Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, faced intense backlash on social media after making a scientific gaffe about the moon being “made of gases” during a speech at a Houston high school. The lawmaker’s comments went viral, with many criticizing her lack of scientific knowledge, especially considering her past role as the leader of the House Science Committee’s space subcommittee.
In response to the criticism, Jackson Lee attempted to deflect by claiming she misspoke and meant to refer to the sun instead. She then took aim at her Republican critics, accusing them of having a “lust for stupidity” and focusing on trivial matters instead of important issues like prenatal care, affordable housing, and student loan debt reduction.
However, her defense and insults towards Republicans only fueled more criticism on social media. Conservative figures and commentators mocked her response, with some questioning how she was elected in the first place given her lack of understanding of basic scientific concepts.
Overall, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s attempt to turn her gaffe into a political attack backfired, with many questioning her qualifications and knowledge on important issues.
