Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), a climate skeptic with some wacky theories of his own, tried to stump Energy Secretary Steven Chu at Wednesday’s climate-bill hearing by asking, “How did all the oil and gas get to Alaska and under the Arctic Ocean?”

Later, Barton bragged via Twitter, “I seemed [sic] to have baffled the Energy Sec with basic question – Where does oil come from?”

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Yes, Chu did look confused, but not about the origins of oil — rather, about why Barton would ask such a bizarre question.