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Wayne Besen
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(Hey Sam, Would You Get Off The Debate Stage Already?)
Apparently, Sen. Sam Brownback's already wheezing presidential joke of a bid must have taken a hit during the first GOP presidential debate, when he raised his hand when asked, 'who does not believe in evolution.' While his answer may have drawn cheers in perennially backwards Kansas, it probably made him look like a Stone Ager on the campaign trail. Actually, for a a man to make such an absurd statement in modern times, makes him unfit to be President. America only became a world leader because we invested heavily in science and education. Having someone like Brownback as president would send a message to the rest of the world that we are a declining power populated by morons. (Bush has already gotten the ball rolling here)
Well, Brownback likely got so much blowback from his flashback to the Stone Age, that he was compelled to write an op-ed in today's New York Times, to soften his message. He failed.
The sophistry in Brownback's op-ed may have been enough to fool Republican rubes in Topeka, but they were hardly satisfying to any thinking person who graduated sixth grade biology.
After wasting several paragraphs blowing incomprehensible and irrational smoke designed to make him look reasonable, Brownback states:
"...we can say with conviction that we know with certainty at least part of the outcome. Man was not an accident and reflects an image and likeness unique in the created order. Those aspects of evolutionary theory compatible with this truth are a welcome addition to human knowledge. Aspects of these theories that undermine this truth, however, should be firmly rejected as an atheistic theology posing as science."
Did you get that? Sammy welcomes all science that agrees with his religious beliefs, while rejecting all science that is not compatible with what he arbitrarily calls "truth." And then, this knuckle-dragger politically smears any scientist who dares to do his or her job as pushing "atheistic theology." That may be a way to win elections to a Kansas school board, but it won't help Brownback's uninspiring, underperforming failed campaign. Sammy has a better chance of being Raptured by 2008, than stepping foot in the White House (The annual Easter Egg hunt doesn't count)
The thing about science, is that we must welcome it, even if it challenges our ancient superstitions or faith. It is dangerous and pollutes the intellectual atmosphere when a smarmy, right wing politician (who seems a little slow) decides what science should reject or accept.
Can Brownback just go away already and stop taking up room on the presidential debate stage so we have more time to hear serious candidates who are actually somewhat presidential?
5 Comments:
Kansas was not always the home of knuckle-draggers, nor was Brownback always as conservative as he is now. A great book by Thomas Frank, "What's Wrong with America", explains the evolution (!) of Kansas from left-wing hotbed to right-wing bastion, as a metaphor for what has happened to our country. Well worth reading.
posted by Anonymous, at
5/31/2007 11:53 AM
Middle America can kiss my NEW YORK ass. I'm tired of those hick, hilbilly, yahoo, redneck scum that eat at Shoneys and shop in strip malls.
They elected Bush and now they are dragging the whole nation down to their level. Another Republican president and we wll all have to leave the city, shop at Wal-Mart and live in trailers, waiting for a twister to blow us away. When we have nothing left, but our stained overalls, we will be forced into church to help us. That's what these sleazy GOPers want and why they pander to Kans-assholes.
Matt in Manhattan (Yeah - New York you trailer trash fuckers)
posted by Anonymous, at
5/31/2007 12:32 PM
Remember folks, not everyone who lives in the red states is an anti-science religious whack job; we have more than a few of them here in the blue states too. It's just that educated people of reason out-number them here so they dont get to force their bullshit off on everyone else like they do in bushville. I have a friend who used to work in a natural science museum in Georgia, and she was forbidden to mention the word evolution to school tour groups. She even had a FOUR year old come up to her and ask her if she had accepted Jesus as her lord and savior. It's scary and disgusting the way the 'christian' taliban gets away with muzzling science. The liberal (sane) Christian congregations need to speak out more against these Geico commercial cave dwellers, because they're giving the rest of you a bad name. Gary (NJ)
posted by Anonymous, at
5/31/2007 1:37 PM
Give me a break. This isn't about science, this is a sermon, only the object of belief is different. Instead of 'God' we have the mysterious force of 'Science'. And we are supposed to dutifully follow because you invoked 'Science'. And as we know 'Science' has all the answers to life, it is the end all and be all of knowledge and so forth. We should trust it, believe in it. We should despise those poor fools out in the 'darkness' who do not know 'Science'. We are to share 'Science' with our fellow humans because then the world will be a better place. (Hey, we'll even look good as a country to all those foreign countries who don't currently like us. (nudge, nudge)) 'Science' will save us from ourselves, and all will be well if everyone would just wise up and believe like we do. Amen. Shall we pass the collection plate now?
posted by Anonymous, at
5/31/2007 7:03 PM
