By Steven Nelson
Published April 9, 2024, 2:33 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON — Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) stunned attendees at a high school solar eclipse event Monday by claiming the rock-solid moon is a “planet” that is “made up mostly of gases” — before adding she still wants to be “first in line” to learn how to live there.
The former top Democrat on the House Science Committee’s space subcommittee badly botched elementary lunar facts while speaking during the gathering at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston.
“You’ve heard the word ‘full moon.’ Sometimes you need to take the opportunity just to come out and see a full moon is that complete rounded circle, which is made up mostly of gases,” Jackson Lee, 74, told teenage pupils who gathered on a sports field ahead of the rare celestial event.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee told attendees at Booker T. Washington High School in Houston that the moon is “made up mostly of gases.”X/@JacksonLeeTX18
“And that’s why the question is why or how could we as humans live on the moon? Are the gases such that we could do that?” the congresswoman said.
“The sun is a mighty powerful heat, but it’s almost impossible to go near the sun. The moon is more manageable.”
Jackson Lee made a series of other questionable statements, including saying the moon, which reflects the sun’s light, gives off “unique light and energy” and misstating the scientific reason for the eclipse.
“You have the energy of the moon at night,” she told the kids.
The solar eclipse was happening because the Earth was unusually close to the moon, she said — though, in fact, the eclipse was the result of the alignment of the sun and moon.
“I don’t think we’ve been on the moon the last 50 years. So we will be landing on the moon. What you’ll see today will be the closest distance that the moon has ever been in the last 20 years. Which means that’s why they will shut the light down because they will be close to the Earth,” she said of the eclipse alignment.
“I don’t know about you, I want to be first in line to know how to live and to be able to survive on the moon,” Jackson Lee added. “That’s another planet which we’re going to see shortly.”
“And that’s why the question is why or how could we as humans live on the moon? Are the gases such that we could do that?” the congresswoman said.
“The sun is a mighty powerful heat, but it’s almost impossible to go near the sun. The moon is more manageable.”
Jackson Lee made a series of other questionable statements, including saying the moon, which reflects the sun’s light, gives off “unique light and energy” and misstating the scientific reason for the eclipse.
“You have the energy of the moon at night,” she told the kids.
The solar eclipse was happening because the Earth was unusually close to the moon, she said — though, in fact, the eclipse was the result of the alignment of the sun and moon.
“I don’t think we’ve been on the moon the last 50 years. So we will be landing on the moon. What you’ll see today will be the closest distance that the moon has ever been in the last 20 years. Which means that’s why they will shut the light down because they will be close to the Earth,” she said of the eclipse alignment.
“I don’t know about you, I want to be first in line to know how to live and to be able to survive on the moon,” Jackson Lee added. “That’s another planet which we’re going to see shortly.”
Spectators view the eclipse at the NASA Space Center in Houston on April 8, 2024.Jennie Taer/NY Post
4Jackson Lee said she would be “first in line” to live on the moon — which she referred to as a planet.Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via APADVERTISEMENT
Jackson Lee is notorious in DC for high staff turnover because of her allegedly unusual and abusive demands of staffers.
In a statement to The Post on Tuesday, she admitted she was wrong to describe the moon, which has virtually no atmosphere, as being composed mostly of gas to the schoolkids.
“Obviously I misspoke and meant to say the sun, but as usual, Republicans are focused on stupid things instead of stuff that really matters. What can I say, though, foolish thinkers lust for stupidity!” she said of GOPers who swiftly criticized her glaring gaffes.
“They should be focusing on issues like prenatal care, building more affordable housing, and more reduction of student loan debt as President Joe Biden is,” Jackson Lee said. “Also, I care more about these children who would not have experienced the eclipse in this enthusiastic manner. And, I care more about protecting the rights of women and children than engaging in this kind of senseless dialogue!”
Rep. Jackson Lee admitted to The Post that she was wrong about the moon. Jennie Taer/NY Post
Jackson Lee has not deleted from her X page the footage of herself providing the miseducation to local students.
The video went viral after it was clipped and reposted by Houston-area radio host Kenny Webster.
“As a local Houston talk radio personality, she supplies us with a never-ending vault of content. She’s better than satire,” Webster told The Post.
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