Politics

CNBC’s Santelli warns of ‘third-world’ status with progressive energy policies [AUDIO]

Jeff Poor Media Reporter
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On Sean Hannity’s Thursday radio show, CNBC CME Group floor reporter Rick Santelli, considered by many to be the father of the tea party movement, explained to listeners what “progressive” economics means when it comes to energy policy — high gas prices.

“Listen,” Santelli said. “I deal with economists. Progressive economists — they want $10 and $15 gas prices because they think they can have a windmill that will go on my ’64 Pontiac and power me downtown from the ‘burbs every day. It’s reprehensible.” (RELATED: More on energy)

Santelli explained why energy is an important part of the vitality of the economy and a successful economy means higher energy usage.

“Our society, our culture — the greatness of America — goes hand-in-hand with energy, and our leaders need to wake up,” Santelli said. “We need energy, OK? And if they want to turn into a third-world country where there is absolutely no pollution whatsoever. And I think we need to be good to the planet, but we need to be more honest — do we want to be a superpower that uses energy and tries to do it wisely, or do we want to put our head in the sand and think that these technologies that are noble, that I have been talking about since I was in grammar school debating solar and geothermal. They’re not ready, and I think it’s just a disservice to my kids that they’re going to make energy usage such a penalty-type scenario, where we all know if you want to put GDP up, energy usage is going to go right along with it.”

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