Widgetized Section
Go to Admin » Appearance » Widgets » and move Gabfire Widget: Social into that MastheadOverlay zone
GOP Congressman – Evolution a Lie Straight from the Pit of Hell
more from Hrafnkell Haraldsson
One thing Republicans still do have in common with Ronald Reagan: creationism. It looks like we are going to have to drag the Republicans kicking and screaming into the 21st century. if we don’t, they are going to drag us all back to the thirteenth, and we know how much fun that would be.
First we have U.S Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA), who serves on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, stepping up to the plate and unloading this doozy last month at a church event – apparently in the dark, dark recesses of the back forty:
“All that stuff I was taught about evolution, embryology, the Big Bang theory, all that is lies straight from the pit of hell. And it’s lies to try to keep me and all the folks who were taught that from understanding that they need a savior.”
Watch the report from CNN:
The loosely-attached heads at Liberty Baptist Church in Hartwell, Georgia loved it, I’m sure. This is the kind of backwards thinking they embrace.
Broun insisted that, “a lot of scientific data that I’ve found out as a scientist that actually show that this is really a young Earth.”
How young, you ask?
“I don’t believe that the Earth’s but about 9,000 years old. I believe it was created in six days as we know them. That’s what the Bible says.”
Broun has apparently confused science and belief. And all too common occurrence these days. After all, in the past year we had Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, Rick Perry, and Ron Paul, all Republican presidential hopefuls, insisting that the Bible, not science, explained human origins.
“That’s the reason, as your congressman, I hold the holy Bible as being the major directions to me of how I vote in Washington, D.C., and I’ll continue to do that,” he told the flock lining up to have their brains sheared.
CNN reports that,
A spokeswoman for the congressman, Meredith Griffanti, said that Broun was not available for comment on Wednesday and that the video showed him “speaking off the record to a large church group about his personal beliefs regarding religious issues.”
Broun apparently is very confused or very dishonest. He told the church folks that his religion informed his politics. He tells the media that his religion is none of their damn business.
Or ours. But it is very much our business.
And then there is that other Republican clown. Gosh, let me be specific, there are so many. You all remember the rape fan…oh wait, that still leaves too many to choose from…the rape fan from Missouri. Todd Akin. You remember him,, right?
This is what Akin had to say about evolution. You can listen to it thanks to ThinkProgress. This is what he told the Tea Party folks in Jefferson City, MO, certainly as gullible a group as the Baptists in Hartwell, Georgia, that there is no science behind evolution:
Akin: I don’t see it as even a matter of science because I don’t know that you can prove one or the other. That’s one of those things. We can talk about theology and all of those other things but I’m basically concerned about, you’ve got a choice between Claire McCaskill and myself. My job is to make the thing there. If we want to do theoretical stuff, we can do that, but I think I better stay on topic.”
Akin serves with Broun on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
What the hell are these people drinking?
At this point, you might feel in need of a dose of sanity. Here’s what Jon Stewart had to say about these clowns on Thursday:
You cannot just pretend the evidence isn’t there. Well, maybe you can. After all, the arctic is about to become a snow-free zone and the GOP still insists anthropogenic global warming is a myth and a liberal plot.
How much can a person hate reality? Ask Akin and Broun.
These sorts of views are perfectly all right as personal religious views. I have religious beliefs too. But I don’t think my religious beliefs trump yours, or trump the common good. When these views are applied to national policies, policies that affect every American, the effect is nothing short of catastrophic.
Fundamentalist religious beliefs have trumped science across the spectrum: evolution, global warming, women’s reproductive rights, marriage equality, and both science and history. They have even tried to apply the Bible to economics. And if you thought Republican economic theory was ugly before….
Our public schools are being replaced by schools more amenable to the message of the Bible. And institutions of higher learning are under relentless attack for doing precisely what they were meant to do: introducing students to a wider world, freeing them of parochial attitudes and ideas. Preparing them for the world.
America cannot afford the attitude that science is something you can choose to believe in, or not. Globally, we are already behind the eight-ball where science is concerned. China, as an economic power, is surging toward global dominance, and the rest of the world is not standing still. The United States will be the only country moving backward.
Americans cannot afford the Republican Party, the party of small-thinking and parochialism; the party of superstition, the party that insists angry deities cause bad weather and make volcanoes erupt.
We owe it not only to our ancestors, for where their suffering and sacrifice have brought us, but to our descendents, to leave them a better world through our suffering and sacrifice. To borrow the words of Carl Sagan, the demon-haunted universe is closing in, and our candle is guttering.
We cannot decide whether to believe in science. But we can decide to defend it, and to keep that candle burning for our children, and for their children.
America, and the world, have suffered enough from these backward-looking troglodytes. I would like my descendents to have a better life than sitting in a cave, scratching their heads, and wondering where fire comes from.
Related Posts :
Bill Maher reminded America that if Mitt Romney is elected, it will be a return to the anti-intellectual ...
We've seen the disdain of Christian fundamentalists for science. They hate our education system. They h ...
Is it possible that Georgia's next United States Senator will be a Democrat? It wouldn't surprise ...
While many in the mainstream media have gone ballistic over Rick Perry's stances on science and Social S ...
In an interview with ABC's This Week GOP 2012 candidate Jon Huntsman took his fellow Republicans to task ...
17 Responses to GOP Congressman – Evolution a Lie Straight from the Pit of Hell
Public Service Advertisements
Reynardine
Oct. 13th, 2012 at 8:15 am
It’s frightening enough that these people are on the Science Committee. It’s terrifying that a Republican sweep would make this the official science of the country.
SinghX
Oct. 13th, 2012 at 9:09 am
Agreed…why is it we teeter on the brink of several global disasters, the environment, economy,
institutionalized violence (wars/terrorism) and yet, we have true-believers-brain-washed people (a term I rarely use) as “elected leaders”? Either something is very wrong with the system by which we allow unqualified people to “speak” for our citizenry, or, we’ve drifted too far from calling-out people with this bizarre multigenerational dysfunction as, terminally irrational. It is just plain wrong and morally bankrupt to put up with them!
Not only are these true-believers “backwards” and mesmerized by their home-grown brand of religious fundamentalism, but sick enough to pull us back to pre-civil war colonialism as their re-start button! Are we,as a citizenry that disinterested, apathetic, afraid and paralyzed to stop their generational mis-direction, intentional mis-education of science and facts, or, are we stuck with them?
Michelle Bachman’s has stated her fear that she and her fundie-friends will be rounded-up and put in “re-education camps” by the secular population…if only! She’s intuitively correct–somewhere, within her reptilian brain, she knows that education is the answer; that we need facilities, (environments) where mental health services are specifically designed for this kind of illness…behind the crazy-fundie eyes is a cry for help; bets are on she’d rather get an “education” from the barrel of a gun than change.
We either “help”, educate these people, thereby helping ourselves or fight them off with weapons.
Reynardine
Oct. 13th, 2012 at 10:01 am
The fault I lay squarely at the feet of our presstitute corps, and at the mountains of right-wing money and influence that have suborned them.
A Walkaway
Oct. 13th, 2012 at 11:30 am
If you read Rushdoony, that is EXACTLY what they want for anyone in the Social Sciences that doesn’t teach from a “Biblical Perspective”… along with the death penalty for any professor/teacher who doesn’t submit to creationism.
I would also remind people that these are the same sort of people who torched my electronics workshop, and that over a letter to the editor defending evolution. Two weeks after the letter was published, I learned that members of my family were threatened and ordered to “Shut him UP!”. I also learned that I’d been the subject of hostile sermons in some of the local megachurches the Sunday morning after the letter appeared.
Four days after learning about the threats, I woke to a burning shop. The way the fire department said it started was impossible, and they refused to investigate “because you don’t have insurance on it”.
Total loss… no recovery or assistance. Tens of thousands of dollars of advanced equipment (and radios and inventions) down the drain.
I’ll see if I can find the links again for the jackass preachers who come to our campus and post them in this thread… they say pretty much the same thing to the students and try their best to get the kids to either drop out of school (that is what they did to me in the early 80s) or take courses that don’t expose them to evolution or other cultures.
Oh… and I’ve received death threats because I’ve taught evolution and insist that evolution and REAL Christianity are compatible. I’ve also been ranted at by young-earth neighbors, stalked, and harassed. If you don’t live in reasonably liberal areas and have taught evolution, that is the sort of thing you face.
A Walkaway
Oct. 13th, 2012 at 11:36 am
I should expand… the re-education camps are SPECIFICALLY what are called for by Rushdoony for Social Scientists.
All of the social sciences are based on evolution. It’s the only explanation that makes sense of cultures/societies/behavior and also the only explanation that makes sense of biological diversity.
It’s also been observed in creatures as large as butterflies, birds, and lizards.
Anne
Oct. 13th, 2012 at 9:24 am
Rep. Broun is only one more example of how narrow and backward his party has become. After all, this is also the party of Todd Akin, Michelle Bachmann, Herman Cain, Sarah Palin, and Allen West. All of them are willfully and proudly ignorant and don’t mind letting the world know. It’s scary that any of them are in actual positions of power in Congress because folks like Broun, West, and Bachmann have no business being on committees for issues like education and the environment. Their presence negates or blunts the objectives of these committees, and they are much more of a threat to the long-term security of this country than terrorists from abroad. Home-grown ignorance is definitely a threat to our collective well-being.
Tim
Oct. 13th, 2012 at 11:23 am
We just had a vice presidential candidate tell us on national TV that he would put his religion before the constitution and no one seems to care.
So much for America?
harris stein
Oct. 13th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
And in polls people said overwhelmingly he was polite and respectful.
But since he doesn’t respect my beliefs, why should I respect his?
RMuse
Oct. 13th, 2012 at 12:34 pm
These maniacs, and they are maniacs, will take this country straight into Dark Ages if they get the opportunity. The most frightening aspect is they are unafraid of telegraphing their intentions. Equally frightening is the number of Americans desperate to assist them. It is, without doubt, the biggest threat to this country and too bad the malcontents are historically challenged to recognize the agenda they support dooms them as much as the rest of us; they are just lower on the list of targets.
clarence swinney
Oct. 13th, 2012 at 12:50 pm
MEDICARE $716B
It was not removed to aid obamacare.
It was funding cuts
Reduction in high subsidies to private Medicare Advantage plan.
Many enroll at a higher average cost than traditional Medicare.
Reduction in pay to health care providers like hospitals, nursing homes
and health care agencies.
It is a multi-year program.
The plan is to get more efficiency by providers.
Preventative care is part.
We (70%) have yelled for decades “Cut the costs of that Health Care Sucker”
Romney-Ryan are distorting the plan.
I scream when I get these outrageous charges: two tests find elevated blood pressure
and 8 hours in bed with nitro patch on chest costs $6000. Elevated blood pressure.
Emergency room. Night in bed costs $4400.
Sleep lab. Hooked to monitor. In bed 8 hours. $5500.
A supervisor and two attendants for the night.
Four rooms. $22,000 income for one night?
It showed me why the firm has so many sleep labs throughout the state.
Elizabeth
Oct. 13th, 2012 at 3:34 pm
How about $900 to move a patient from the hospital across the parking lot to a nursing facility? I said, Why didn’t they just put you in a wheelchair and give a good shove? We’re talking about 100yds.
harris stein
Oct. 13th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
These people have no shame. Ironically, the tea party extremists who trumpet the US Constitution as “the law of the land” are nowhere to be seen or heard when these clowns start with their nonsense that Judeo-Christian myths take precedence over the US Constitution. The founders would be appalled at this ridiculous nonsense.
TS
Oct. 13th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Broun apparently is very confused or very dishonest.
Why can’t he be both?
Eddie Powell
Oct. 14th, 2012 at 12:05 am
Now I understand why these ReBaggers want to do away with the Dept. of Education. Too much reading and writing and use or neurons between the ears for pete sake. Better to make craps as one goes and called it scripture facts. Most of these these kind of people don’t live by his word any way. The way they lie, cheat and kill (WMD) Get one verse out of the scripture and beat the “h” out of the rest us with it.
majii
Oct. 14th, 2012 at 12:34 am
I’m a Christian, and I don’t see a conflict between Christianity and evolution. I think that Christians like Broun take these divisive positions, not because they believe them, but because it draws attention to them and provides a way for them to win elections in areas where they know most voters are ill/uninformed. I’ve lived in GA all of my life, so I know the types that find Broun’s BS believable. They lap it up like thirsty dogs licking water from their bowls on very hot days in the South. I usually piss off other Christians when I use a little logic involving Christianity and evolution: If God created everything, this means that he also created evolution. They don’t know how to respond to this. It makes sense that if they believe God created everything, they’d also believe he created evolution. If they don’t believe he created evolution, therefore, they don’t believe he created everything. It tends to either shut them up or make them angry. I don’t particularly care. I’m not responsible for their ignorance and their willingness to allow people like Paul Broun to brainwash them for his personal gain and do their thinking for them, and I don’t believe God gave us brains and didn’t expect us to use them to think about other things besides religion.
SinghX
Oct. 14th, 2012 at 8:35 am
“…and I don’t believe God gave us brains and didn’t expect us to use them to think about other things besides religion…”
Simple, yet elegant point: what happens when you say this to the mindless followers? Are they bewildered or insulted? Do they argue with you on personal level, as in you aren’t focused, haven’t prioritized, aren’t faithful or “religious” enough?
I don’t want to put words in your mouth or project the answer, I’m very curious because I don’t engage/know with folks who behave in this manner–I know they exist, are part of am aberrant cult movement (abrochristians…SP? Harf’s term). I am truly wondering what happens when you interrupt their internal “cassette looped” thought process. Do they have “certainty” or what?
A Walkaway
Oct. 14th, 2012 at 12:21 pm
“…and I don’t believe God gave us brains and didn’t expect us to use them to think about other things besides religion…”
Not only a very important point, but one made by the “early Fathers” in the church – that I know for certain. St. Clement (as I remember – the book I’m referencing is one I read over 20 years ago) said pretty much the same thing to the early Christians, and if I remember the situation as described, it was over creationism being pushed on non-christians by the more fundamental members of the church.
The person I’m thinking of also told the early creationists that they were making Christianity a mockery.
Or it may be two situations… something about drinking alcoholic drinks also comes to mind (the early Bishop rebuking people for insisting that everyone be teetotalers).
As for me, every scientific discovery strengthens my faith. Every sermon or rant by a fundie only weakens it.