Bachmann, Perry in race to unreason
Two of the three leading GOP candidates for president increasingly appear to be unable to discern fact from fiction.
By Shawn Lawrence Otto | Sep 15, 2011 | Comments (104)
Two of the three leading GOP candidates for president increasingly appear to be unable to discern fact from fiction. Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry spent the last twenty four hours locked in battle over Perry's 2007 executive order requiring 6th grade girls to receive a vaccine against human papillomavirus, a leading cause of cervical cancer.
HPV VACCINE
Bachmann appeared to have scored points at the Tampa, FL Tea Party debate by attacking the order, calling it "flat out wrong" to force girls to get a "government injection." The order, which was supported by medical experts, had an opt-out clause. Bachmann charged it was motivated by campaign contributions from Merck, the drug's manufacturer. But then she told the Today show "I had a mother last night come up to me here in Tampa Florida after the debate. She told me that her little daughter took that vaccine, that injection, and she suffered from mental retardation thereafter."
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a statement saying the comment had no basis in fact. Bioethicists Steve Miles of the University of Minnesota and Art Caplan of the University of Pennsylvania offered financial rewards of up to $10,000 for verfiable medical evidence that the vaccine caused the child's mental retardation. "
The HPV flap is just the latest in a GOP flight into unreason. Bachmann and Perry frequently take policy positions that fly in the face of science.
ABSTINENCE ONLY SEX EDUCATION
Texas Tribune reporter Evan Smith asked Perry about why Texas's teen birth rate is fifty percent higher than the national average and pointed out that the public school policy, which often involves biblical direction but offers no sex ed, "doesn't seem to be working." Perry's response was to reassert that "abstinence works."
CLIMATE CHANGE
The conservative US National Academies says "Some scientific conclusions or theories have been so thoroughly examined and tested, and supported by so many independent observations and results, that their likelihood of subsequently being found to be wrong is vanishingly small. Such conclusions and theories are then regarded as settled facts. This is the case for the conclusions that the Earth system is warming and that much of this warming is very likely due to human activities." Yet at the Reagan Library GOP debate, Perry argued "the science is -- is not settled on this. The idea that we would put Americans' economy at -- at -- at jeopardy based on scientific theory that's not settled yet, to me, is just -- is nonsense. I mean, it -- I mean -- and I tell somebody, I said, just because you have a group of scientists that have stood up and said here is the fact, Galileo got outvoted for a spell."
Bachmann says that "the big thing we are working on now is the global warming hoax. It's all voodoo, nonsense, hokum, a hoax."
This antiscience view has similarly expensive consequences for the public wellbeing. Consider US insurance losses. Losses from catastrophic events related to the climate -- storms, floods, droughts, and wildfires -- have more than quadrupled since 1980, but remain unchanged in other categories of loss according to the 2010 Natural Catastrophe Review (pdf) published by Munich Re, a major reinsurer of US property insurance companies.
EVOLUTION
Both Bachmann and Perry believe that the theory of evolution, which underlies all of modern biological science and medicine, is wrong. In August, Perry responded to a question from a boy in New Hampshire, who was prompted by his mother to ask about the age of the Earth and evolution. "I hear your mom was asking about evolution," Perry said. "That's a theory that is out there -- and it's got some gaps in it," Perry said. "In Texas, we teach both creationism and evolution. I figure you're smart enough to figure out which one is right."
Bachmann's ideas are even woolier: "natural selection is not the same thing as evolution. No one that I know disagrees with natural selection, that you can take various breeds of dogs…breed them, you get different kinds of dogs…. It’s just a fact of life. … Where there’s controversy is, Where do we say that a cell became a blade of grass, which became a starfish, which became a cat, which became a donkey, which became a human being? There’s a real lack of evidence from change from actual species to a different type of species. That’s where it’s difficult to prove."
THE DEATH PENALTY
Antiscience thinking can have lethal consequences. Cameron Todd Willingham barely escaped a 1991 fire that killed his three daughters. State fire investigators testified that burn patterns were evidence of arson, and Willingham was convicted and sentenced to death. Dr. Gerald Hurst, a chemist and fire science expert, showed in early 2004 that the state investigators disregarded National Fire Prevention Association standard 921, Fire and Explosion Investigations. Hurst called their testimony "junk science" based on old wives' tales, and showed the fire was caused by a well-known phenomenon that scientists call flashover. Perry refused to grant a 30-day stay to allow time for the court to consider this new scientific evidence, reaffirming his position that Willingham was a "monster." Willingham was executed by lethal injection on February 17, 2004.
The Republican Party used to be the party of science. They stood against the antiscience rantings of ideologues like three-time Democratic presidential candidate and anti-evolution activist William Jennings Bryan. It is time for Republicans to question the processes that are allowing the party to slip into a race to unreason among its leading candidates today. The consequences of this type of antiscience, ideological thinking at the helm of the world's most powerful nation in one of its most desperate hours could be devastating.
Pre-order Shawn Lawrence Otto's important new book: Fool Me Twice: Fighting the Assault on Science in America, "a gripping analysis of America's anti-science crisis." --Starred Kirkus Review. Like him on Facebook.
Tags: Antiscience, Climate Change, Politics, Religion, Republicans, Tea Party, Creationism, Evolution, Belief, Sex, Education, Faith-based, Health, Crime, Death Penalty
Comments (104)
:
- Unapproved
ivqvocyyx:
Oct 26, 2012 at 05:28 PM
iiR3ER ovsrtrlkwzjf, [url=http://hbhoqafgawsz.com/]hbhoqafgawsz[/url], [link=http://wrpnejtqlfht.com/]wrpnejtqlfht[/link], http://laxfmiuaovfw.com/
buy generic viagra:
Nov 01, 2012 at 06:48 AM
http://www.bestviagraonlineoffer.com#27450 buy viagra 50 - buy viagra online in uk
buy generic cialis:
Nov 01, 2012 at 06:55 AM
http://www.cialisonlinepharmstore.com#60993 buy generic cialis india - buy cialis online
generic xanax:
Nov 01, 2012 at 07:04 AM
http://www.xanax-pharmacy.biz#83773 buy xanax online us - xanax online
viagra online:
Nov 01, 2012 at 11:44 PM
http://www.bestviagraonlineoffer.com#20726 buy viagra 200mg - buy generic viagra online with mastercard
cialis online:
Nov 01, 2012 at 11:51 PM
http://www.cialisonlinepharmstore.com#26874 buy generic cialis usa - buy cialis australia
xanax online:
Nov 01, 2012 at 11:54 PM
http://www.xanax-pharmacy.biz#32840 order xanax india - buy xanax uk
Online Pharmacy:
Nov 02, 2012 at 01:25 PM
http://www.highqualitydrugstore.com#39008 no prescription pharmacy - online pharmacy 2010
buy cialis:
Nov 03, 2012 at 10:05 PM
http://www.buycialistopstore.com#11675 buy cialis england - buy cialis online safely
online pharmacy:
Nov 03, 2012 at 10:16 PM
http://www.qualitydrugstoresource.com#29686 us online pharmacy viagra - best us online pharmacy
online pharmacies:
Nov 03, 2012 at 10:29 PM
http://www.trust-pharmacies.com#83685 top online pharmacies rated - online pharmacies with no prescription needed
buy cialis online:
Nov 04, 2012 at 02:02 PM
http://www.buycialistopstore.com#61049 buy generic cialis - cheap cialis india
us online pharmacy:
Nov 04, 2012 at 02:04 PM
http://www.qualitydrugstoresource.com#55112 online pharmacy no prescription overnight delivery - online pharmacy prices
cheap online pharmacy:
Nov 04, 2012 at 02:25 PM
http://www.trust-pharmacies.com#88299 top ten online pharmacies - online pharmacies
online pharmacy no prescription:
Nov 05, 2012 at 06:49 AM
http://www.qualitydrugstoresource.com#29371 us online pharmacy sales - us online pharmacy prescriptions
buy generic cialis:
Nov 05, 2012 at 06:54 AM
http://www.buycialistopstore.com#8272 cheap cialis usa - buy cialis online overseas
online pharmacies no prescription:
Nov 05, 2012 at 07:15 AM
http://www.trust-pharmacies.com#34876 online pharmacies legal - top pharmacies australia
trusted online pharmacy:
Nov 05, 2012 at 11:31 PM
http://www.qualitydrugstoresource.com#58128 rx online pharmacy no prescription - online pharmacy overnight delivery
cheap cialis:
Nov 05, 2012 at 11:40 PM
http://www.buycialistopstore.com#81339 buy generic cialis store - buy cialis online india
top pharmacies:
Nov 06, 2012 at 12:02 AM
http://www.trust-pharmacies.com#12513 top pharmacies in the united states - online pharmacies no prescription uk
Buy Viagra Online:
Nov 06, 2012 at 01:26 PM
http://www.viagraforedtreatment.com#67663 buy cheap viagra - order viagra online without script
generic avodart:
Nov 07, 2012 at 09:41 PM
http://www.best-avodart.com#52867 buy avodart cheap - buy avodart prices
buy cheap viagra:
Nov 08, 2012 at 04:17 AM
http://www.viagra-top-store.com#62057 buy cheap viagra - buy generic viagra
online pharmacy ed:
Nov 08, 2012 at 04:36 AM
http://www.discountpharmacyonlinestore.com#88295 online pharmacy - cheap online pharmacy
Buy Nolvadex:
Nov 08, 2012 at 07:33 PM
http://www.buynolvadexcomparison.com#36023 nolvadex online cheap - buy nolvadex cheap online
Online Pharmacy:
Nov 09, 2012 at 04:43 AM
http://www.pharmacy-no-prescription.biz#14187 buy medication online - buy medication online
buy cialis:
Nov 12, 2012 at 05:56 PM
http://www.cialis-best-store.com#11168 buy brand cialis - order cialis online
buy viagra:
Nov 12, 2012 at 06:09 PM
http://www.viagra-best-store.com#76562 buy cheap viagra online - viagra online
cialis:
Nov 12, 2012 at 06:16 PM
http://www.qualitycialisdrugstore.com#25716 cialis vs viagra - cialis cheap
buy cialis online:
Nov 13, 2012 at 10:34 AM
http://www.cialis-best-store.com#41796 buy cialis brand - buy cialis online in usa
buy viagra online:
Nov 13, 2012 at 10:47 AM
http://www.viagra-best-store.com#54346 buy viagra online india - buy viagra online in usa
cialis price:
Nov 13, 2012 at 10:48 AM
http://www.qualitycialisdrugstore.com#78049 cialis - cialis price
buy generic cialis:
Nov 14, 2012 at 03:00 AM
http://www.cialis-best-store.com#81650 order cialis online - buy cialis online india
cialis 20 mg:
Nov 14, 2012 at 03:07 AM
http://www.qualitycialisdrugstore.com#5291 cialis order - cialis order
buy generic viagra:
Nov 14, 2012 at 03:08 AM
http://www.viagra-best-store.com#44190 cheap generic viagra - buy viagra online in usa
Buy Viagra:
Nov 14, 2012 at 11:28 PM
http://www.bestviagraonlineoffer.com#86426 buy generic viagra uk - buy viagra online in australia
buy tramadol:
Nov 15, 2012 at 09:07 PM
http://www.buytramadolbest.com#30711 buy tramadol online illegal - buy tramadol cod online
online pharmacy:
Nov 15, 2012 at 09:19 PM
http://www.onlinepharmacy777.biz#58689 online pharmacy without a prescription - online pharmacy
sildenafil:
Nov 15, 2012 at 09:28 PM
http://www.sildenafil-store.org#10485 buy sildenafil citrate 100mg - buy sildenafil citrate 50mg
buy tramadol online:
Nov 16, 2012 at 01:39 PM
http://www.buytramadolbest.com#74345 buy tramadol online without prior prescription - order tramadol with cod
online pharmacy no prescription:
Nov 16, 2012 at 01:55 PM
http://www.onlinepharmacy777.biz#35854 generic online pharmacy - online pharmacy without prescription
buy sildenafil:
Nov 16, 2012 at 02:01 PM
http://www.sildenafil-store.org#69100 buy sildenafil citrate online - sildenafil 100
buy tramadol no prescription:
Nov 17, 2012 at 06:09 AM
http://www.buytramadolbest.com#94922 buy tramadol online with cod - buy cheap tramadol cod
generic online pharmacy:
Nov 17, 2012 at 06:25 AM
http://www.onlinepharmacy777.biz#69757 online pharmacy without script - online pharmacy without script
buy sildenafil online:
Nov 17, 2012 at 06:32 AM
http://www.sildenafil-store.org#30176 buy sildenafil citrate 50mg - sildenafil citrate 100mg
Buy Cialis:
Nov 18, 2012 at 05:44 AM
http://www.best-tadalafil.com#16371 buy cialis professional - where to buy cialis online
buy viagra:
Nov 19, 2012 at 12:22 PM
http://www.buy-viagra-ed.com#16831 viagra online - buy viagra online
propecia:
Nov 19, 2012 at 12:27 PM
http://www.buypropeciabest.com#5034 buy cheap propecia online - buy propecia no prescription usa
online pharmacy:
Nov 19, 2012 at 12:39 PM
http://www.qualitymedpharmacy.org#47060 generic online pharmacy - drugs without prescriptions
buy cialis:
Nov 20, 2012 at 04:47 AM
http://www.buycialised.com#84366 cialis online usa - buy cialis online safely
buy viagra online:
Nov 20, 2012 at 05:12 AM
http://www.buy-viagra-ed.com#15097 buy viagra online usa - buy cheap viagra
buy propecia:
Nov 20, 2012 at 05:13 AM
http://www.buypropeciabest.com#78059 propecia cost - propecia online
prescription drugs without prescriptions:
Nov 20, 2012 at 05:33 AM
http://www.qualitymedpharmacy.org#29616 buy drugs without prescriptions - buy drugs online without prescription
generic cialis:
Nov 20, 2012 at 09:28 PM
http://www.buycialised.com#78347 buy cialis online - buy cialis with mastercard
generic propecia:
Nov 20, 2012 at 09:58 PM
http://www.buypropeciabest.com#70128 propecia - buy propecia no prescription
cheap viagra:
Nov 20, 2012 at 10:02 PM
http://www.buy-viagra-ed.com#38094 buy viagra online usa - buy viagra online
generic online pharmacy:
Nov 20, 2012 at 10:26 PM
http://www.qualitymedpharmacy.org#19225 online pharmacy - online pharmacy without prescriptions
online pharmacy:
Nov 23, 2012 at 07:15 AM
http://www.trustmedpharmacy.com#47088 reliable online pharmacy no prescription - no prescription online pharmacy uk
buy cialis:
Nov 23, 2012 at 07:34 AM
http://www.buycialiscomparison.com#16320 buy generic cialis usa - buy cialis online in usa
levitra:
Nov 23, 2012 at 10:21 AM
http://www.levitra-store.org#17877 levitra - levitra
buy viagra:
Nov 23, 2012 at 10:37 AM
http://www.buyviagracomparison.com#80972 buy viagra cheap - order viagra
online pharmacy no prescription:
Nov 23, 2012 at 11:56 PM
http://www.trustmedpharmacy.com#16378 no prescription pharmacy uk - online pharmacy viagra cheap
buy cialis online:
Nov 24, 2012 at 12:18 AM
http://www.buycialiscomparison.com#75816 buy cialis brand - buy cheap cialis
levitra vs viagra:
Nov 24, 2012 at 02:55 AM
http://www.levitra-store.org#69067 levitra no prescription - levitra india
buy viagra online:
Nov 24, 2012 at 03:31 AM
http://www.buyviagracomparison.com#38744 buy brand viagra - cheap generic viagra
online pharmacy without prescriptions:
Nov 24, 2012 at 04:37 PM
http://www.trustmedpharmacy.com#81293 online pharmacy cialis drug - no prescription pharmacy
cialis online:
Nov 24, 2012 at 05:01 PM
http://www.buycialiscomparison.com#25158 cialis online prescription - buy generic cialis usa
levitra online:
Nov 24, 2012 at 07:26 PM
http://www.levitra-store.org#86111 levitra usa - levitra buy
buy generic viagra:
Nov 24, 2012 at 08:26 PM
http://www.buyviagracomparison.com#73321 buy viagra generic - cheap generic viagra
no prescription pharmacy:
Nov 25, 2012 at 09:14 AM
http://www.trustmedpharmacy.com#26151 online pharmacy - no prescription pharmacy
buy generic cialis:
Nov 25, 2012 at 09:39 AM
http://www.buycialiscomparison.com#18469 cheap generic cialis - cialis online
viagra online:
Nov 25, 2012 at 01:18 PM
http://www.buyviagracomparison.com#60263 buy cheap viagra - buy viagra brand
buy cialis online:
Nov 27, 2012 at 05:06 PM
http://www.ordercialistadalafil.com#79027 buy cheap cialis online - buy cialis tabs
online pharmacies:
Nov 27, 2012 at 05:32 PM
http://www.bestgenericonlinepharmacy.com#12712 top online pharmacies review - online pharmacies in usa
vardenafil:
Nov 27, 2012 at 05:41 PM
http://www.vardenafil-store.com#14925 vardenafil uk - vardenafil or tadalafil
cialis vs viagra:
Nov 27, 2012 at 06:02 PM
http://www.ed-drugs-online.org#1125 buy ed drugs - cialis vs viagra
buy cialis:
Nov 28, 2012 at 09:58 AM
http://www.ordercialistadalafil.com#58969 buy cialis with mastercard - buy cialis tabs
online pharmacies reviews:
Nov 28, 2012 at 10:24 AM
http://www.bestgenericonlinepharmacy.com#77203 online pharmacies no prescription - online pharmacies india
vardenafil price:
Nov 28, 2012 at 10:27 AM
http://www.vardenafil-store.com#1991 vardenafil tablets 10mg - vardenafil australia
erectile dysfunction pills:
Nov 28, 2012 at 10:58 AM
http://www.ed-drugs-online.org#56271 buy erectile dysfunction pills - cialis vs viagra vs levitra
buy generic cialis:
Nov 29, 2012 at 02:52 AM
http://www.ordercialistadalafil.com#77112 buy cialis online - buy cialis no prescription
vardenafil 20 mg:
Nov 29, 2012 at 03:13 AM
http://www.vardenafil-store.com#93364 vardenafil cost - vardenafil cost
online pharmacies no prescription:
Nov 29, 2012 at 03:20 AM
http://www.bestgenericonlinepharmacy.com#38478 best online generic pharmacies - online pharmacies
viagra vs cialis vs levitra:
Nov 29, 2012 at 03:56 AM
http://www.ed-drugs-online.org#54582 buy erectile dysfunction pills - ed medications
buy cheap cialis:
Nov 29, 2012 at 07:44 PM
http://www.ordercialistadalafil.com#10976 buy cialis online cheap - buy cialis online cheap
vardenafil tablets:
Nov 29, 2012 at 07:57 PM
http://www.vardenafil-store.com#74684 vardenafil and viagra - vardenafil sildenafil comparison
cheap online pharmacies:
Nov 29, 2012 at 08:12 PM
http://www.bestgenericonlinepharmacy.com#37647 us online pharmacies reviews - cheap online pharmacies
ed drugs:
Nov 29, 2012 at 08:51 PM
http://www.ed-drugs-online.org#87137 viagra vs cialis vs levitra - cialis vs levitra
Cialis:
Nov 30, 2012 at 10:35 AM
http://www.qualitycialisdrugstore.com#49214 cialis online usa - cialis lowest price
Buy Lasix Online:
Nov 30, 2012 at 02:16 PM
http://www.best-lasix.com#63373 order lasix without rx - order lasix online cheap
lvodkpzcgmj:
Oct 08, 2012 at 03:17 PM
TxyP4k nczmhewjwvat, [url=http://nbcbnqgpobzl.com/]nbcbnqgpobzl[/url], [link=http://hasxsbzjfyhi.com/]hasxsbzjfyhi[/link], http://asoopbtmgdfi.com/
jkwszfl:
Oct 25, 2012 at 04:58 AM
l3ZNtc yxmehkvkuhmm, [url=http://yibdqqwodpye.com/]yibdqqwodpye[/url], [link=http://rbodzfurmpoz.com/]rbodzfurmpoz[/link], http://wnxxyjuhluwk.com/
iehmqhkly:
Dec 07, 2012 at 02:17 AM
rCRxpC tfmedblwpwfs, [url=http://fwrxeprtffkg.com/]fwrxeprtffkg[/url], [link=http://otnxownfqtux.com/]otnxownfqtux[/link], http://hbazzabsithn.com/
zxmtntqepa:
Dec 24, 2012 at 01:56 PM
xU9rmS ajhxfgqknhhq, [url=http://jymdrxmhntzo.com/]jymdrxmhntzo[/url], [link=http://ncogdajvbewr.com/]ncogdajvbewr[/link], http://eatynybsnlqu.com/
uwispogfxs:
Feb 02, 2013 at 01:45 PM
HFObvQ znixotxqbfuo, [url=http://yvmrwkiykmsj.com/]yvmrwkiykmsj[/url], [link=http://elgyolzyzxfw.com/]elgyolzyzxfw[/link], http://xcsgeriqmrcu.com/
Everfuliopenhtr:
Feb 04, 2013 at 04:41 PM
http://www.mailordersynthroid.com/#995 buy synthroid online - buy synthroid online canada
Fadiopwgugefjo:
Feb 04, 2013 at 05:55 PM
http://www.mailordernexium.net/#1144 generic nexium usa - nexium online cheap
Qopefbalevedfef:
Feb 04, 2013 at 07:04 PM
http://www.mailorderimitrex.com/#1213 buy imitrex from india - buy cheap imitrex online
Noerywegeruiref:
Feb 04, 2013 at 08:10 PM
http://www.mailorderpaxil.com/#1402 mail order paxil - order generic paxil
Everfuliopenerg:
Feb 04, 2013 at 09:18 PM
http://www.mailorderlasix.com/#1233 lasix - order lasix
Tavrityurilosejoi:
Feb 04, 2013 at 10:25 PM
http://www.mailordercytotec.com/#1412 buy cytotec misoprostol - buy cytotec online
Agoretuiopusedrehil:
Feb 04, 2013 at 11:32 PM
http://www.get-isotretinoin-online.com/#1232 buy accutane isotretinoin - buy accutane medicine
CafIoerporef4fer:
Feb 05, 2013 at 07:15 AM
http://www.easybuydiflucan.com/#1380 get diflucan online - buy diflucan oral
wefyurilosejoi:
Feb 05, 2013 at 08:31 AM
http://www.onlineshoppropecia.com/#1217 buy propecia online canada - buy propecia from india