This is why we can't have nice things

I cannot believe all the stupidity that is contained in a 1:13 min video. Rep Joe Barton asks US Secretary of Energy and Nobel Laureate (physics) Steven Chu where oil comes from. Dr Chu basically laughs at the shear stupidity of the question. I guess it's his job to be a high school teacher for elected officials.
Rather than knowing how dumb of a question he just asked he is proud that he "stumped" the Secretary. His Twitter page: "I seemed to have baffled the Energy Sec with basic question - Where does oil come from? Check out the video: http://bit.ly/O4m0p #tcot"

How does the highest ranking Republican on the Energy and Commerce Committee not understand plate tectonics?
I know this is in the States, but this doesn't give me much hope for the future seeing as Canada apparently has equally dumb elected officials.