Congressman: Evolution, Embryology, Big Bang Theory are “Lies Straight From the Pit of Hell”

Jim Burroway

October 8th, 2012

These are the kinds of leaders who voters are sending to Washington:

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. And 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.

And what I’ve come to learn is that it’s the manufacturer’s handbook, is what I call it. It teaches us how to run our lives individually, how to run our families, how to run our churches. But it teaches us how to run all of public policy and everything in society. And 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.

“Six days”: Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA)

How he votes in Washington, D.C. is no small thing. Dr. Paul Broun (R-GA) — yes, he’s a medical doctor who doesn’t believe in embryology — sits on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. In other words, a man who beleives that the earth is literally about 9,000 years old and that it was created literally in six days sits on a committee to decide how science dollars are spent.

A Broun spokesperson said that the congressman’s remarks, which were made at a sportsman’s banquet at Liberty Baptist Church in Hartwell, Georgia, were off the record, which the Associated Press calls unlikely. “The banquet was advertised; Broun spoke before an audience; and the video of his remarks was posted on the church’s Web site.” And for emphasis, I’d like to add that the web site was on The World Wide Web.

SharonB

October 8th, 2012

Morons. What party?

Oh, of course

Lindoro Almaviva

October 8th, 2012

Off the record? Excuse me, what the hell does that mean? “Oh he did say those things but they are part of his jokes routine he was rehearsing. The part you didn’t hear was the end, where he said: and that’s when I stood up and told her ma’am I am not going to stand here and take your insults against science lightly.”

These people think that “off the record” means off limits, or not to be judged, or it was just a joke. Apparently these people think that we do not know that your true colors show when you are in front of an audience of adoring fans, where you do not have to guard yourself and can speak openly because you know you are going to see lots of heads moving up and down.

You know what? The most disgusting part of this is not the feat that he said them, we should hardly be surprised. The disgusting part is that we know this should be enough to send this guy packing from that committee on the grounds that he could use his vote to undermine scientific advances; AND NOTHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT.

Effing disgusting.

Timothy Kincaid

October 8th, 2012

“Off the record” doesn’t mean that you can’t report what you discover. It doesn’t mean “oh, I don’t want anyone else to know that about me.” It doesn’t mean “No one is allowed to know what I believe about the things I’m voting on”.

“Off the record” is information provided in confidence – usually to a reporter – to help them with the context of a story, but not to be disclosed for personal reasons. It allows a reporter to not mis-quote or make a false assumption while not going public with something private.

For example, “my daughter was in surgery” might give a reporter an answer about why a legislator missed a vote but – as a matter of respecting privacy – isn’t something that the public needs to know.

But finding something out that was said to a meeting of people to which the public was invited… that isn’t “off the record”. That’s trying to hide the record.

Richard Rush

October 8th, 2012

And it’s lies to try to keep me and all the folks who were taught that from understanding that they need a savior.

His right about needing a savior. If Broun would just open his heart and mind he could find freedom from the bondage of superstition by accepting reason as his personal savior.

JFE

October 8th, 2012

God said we needed this many deer heads on this wall and so I believe it. AMEN.

F Young

October 8th, 2012

I’m shocked. I can’t believe someone like that was elected.

Given his wilful ignorance of basic science, I can’t imagine how he could not be guilty of malpractice and ethical violations as an MD. Yet, his website still tacks MD to his name.

Interestingly, his website bio says that in 2002 he started working full-time doing house calls, which suggests to me that he did not have hospital privileges (which would require him to attend patients in hospital and be on call). Hospital privileges can be denied due to incompetence or ethics violations. I wonder if he even still has his MD license.

Incredibly, he is running for re-election and will win! There is no Democratic challenger! And Broun even defeated a Primary challenge!

So, I guess the people of Georgia get the Representative they deserve. He is wilfully ignorant, and so are they.

Blake

October 8th, 2012

Now here’s one that’s smarter than y’all seem to think.

He’s pandering. He was trying to do it with impunity. Thank God he was caught.

His district also includes Athens, GA & I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s evidence of him appearing very intelligent/reasonable to the university crowd.

Especially considering he’s the republican safe-seat incumbent due to a backlash against the establishment republican opponent from democrats in a special-election run-off back in ’07.

Don’t underestimate the brains on this one. He’s appealing to a low denominator, for sure, but he’s no moron.

tristram

October 8th, 2012

@ F Young – I agree that Broun is willfully ignorant. I assume that some of his constituents are genuinely ignorant and others are willfully so. The Daily Dish (Andrew Sullivan) observed –

“Broun is not stupid. He has an M.D. from the Medical College of Georgia and a B.S. in chemistry from the University of Georgia at Athens. He’s on the House Committee on Science and Technology and chairs of one of its subcommittees on investigations. Fundamentalism is not about being dumb; it is an act of will to over-ride reality with totalist faith, so that nothing is left unresolved and everything can be explained by a single text, or a single religious leader. It is, in some ways, a neurotic response by many educated, intelligent people to live their lives according to something that cannot admit uncertainty or doubt. It’s religion fused with the the totalist claims of modern political ideology.”

This is how totalitarianism takes root. One cedes reason, then conscience, to the Supreme Book or Supreme Leader.

Steve

October 8th, 2012

It’s 6000 years! Damn heretic!

Emily

October 8th, 2012

As a Christian, I believe that the Bible loses so much of its beauty, truth, and meaning when you view it as merely (and I quote) a “manufacturer’s handbook.” That view completely ignores the dialogue of many different voices (sometimes even different authors within the same book of the Bible) across a span of thousands of years of the evolution of a faith (more than one faith, really). It misses out on the poetry, the narrative, the pastiche, the comedy and tragedy, the love, hope, pain, and despair, and turns this wonderful and historic collection of texts into a rule book. The Bible isn’t primarily about rules, and it pains me to see it depicted that way as if it’s a positive thing.

gsingjane

October 9th, 2012

@Emily – +10.

My rector likes to say, “we Episcopalians don’t take the Bible literally, we take it seriously.”

Hyhybt

October 9th, 2012

I *really* hate having him for a representative… but he seems to be running unopposed!

jerry

October 9th, 2012

In the 19th century there was a political party called the “Know Nothing Party” when anyone asking questions of a political nature to a member of the party he would reply, I know nothing. Today it seems we are rapidly approaching a point where we have a real know nothing party and they really know nothing about anything.

Hyhybt

October 9th, 2012

…and are proud of it, all the stranger.

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