Adieu, Scott Pruitt
By Laurie Baron
SAN DIEGO-Back in April, I wrote this parody of Michael Jackson’s Beat It. While I don’t claim responsibility for Scott Pruitt’s resignation, there are rumors that Jared tipped him off there was a song about him in a Jewish publication. So here’s an encore version with a new ending.
Why must you always fly in first class?
Or need a booth with soundproof glass?
Your number of guards strikes everyone as crass.
You blew it, Scott Pruitt!
A lobbyist believed you were heaven sent.
That’s why you paid such a cheap rent.
The time has come for you to really repent.
You’ll rue it, Scott Pruitt!
Just screw it, Scott Pruitt.
Act like Tom Price and do it.
You’re just a flunky, part of Trump’s swamp,
Merely a pawn in a pay for play romp.
We knew it, Scott Pruitt.
Eschew it, Scott Pruitt.
Undo it, Scott Pruitt.
Adieu it, Scott Pruitt.
You permit factories to pollute the air.
You think that climate change is just a big scare.
If lead’s in our water, you don’t seem to care.
You’ll rue it, Scott Pruitt!
It finally happened and you have resigned.
It’s not because you were maligned.
The new guy is similarly inclined.
A. Wheeler’s like Pruitt!
You skewed it, Scott Pruitt.
No other way to construe it.
You soiled the earth to enrich yourself,
Mine for coal and drill on the shelf.
Cars spew it, Scott Pruitt.
No energy to renew it?
Adieu it, Scott Pruitt.
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Baron is professor emeritus of history at San Diego State University. He may be contacted via lawrence.baron@sdjewishworld.com. San Diego Jewish World points out to new readers that this column is satire, and nothing herein should be taken literally.
The Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) welcomes the resignation of EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. We hope that Pruitt’s resignation will lead to stronger protections for our environment, and meaningful action by the Trump administration to recognize and combat the undeniable reality of climate change. We call upon Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to quickly restore integrity to the agency’s operations, eliminating the endemic corruption that flourished under Pruitt. It’s long past time that the EPA administrator focus the issue that matters the most in this critical role – protecting our environment.
U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) welcomed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt’s decision to resign.
“Scott Pruitt’s resignation is welcome and long overdue. As EPA Administrator, he wrongfully put personal interests over environmental stewardship and public health. Instead of focusing on protecting our land, air, and water for future generations, Pruitt filled the EPA with unqualified people, who also had enormous conflicts of interest; he wasted taxpayer money on personal expenses; and he dismantled key environmental protections,” said Rep. Peters.
“I pressed Pruitt and other EPA officials on these actions and allegations because they conflict with the spirit and mission of the EPA. As a former environmental lawyer, I’ve seen the dangers to our environment and championed policies to reduce those risks throughout my entire career. Pruitt did not share those same values and I will continue to hold the entire agency accountable to the laws that protect our air, our water, and our public lands. Unfortunately, the acting head of the EPA is Andrew Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist whose sights are also set on rapid deregulation,” Rep. Peters continued.
Five days after Rep. Peters called for the resignation of EPA Superfund Chief Albert Kelly, Kelly resigned. Rep. Peters also questioned Pruitt, who refused to answer questions about changes to methane rules. He also questioned EPA Air and Radiation Assistant Administrator Wehrum about the consequences of greenhouse gases on public health. Rep. Peters had also signed onto legislation calling for Pruitt’s dismissal.