Senator’s green gaffe a black mark

Ed Markey is all for the “Green New Deal,” except when it comes to voting for it.

The junior U.S. senator from Malden is pushing back against Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s ploy to force Democrats to take an up or down vote on the widely-mocked socialist legislation, even though he’s the chief sponsor.

Markey blasted McConnell for “bringing a resolution to the floor without committee hearings, expert testimony or a true national debate.”

It’s pretty rare for a member of Congress to protest his own legislation moving too fast, but Markey realizes he’s put his own party in a pickle.

Most Democrats don’t want to be recorded for all history supporting a plan to eliminate air travel and gasoline engines, and Republicans know it.

So Markey has chosen to go on the offensive.

“The Green New Deal resolution has struck a powerful chord in this country, and Republicans, climate deniers, and the fossil fuel industry are going to end up on the wrong side of history,” he said.

Markey’s criticism of McConnell’s plan was roundly panned on social media, where cynics noted that the Massachusetts senator seemed to be opposing a vote on his own legislation.

“You won’t vote for your own proposal?” one Twitter user asked. “I guess that shows how un-serious it is.”

“You sponsored this legislation,” another Twitter user said. “Debate and votes are the next logical step in the process. Have a staffer look up ‘I’m just a Bill’ from SchoolHouse Rock for you.”

Maybe Ed was caught up in the moment, the 72-yearold lawmaker for life suddenly paired with the 29year-old rock star of the Democratic Party, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Or maybe his dangerous political liaison with Ocasio-Cortez was prompted simply by a desperate desire to get reelected.

But in his zeal to jump onto the “Green New Deal,” Markey has now staked out a clear position calling for net zero fossil fuel emissions in 10 years, a fanciful proposition that most of middle America knows is a crock.

Did Markey really mean to call for the rebuilding of every office tower in Boston?

Markey has never been a legislative titan but he’s too experienced to allow himself to fall into this trap.

He should immediately make clear that he doesn’t support abolishing all air travel and gas-fueled cars, like Ocasio-Cortez has suggested the plan would entail.

Ocasio-Cortez has already renounced some language in her original mission statement — an ill-advised question-and-answer document that mentioned eliminating planes and “cow farts.” But it’s too late now to run from that, and Markey will be forever linked with taking away your livestock and shuttles to D.C.

How then will Markey travel from his million-dollar home in D.C. back to Malden?

Maybe he can hitch a ride on old Bessie.