Recent reports that Rahm Emanuel passed wind following a spicy dinner has environmentalists and liberal Democrats in a flurry as it demonstrates the White House is not serious when it talks about climate change.
"How can Obama talk about reducing greenhouse gasses when his chief of staff is himself emitting them?" one Daily Kos contributor asked. Another opined this this was a clear signal to the energy industry that they will not have to deal with any restrictions on carbon emissions.
Why ass-tooting on the part of the former congressman is seen as a signal on the administration's policy direction rather than an unfortunate, but funny, reaction to his meal has not been fully explained by those expressing concern.
"Everyone knows that Rahm's a devious bastard who's out to get us," one commenter noted. "Everything he does just proves it."
"Absolutely!" replied another. "You know, I even here he drives a car sometimes. I mean, you thought Bush and Cheney were in the hip pockets of the oil industry? They've got nothing on him."
There has been no official reaction from the White House, although Press Secretary Robert Gibbs did note that the kitchen had placed an order for mild sauce for the buffalo wings which should reduce gaseous releases in the future.