Think Progress

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne: ‘Unfortunately I Have To Follow The Law’

Yesterday, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne was challenged by Glenn Beck on CNN about why he listed the polar bear as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Kempthorne responded:

Well, I’ll tell ya, unfortunately I have to follow the law.

Kempthorne caught himself and added, “Or fortunately.” After highlighting his record trying to cripple the Endangered Species Act as a Republican senator from Idaho, Kempthorne said with a smirk, “I cannot ignore the law. I have a Constitutional requirement to, uh, uphold the law.” Watch it:

Kempthorne’s interview with Beck, a global warming denier obsessed with the ferocity of polar bears, is only the latest in a long string of exclusive Bush administration interviews with right-wing sympathizers.




Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date

34 Responses to “Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne: ‘Unfortunately I Have To Follow The Law’”

  1. Jeannie See Says:

    Yeah, it is a horrible video. And yes, repugs hate that they have a Constitutional responsibilty to uphold the law.


  2. VerbalKint Says:

    Following the law is generally a hardship for Republicans.


  3. Xisithrus Says:

    When people like Beck and Kempthorne call themselves conservative you know its a lie, I wish they would just say what they mostly resemble: Earth haters


  4. thirdparty Says:

    why does it say "follow the courts" now?


  5. Imichael Says:

    Geez another Bush cronie who feels he is above the law. Republican party the Arrogant party. They just don't see it. They really think it is about polar bears and can't see that the polar bear is just one indicator of man's continuing destruction of the planet. The answer from the Christian Right is more prayer, oh, and send them more money.


  6. RUCerious Says:

    Rethugs generally are contemptuous of environmental law, but this video is worse than a cheap ninja overdub from chinese to farsi.


  7. Nevada Blue Says:

    Looks like the clip has been recut to appear to say "follow the courts". Pretty sloppy job of editing. More GOP revisioning history?


  8. Nevada Blue Says:

    Looks like the clip has been recut to appear to say “follow the courts”. Pretty sloppy job of editing. More GOP revisioning history?

    Retracted.

    Just a lousy clip poorly recorded, compressed and uploaded.


  9. Zooey Says:

    Plastic Man is the whole country's problem now, not just Idaho's. Hahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaa!!!!


  10. RUCerious Says:

    Thanks Z, for foisting this moron on the nation! I know you voted for him....to get the hell out of your home state!


  11. RUCerious Says:

    Why does Kemp Dickthorne hate the planet?


  12. Zooey Says:

    RUC, I was so happy for Plastic Man when he got his new job! Except, we now have Plastic Man 2.0 in our new Governor, Butch Otter. Ugh.


  13. tokin librul Says:

    It wouldn't be a terrible thing to clap Glenn "The Aryan" Beck in stocks for 24 hours.
    That wouldn't be a bad idea for all the Bushevik/Rightie fhuktards...


  14. tokin librul Says:

    @ # 13, RUCerious Says:Why does Kemp Dickthorne hate the planet?
    May 17th, 2008 at 10:46 am

    Are You Serious?
    cuz that's where the smart money plays...follow the sheckels, the dinero, the loot...


  15. Wayne Says:

    Republican idiots cannot seem to understand that the plight of the polar bear is an indicator similar to a canary in a mine.


  16. ralph the wonder llama Says:

    What shocks me is that a BushCo minion actually admitted that he's supposed to follow the law.

    That's new for them, isn't it?


  17. lokidog Says:

    TP: Please correct your typo in the headline lead.

    Should be "Inferior Secretary..."

    Thank you.


  18. Bobwurst Says:

    Ted Kennedy has been rushed to the hospital with stroke like symptoms.


  19. Oval12345678 aka James K. Sayre Says:

    A Bush crime family member, who,"unfortunately, he has to follow the law..." What a bizarre concept: funny, Bush and Cheney are both above the law, what's so different about this bird? The law is a terrible thing to waste...

    Ship the lot of them down to Paraguay come January 2009...


  20. Xisithrus Says:

    Basically they want to drill on the north slope for oil, yet theirs probably only 13 years worth of oil at 5% of our required oil. Its better to leave that oil in the ground for strategic reasons.

    This here now, me me me, profit rape pillage, mine mine mine and drain the earth now screw you all leaves little for the future


  21. j swift Says:

    What shocks me is that a BushCo minion actually admitted that he’s supposed to follow the law.

    That’s new for them, isn’t it?

    Strictly speaking this guy is an incompetent. I mean what kind of sycophantic, boot licking Bush appointee gives in and follows the law? It is like he did not even TRY to make the usual Bush Admin effort to lie, subvert science and some how get some taxpayer money into the hands of a Republican kiss-ass. Frankly I am disappointed.


  22. MCMetal Says:

    Well, I’ll tell ya, unfortunately I have to follow the law.

    Well , seeing that you're a Republican , that would actually be a 1st
    ............


  23. 5th Estate Says:

    BECK (on Polar Bears): "They eat people! For the love of Pete, they’re big, angry bears. They eat people. Not that I say we go out and kill all of them, but I mean, it doesn’t seem to be a problem here. Senator, I can’t take the — I can’t take the lies anymore!"

    errh-hrrrmm:

    Churchill, Manitoba, the "Polar Bear Capital of the World," was established in 1717. Since that time, only two townspeople have ever been killed by polar bears, despite numerous encounters--one in 1968 and one in 1983.


  24. Alecto Says:

    This here now, me me me, profit rape pillage, mine mine mine and drain the earth now screw you all leaves little for the future.

    Sounds like Daffy Duck in AliBABA Bunny at the final scene:
    http://www.theclassictoons.com/6/ali-baba-bunny/
    Scroll and watch till the end from the 5:30 mark
    "Consequences, Schmonsquences, as long as I'm rich"

    [I fu(king LOVE the internet]
    At the speed of a thought I can re-kindle a brain state.


  25. dbadass Says:

    Dirk? You have got to be kidding me! Well I suppose it is a little better than Rusty Kempthorne or Chip Kempthorne.


  26. Winski Says:

    Can Kempthorne and Beck be cell mates in the CLOSEST PRISON???

    I'm sorry, that should be MENTAL INSTITUTION!


  27. Wayne Says:

    5th Estate Says:

    BECK (on Polar Bears): “They eat people! For the love of Pete, they’re big, angry bears. They eat people. Not that I say we go out and kill all of them, but I mean, it doesn’t seem to be a problem here. Senator, I can’t take the — I can’t take the lies anymore!”

    Colbert is funnier with his bear "Threat Down" skit.
    Beck is just drool-dropping pathetic, as usual.


  28. robbez_92107 Says:

    Hey, Zooey,
    Sorry for my density, but why Plasticman? I know he routinely scored 0% from the League of Conservation Voters, but can't find anything about your local nickname.


  29. kassandrasduplex Says:

    And it is this same right wing neo-fascist corporate media that destroyed Hillary Clinton's campaign with near total negative coverage going back almost a full year, which also boosted Obama's campaign (but now that Clinton's political obit is written, they've turned on Obama, currently known as "the appeaser" to Nazi's).
    Our elections are run from the editor's and publisher's offices of the major television networks and newspapers.
    Prediction: John McCain will be the next president of the USA.


  30. Buckie Boy Says:

    It is 'Unfortunate' that the Bush Administration and Republicans can't bring themselves to follow the law.


  31. Alecto Says:

    Some LUNATIC kassandrasduplex Says:
    "Prediction: John McCain will be the next president of the USA."

    BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

    Oh Stop, please, you embarass yourself.

    BHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

    Thanks for the belly-laugh though, I needed that.


  32. Klem Kiddilehopper Says:

    Can any of you trolls out there,tell me why if drilling in the
    ANWR is so IMPORTANT and VITAL to our National Security,then why was for years the oil recovered,sent down the pipeline to Prince William Sound and then sold directly to Japan?


  33. Jess Wonderin Says:

    We NEED to add INTELLIGENT Republicans to the Endangered Species Act . . .


  34. Vincennes Says:

    Damn laws. I mean without them we could've decimated the wildlife and ruined the ecosystem causing havoc and natural upheaval that would've probably caused the end of the human race or caused us to scurry underground where thousands of years from now we would evolved into the Morlocks. But noooooooo ... we have laws to protect animals, the environment, human rights and people. Like I said: Damn laws



Jump to Top

About Think Progress | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy (off-site) | RSS | Donate
© 2005-2009 Center for American Progress Action Fund
View Most Popular

Advertisement

What We're About

Featured

image
Subscribe to the Progress Report



imageTopic Cloud


Visit Our Affiliated Sites

image image
Reports


Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.

Name:
Email:
Tip:
(required)


imageArchives


imageBlog Roll