches of rain Harvey dumped on Texas set a new record for the continental United States.
BREAKING: National Weather Service: Cedar Bayou, Texas, records 51.88 inches of rain from Harvey; new continental U.S. record.
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 29, 2017
On the other hand, there is no scientific evidence that electing gay people to public office affects the weather. Ms Coulter was referring to former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, an open lesbian.
Ms Coulter's tweet came in response to an article by meteorologist and journalist Eric Holthaus, who argued that the powerful storm lashing Houston was evidence of the type of powerful that scientists believe could result from climate change. Mr Holthaus has extensively covered climate change.
Despite multiple scientists saying climate change-related factors may have contributed to Harvey's ferocity, the Trump administration aligned itself with Ms Coulter's skepticism.
Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman Liz Bowman responded to a reporter's question about potential links by rebuking “attempts to politicize an ongoing tragedy”, according to wire reports.
