Hats off to washcycle for awarding Congressman Patrick McHenry (R-NC) as the "tool of the month."  More like BONEHEAD OF THE MONTH!  Why?  Check it out the video .

Yep, that's right, on the floor of the US House of Representatives, Rep. Bonehead (er, Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-NC, 202-225-2576) has decided to use the bicycle as a tool in his his partisan game.  Here it is straight from the Congressional Record:

A major component of the Democrats' energy legislation and the Democrats' answer to our energy crisis is, hold on, wait one minute, wait one minute, it is promoting the use of the bicycle. Oh, I cannot make this stuff up. Yes, the American people have heard this. Their answer to our fuel crisis, the crisis at the pumps, is: Ride a bike.

Democrats believe that using taxpayer funds in this bill to the tune of $1 million a year should be devoted to the principle of: ``Save energy, ride a bike.'' Some might argue that depending on bicycles to solve our energy crisis is naive, perhaps ridiculous. Some might even say Congress should use this energy legislation to create new energy, bring new nuclear power plants on line, use clean coal technology, energy exploration, but no, no. They want to tell the American people, stop driving, ride a bike. This is absolutely amazing.

Apparently, the Democrats believe that the miracle on two wheels that we know as a bicycle will end our dependence on foreign oil. I cannot make this stuff up. It is absolutely amazing.

Ladies and gentlemen, I bring you the Democrats, promoting 19th century solutions to 21st century problems. If you don't like it, ride a bike. If you don't like the price at the pumps, ride a bike.

Stay tuned for the next big idea for the Democrats: Improving energy efficiency by the horse and buggy.

The simple-minded McHenry represents a district that's relatively rural in nature, so I suppose it's easier for him to overlook the value of the bicycle, especially in urban areas, where alternative transportation solutions make a great deal of sense.  Of course, a congressman is supposed to think like a leader, and consider how legislation might make sense beyond the narrow reaches of their own mind and congressional district, but that concept seems to escape simpletons such as McHenry.

Comrades, I give you Congressman Patrick McHenry:  Bonehead of the Month.

- posted by Chris

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