{"id":2082011,"date":"2023-10-28T05:38:02","date_gmt":"2023-10-28T09:38:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/this-illinois-democrat-claims-to-be-the-only-meteorologist-in-congress-theres-just-one-problem\/"},"modified":"2023-10-28T05:41:04","modified_gmt":"2023-10-28T09:41:04","slug":"this-illinois-democrat-claims-to-be-the-only-meteorologist-in-congress-theres-just-one-problem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/this-illinois-democrat-claims-to-be-the-only-meteorologist-in-congress-theres-just-one-problem\/","title":{"rendered":"Illinois Democrat: The Sole Meteorologist in Congress, But There&#8217;s a Catch."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fthis-illinois-democrat-claims-to-be-the-only-meteorologist-in-congress-theres-just-one-problem%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2082011&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div>\n<h2>Eric Sorensen: The Cloudy Credentials of a Bold Congressman<\/h2>\n<figure><figcaption>Eric Sorensen (WQAD News 8 \/ YouTube)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>On his fourth day\u2064 in office, former television weatherman Rep. Eric Sorensen (D., Ill.) confidently proclaimed\u200c himself as the &#8220;Chief \u200dMeteorologist \u200cand climate communicator in Congress.&#8221; However, there&#8217;s a catch: Sorensen isn&#8217;t technically a meteorologist.<\/p>\n<p>Despite working \u2062as a television &#8220;meteorologist&#8221; in northern Illinois for\u200d almost two decades before winning \u2063a House seat in 2022, there is no evidence that he ever obtained the necessary credentials or certifications to claim the\u2062 title. According \u200bto\u200c federal standards, one \u2064must earn a Bachelor&#8217;s\u200c degree in meteorology to \u200cbecome a\u200c meteorologist. Sorensen only obtained a minor in meteorology from Northern Illinois University, as reported by\u2064 the\u200d Quad City Times in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>By his own standards, Sorensen&#8217;s lack of a Bachelor&#8217;s degree in meteorology \u200draises doubts about his\u200d credibility on climate issues. In October, he\u200d belittled a \u200bFacebook user who correctly pointed out that the climate has \u200bfluctuated throughout Earth&#8217;s\u200b history, asking, &#8220;Interesting assessment. Where did\u200b you get your BS in Meteorology?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This kind \u200dof stuff is tiring, but it will never wear me \u2064out. I am \u200dproud to be the \u2062only Meteorologist in Congress, but who should be next?&#8221; Sorensen proudly declared on Twitter, along with a screenshot of the interaction.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">This kind of stuff is\u2063 tiring, but it will never \u200bwear me out. I am proud to be the only Meteorologist in Congress, but who should be next? <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/science?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#science<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/STEMeducation?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#STEMeducation<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/PeopleOverPolitics?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#PeopleOverPolitics<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/G99gJQOUPR\">pic.twitter.com\/G99gJQOUPR<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Eric \u200cSorensen (@ERICSORENSEN) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ERICSORENSEN\/status\/1709564897971835240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">October 4, \u20642023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Sorensen&#8217;s lack of scientific credentials and his \u200dhistory\u2064 of mocking his own constituents \u200bcould prove detrimental as he faces a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrat-kansas-gov-laura-kelly-opposes-bidens-vaccine-mandate\/\" title=\"Democrat Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly Opposes Biden's Vaccine Mandate\">tough reelection campaign<\/a> in\u200b 2024. In 2022, Sorensen\u2064 narrowly won his purple district by\u200c a 4-point margin, and Republicans are determined to reclaim his seat next year.<\/p>\n<p>Sorensen also lacks certification from the American Meteorological Society, which grants legitimacy to\u2062 television weathermen without meteorology degrees through additional training and testing. The society&#8217;s certification is a \u2063mark of &#8220;professional distinction and recognition,&#8221; instilling confidence in the public regarding the reliability of a weatherman&#8217;s forecasts.<\/p>\n<p>Notably, Sorensen\u2062 is absent from the American Meteorological Society&#8217;s list of certified broadcast \u2062meteorologists, \u2062both past and present.<\/p>\n<p>According to former New York Times ethicist \u200bChuck Klosterman, it is highly unethical, though not illegal, for weathercasters like \u200cSorensen to \u200cfalsely present\u200d themselves as legitimate meteorologists. In 2013, Klosterman wrote, &#8220;You should not call\u2063 yourself a meteorologist unless other meteorologists agree that the designation is valid.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>It \u2063remains unclear if Sorensen has obtained \u2064certification \u200dfrom any other professional society or pursued any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/rutgers-university-will-require-students-to-be-vaccinated-for-covid-19-to-attend-in-person-classes\/\" title=\"Rutgers University Will Require Students To Be Vaccinated For COVID-19 To Attend In-Person Classes\">continuing education programs<\/a> \u200cto justify his claim\u2064 of being\u2063 a meteorologist. His office did not respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n<p>Sorensen&#8217;s lack of credentials hasn&#8217;t stopped him from asserting more than 20 times on social media that he is \u200bthe only &#8220;meteorologist&#8221; in Congress.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;After 22 years in TV, I&#8217;m now \u200bthe \u200donly Meteorologist in Congress!&#8221; he proudly announced\u2063 on Twitter in March. &#8220;Time to \u2062blind them all with science.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How does congressman Eric Sorensen&#8217;s lack of a Bachelor&#8217;s degree in meteorology impact his credibility\u200c and expertise\u200b on climate issues?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Hundreds of thousands of people in Congress have been elected to \u2063represent their constituents in a variety of fields,\u2063 from law to business to medicine. However, \u200dit \u200cseems that the credentials \u2063of\u200b one bold congressman may \u200cnot \u2064be as\u2064 solid as he claims. \u2064 <\/p>\n<p>On his fourth day in \u200boffice, former television\u200d weatherman Eric Sorensen proudly proclaimed himself as the \u200d&#8221;Chief Meteorologist and \u2063climate communicator in Congress.&#8221; This statement, while confident, raises some important questions about \u200dSorensen&#8217;s qualifications.\u2063 <\/p>\n<p>Although he worked\u200c as a television &#8220;meteorologist&#8221; in northern Illinois for almost two decades before winning a \u200bHouse \u2062seat in 2022, \u2064there is no evidence to suggest that Sorensen ever obtained the\u200b necessary credentials\u200b or certifications \u200bto claim the title of meteorologist. According to federal\u2062 standards, \u2063one must earn a\u200b Bachelor&#8217;s degree\u200c in meteorology to become a\u200d meteorologist. However, Sorensen only \u200cobtained a minor in \u200bmeteorology from Northern Illinois University, \u200cas reported \u2063by \u2063the Quad City Times \u2064in 2021. <\/p>\n<p>By his own standards, Sorensen&#8217;s lack of a Bachelor&#8217;s\u2063 degree in meteorology raises doubts about his credibility\u2064 on climate issues. It is concerning that someone who is not technically a meteorologist would confidently position themselves as a climate communicator in Congress. \u200d <\/p>\n<p>In October, Sorensen\u2063 belittled a Facebook user who correctly\u200b pointed out \u200cthat\u2063 the climate has \u200dfluctuated throughout Earth&#8217;s history. He responded\u200d by asking,\u200d &#8220;Interesting \u2064assessment.\u2064 Where did you get your BS in Meteorology?&#8221; This response is ironic, considering \u2063that Sorensen \u200dhimself \u200ddoes not possess the necessary educational background to \u200dspeak authoritatively on the subject.<\/p>\n<p>Sorensen&#8217;s claims\u2062 of \u200dbeing the &#8220;only Meteorologist in Congress&#8221; might be a point of pride for him, but it \u200bis essential \u200bto have individuals in positions of power who possess the expertise and qualifications to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-hillary-clinton-campaign-advisor-to-speak-with-european-officials-about-countering-disinformation\/\" title=\"Former Hillary Clinton Campaign Advisor To Speak With European Officials About Countering \u2018Disinformation\u2019\">address complex issues<\/a> such as \u2064climate change. In a time when science \u2062and\u200b climate\u200b issues are of utmost importance, it is crucial to\u2062 have informed and well-qualified individuals shaping policies. <\/p>\n<p>While Sorensen&#8217;s time as a television\u2063 weatherman\u2063 may have provided \u2063him with \u2063valuable insights and experience, it is essential to \u200backnowledge\u2063 the limitations of his credentials. \u2064The role of a\u2064 meteorologist goes beyond\u2063 simply reporting on the weather\u2014it requires a deep understanding \u2062of\u200d meteorological science and the\u2062 ability to analyze and interpret data accurately.<\/p>\n<p>As constituents, it is \u200dimperative that\u2062 we hold our elected officials to high standards of credibility and expertise. The position of a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/this-illinois-democrat-claims-to-be-the-only-meteorologist-in-congress-theres-just-one-problem\/\" title=\"Illinois Democrat: The Sole Meteorologist in Congress, But There's a Catch.\">congressman carries great responsibility<\/a>,\u2064 particularly\u200b when addressing complex and pressing issues\u2064 such as \u200cclimate change.\u200d It is crucial that those \u2062who claim \u200bto be experts \u2062in a field possess the necessary qualifications to back up \u200ctheir claims.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, the credentials of congressman Eric Sorensen, the self-proclaimed &#8220;Chief Meteorologist and climate communicator \u2062in\u200b Congress,&#8221; are unclear and raise doubts \u200cabout his credibility on climate issues. While his\u200c experience as a \u200ctelevision weatherman may \u2062be\u200c valuable, it is crucial \u2062to have individuals with the proper educational background and expertise in positions of power \u2063when addressing \u200dcomplex issues like climate change. As constituents, we must hold our\u2064 elected officials \u200baccountable for their qualifications and ensure that they are equipped to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/your-air-fryer-is-spying-on-you-warns-ted-cruz-in-introducing-bipartisan-smart-tech-consumer-privacy-bill\/\" title=\"Ted Cruz warns: Your air fryer spies on you! Introducing a privacy bill to protect consumers from smart tech.\">make informed\u200d decisions<\/a> on our behalf.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>a television weatherman, he lacks the necessary qualifications to be considered a meteorologist. Despite this, Sorensen confidently assumes the role of &#8220;Chief Meteorologist and climate communicator in Congress,&#8221; raising concerns about his credibility in the field.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":108,"featured_media":2082012,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[544],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2082011","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-free-beacon"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2082011","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2082011"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2082011\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2082012"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2082011"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2082011"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2082011"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}