"Defeat came for Republican Rep. Bob Inglis because he slid to 'Satan's side.'

That's how South Carolina voters perceive Inglis' newfound belief in climate change, says the outgoing lawmaker, who lost his primary bid in June to tea party candidate, and now representative-elect, Trey Gowdy.

Inglis reflected on several blasphemies he committed in the eyes of voters in a departing interview last week, held in his congressional office. They ranged from opposing President George W. Bush's troop surge in Iraq to supporting his Troubled Asset Relief Program. But none of those, Inglis said, had as strong an impact as his assertions that atmospheric warming is a scientific certainty.

'The most enduring heresy was just saying that climate change was real,' he said. 'That was the one that was most damaging, I'm convinced.'"

Evan Lehman reports for ClimateWire November 22, 2010. [2]