Sen. Claire McCaskill’s gift of Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) is a gift that simply keeps on giving. Previously Akin alienated the GOP leadership and most of the known world with comments that, in cases of legitimate rape, women often do not get pregnant because “the female body has ways to shut that whole thing down.” He also claimed that doctor routinely performed abortions on women who are not pregnant. Now, at a Tea Party meeting in Jefferson City, Missouri, Akin has said that that there is no science behind evolution. Akin sits on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.
Akin’s remarks not only leave doubt about his knowledge — or ability to understand – science but also what he considers “the thing” that he is supposed to do in Washington:
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.
Of course, such comments could be used by some to disprove any evidence that we have evolved intellectually. Frankly, whenever I hear Akin speak recently I too begin to doubt evolution in the human species.
Notably, Akin sits on the committee with Rep. Paul Broun, the chairman of the House Science Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight. Broun made headlines this month with the following statement: at the 2012 Sportsman’s Banquet at Liberty Baptist Church in Hartwell, Georgia on September 27th, he said this:
God’s word is true. I’ve come to understand that. All that stuff I was taught about evolution and embryology and the big bang theory, all that is lies straight from the pit of Hell. It’s lies to try to keep me and all the folks who were taught that from understanding that they need a savior. You see, there are a lot of scientific data that I’ve found out as a scientist that actually show that this is really a young Earth. 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.
As many of you know, I have shown equal disregard for both of the main parties that hold a monopoly on power in the United States. Indeed, the low quality politicians that we see in both parties is the very danger of all monopolies — once protected from competition, the quality of a product declines. The political monopoly in this country is the ultimate example of that phenomenon. What we need is a Sherman Act for politics, starting with the eradication of the electoral college and the establishment of a new rule on general elections.
As for Republicans, I have many friends from that party who are intellectual and honest. These characters are destroying the credibility of their party which often appears anti-intellectual and anti-science.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/05/business/the-gops-journey-from-the-liberal-days-of-nixon.html?_r=0
What Akin and others who think as he does prove is that evolution is a slow process with some more evolved than others. Their view of the world is more in tune with 12th century superstition. What’s scary is the number of voters who are also at that level of evolution.
Vote religion out of politics and science. Vote stupidity out of office. Put corruption in jail. Vote out all incumbents and install term limits.
This would be a good start.
Bron,
“The Vlassic Pickle Stork doesnt bring babies? Say it aint so.”
He got fired after the whole “Lambert” incident.
Elaine….. The crazies have always run society for some reason….
And just to be clear: I think Akin represents the lunatic fringe of which I was speaking.
nick,
I hope that was sarcasm, because if it wasn’t I’m going to have to call bullshit. Although I disagree with Eric’s analysis of the VP debate, the essence of what he says has merit: extremism in both parties has taken a toll on the body politic albeit in different forms. Now do the GOP get called out for their extremism more than the DNC in this forum? Yes. But there is a reason for that. The extremists of the DNC tend to be self-serving and myopic, but not outright crazy. They tend to garner more “traditional” complaints. They tend to want to stick with whatever status quo appeals to their vanity and greed, namely supporting corporatist oligarchy (albeit for slightly different corporate overlords than those manipulating the GOP). They are corrupt, spineless and act just as much like sociopaths as any pol because sociopaths regardless of ideology are what our electoral funding processes attract when combined with the promise of political power. The GOP, on the other hand, has elements that have shifted so far ideologically to the right as to interpreted as directly dangerous to our civil rights and legal history as a nation (as constrasted to the indirect danger the DNC extremists pose). Some of the GOP extremists even possess (as this article illustrates) a theocratic bent that is not only a threat to the 1st and 14th Amendments, but a threat to empirical evidence and fact based governance in favor of governance based simply on belief (i.e. wishful thinking with no evidence). Both parties are to blame for the Patriot Act and for the ever growing threats to free speech and for the ever encroaching threats to the 4th Amendment, however, one party at this point has demonstrably crazier extremist elements than the other. That’s what happens when you cater to zealous theocratic minded minorities and the un- and under-educated in re civics to bolster your voting base: you’re going to eventually get some fringer crazies in office. True, there are some express partisans here, but the reality is that neither side gets a pass from the critical thinkers (even those with express partisan preferences). Nor should they. There is no ideological solidarity here other than a broad respect for critical thinking, reason and evidence. While left leaning perhaps, most of the participants of this forum come from a wide range of beliefs within the political spectrum. That spectrum encompasses a wide diversity on both sides of the left/right divide.
Biden voted in favor of banning partial birth.
SWM, I missed your last comment. I don’t think Biden or Obama are extremists, I would not have given them $ in 2008 if I did. I now just think they’re failures, not extremists, just failures.
rafflaw, I’m aware Eric can speak for himself. I was speaking to Eric, not you. That’s quite apparent, isn’t it?
OK, SWM, let’s start w/ partial birth abortion. The topic of abortion brings out the crazy in some folks here. I believe in a woman’s right to choose and NOT just in cases of rape, incest, or the health of the mother. However, I and the vast majority of Americans deplore these late term abortions. I brought this topic up because it’s very apparent to people except for the extreme left. Fire way, but it is an extreme position by any standard.
OT:
Oh, these “family-values” guys:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/15/scott-desjarlais-ethics-complaint_n_1967184.html
“Scott DesJarlais Hit With Ethics Complaint For Sex With Patient”
“The complaint filed Monday by the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington argues that regardless of whether both parties wanted the relationship, it violates a state ethics law barring any sexual relations between doctors and patients. HuffPost noted the law in a story last week.
“Tennessee law is crystal clear: Doctors are prohibited from engaging in sexual relationships with patients,” said Melanie Sloan, the head of CREW. “The only question remaining is, now that Tennessee authorities are aware of Rep. DesJarlais’ blatantly unethical and scurrilous conduct, what are they going to do about it?”
In a letter to the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners, Sloan argues that the case merits an immediate investigation and sanctions, solely based on what DesJarlais has admitted.
“It is hard to imagine behavior much more craven than a married doctor exploiting his position to conduct a sexual relationship with a patient,” Sloan said in a statement accompanying the press release about the complaint. “It is mind-boggling that when confronted with the patient/mistress’s possible pregnancy, this ardent pro-lifer urged her to have an abortion. How much hypocrisy can we stand? Where is Speaker John Boehner’s much-touted zero tolerance for unethical conduct now?”
Boehner tapped DesJarlais to lead a pro forma session of Congress last week, but has not commented on the tawdry affair.”
“There is abiotic evolution, microbial evolution, biological evolution, and human social evolution.”
Wait what? How on earth are microbes and humans NOT part of biological evolution?
Gyges:
The Vlassic Pickle Stork doesnt bring babies? Say it aint so.
nick,
first of all, Eric can speak for himself. Secondly, the groupthink is what Eric is doing in his posting. He is claiming, without evidence, that Biden was disrespectful. I have never suggested that Republicans are stupid, heartless and lazy. It is Republicans who are suggesting that the poor are lazy, and that anyone who is on SS or Medicare is lazy and the 47% who won’t vote for Romney are not worth his time because they want to be poor and sick. Both parties do have flaws, but why don’t we discuss the evidence of the alleged flaws instead of painting with a broad brush and not telling the truth?.
nick, Get specific and name the extremists in the democratic party. Seriously, no one really thinks of Biden as an extremist.
A Catholic priest originated the big bang theory. The church has more astronomers on the payroll than nearly all countries.
nick, What extremist positions do democrats take?
Eric, You could probably still vote with you driver’s license. What extreme positions does Biden hold? He seemed quite moderate even in his discussion on abortion compared to the extremist Ryan that believes that abortion is to be outlawed even in the possible death of the mother.
Eric, Rafflaw is trying to indoctrinate you to the groupthink here. Democrats are smart, caring and hard working. Republicans are stupid, heartless and lazy. Believe me Eric, pointing out the flaws in BOTH parties just isn’t acceptable here. Now, “Get your mind right…son.”
Dredd, ….AKINOIDS !!!!!
LMAO, How many Akinoids can fit on the head of a pin ??