Congressman Mike Pence takes his position as chairman of the House Republican Conference seriously. But in his zeal to present Republican positions, truth and good judgment sometimes fall by the wayside.

For weeks, Republicans have charged that the Democrats’ proposed cap-and-trade legislation to deal with carbon dioxide emissions would add more than $3000 a year to energy costs for the average American homeowner. As proof, they cite a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. But Professor John M. Reilly, an author of the study, has written several letters to House Minority Leader John Boehner, stating that Republicans have misrepresented his analysis, and the projected annual cost would be “about $340 — only a part of which would be actual bill increases.” But weeks later, Mr. Pence continues to repeat the false figure, as reported in the April 26 Herald Bulletin.

In opposing the stimulus bill, Pence on national television accused Speaker Nancy Pelosi of inserting an earmark of $30 million to protect the salt marsh harvest mouse. Boehner’s office later admitted there was no such earmark.

Pence has criticized President Obama for being photographed shaking hands with President Chavez of Venezuela at the Latin American summit. Does he think the president should have turned his back and walked away? That would certainly improve our Latin American relations! Or as columnist Steve Benen asked, should he hide in the bathroom while the other leaders are greeting each other?

Does Mr. Pence really believe that courtesy indicates weakness? President Kennedy shook hands with Khrushchev, President Reagan with Gorbachev, and President Nixon with Brezhnev — and even gave him a Cadillac.

Pence also stated on national television when questioned about Rush Limbaugh, “I don’t think Rush Limbaugh has a racist bone in his body.” Technically, he may be correct — Rush’s racism is not in his bones, but in his heart and mind. Here are just a few of his relevant statements:

“Let’s face it, we didn’t have slavery in this country for over 100 years because it was a bad thing. Quite the opposite; slavery built the South ... it had its merits. For one thing, the streets were safer after dark.”

“The NAACP should have riot rehearsal. They should get a liquor store and practice robberies.”

On the Katrina disaster: “Why didn’t these morons leave New Orleans before the hurricane? I’ll tell you why — because they wanted to rape and loot.”

On the Obama candidacy: Rush called Obama “the little black man-child,” and played “Barack the Magic Negro.” He called the magna cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School an “affirmative action candidate,” and said, “I think it really goes back to the fact that nobody had the guts to stand up and say no to a black guy.”

To whom is Mike Pence appealing when he ignores these statements and defends Rush? Does he think the residents of the 6th District don’t deserve to hear the truth on these matters?