Queer Quote: Sen. Rubio Doesn't Know Earth's Age

Marco Rubio is a first-term Republican United States Senator from Florida (elected in 2010), who is widely expected to run for President in 2016 or in the future. He's young (41 years old), Latino (Cuban-American), relatively telegenic and conservative enough to be acceptable to the Tea Party wing of the GOP. Rubio was widely believed to be on the shortlist to be Mitt Romney's vice-presidential running mate and was a surrogate for the Romney-Ryan ticket in the all-important state of Florida, incorrectly predicting a Republican win this year's election.

He also is either an idiot, or a religious extremist (basically the same thing, in my opinion). He apparently is willing to embrace creationism and reject basic scientific information about the age of the Earth. He was asked by GQ magazine "How old do you think the Earth is?" and his response is today's Queer Quote:

"I'm not a scientist, man. I can tell you what recorded history says, I can tell you what the Bible says, but I think that's a dispute amongst theologians and I think it has nothing to do with the gross domestic product or economic growth of the United States. I think the age of the universe has zero to do with how our economy is going to grow. I'm not a scientist. I don't think I'm qualified to answer a question like that. At the end of the day, I think there are multiple theories out there on how the universe was created and I think this is a country where people should have the opportunity to teach them all. I think parents should be able to teach their kids what their faith says, what science says. Whether the Earth was created in 7 days, or 7 actual eras, I'm not sure we'll ever be able to answer that. It's one of the great mysteries."

This is an absolutely unacceptable answer by a serious politician on the national stage who has aspersions of even higher office. The Earth is roughly 4.5 billion years old. This number is not in dispute among any reputable scientists. To deny this fact is an assault on reason and science.

I would also strongly dispute the claim that knowing (or not) the age of the planet has no impact on the United States economy. Our economy depends on increasing the number of people in the workforce who are educated and informed about science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Such informed people will know how old the Earth is, and will make important contributions to the future of the country.

Clearly, Rubio did not get the memo issued by (another 2016 presidential hopeful) Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana that the GOP needs to "stop being the stupid party."

I'd love to see how old Governor Jindal and Governor Chris Christie think the Earth is?

Godless Wednesday: Rep. Broun (R-GA) Is An Idiot

U.S. Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) is being subjected to ridicule all over the internet for recently publicized statements which reveal the Congressman (who is also a medical doctor!) to be a theocratic, anti-intellectual ignoramus.

Here's what he said (and there is also video of his remarks):

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.

Many commentators have noted that Rep. Broun is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Science Committee (along with noted misogynist and Missouri U.S. Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO)). How do you think Rep. Broun and people of his ilk would react if Rep. Keith Ellison, Democrat from Minnesota, said "I hold the Holy Quran as being the major directions to me of how I vote in Washington, D.C."? Basically just replace "Holy Bible" with any other holy book and the problem with the sentiments expressed becomes obvious. It's the primary point which I simply can not understand about religious extremists who want to combine church and state. Why do they think that their (interpretation of) God will be the one that will be the one that government will embrace and support?

Getting back to Rep. Broun fantastically ignorant remarks, I love how he attempts to enhance the credibility of his statement by saying "as a scientist" and then says "the Earth's [...] about 9,000 years old." 99% of scientists would disagree with this (provably false) statement.

Saturday Politics: Romney Doesn't Know What "Middle Class" Means

Wowsa. Remember I posted awhile back that there was an important graphic that may explain what happens in the 2012 elections awhile ago? That graphic demonstrated that most people felt that President Obama's policies would favor poor people and middle-class people while they also felt that Mitt Romney's policies would favor wealthy people.

Now it becomes clear that Romney doesn't even understand what the words "middle-class" mean! In an interview with ABC's George Stephanopolous Romney claimed that people making $200,000-$250,000 are middle class.

The Washington Post has the deets:

“No one can say my plan is going to raise taxes on middle-income people, because principle number one is (to) keep the burden down on middle-income taxpayers,” Romney told host George Stephanopoulos. 

“Is $100,000 middle income?” Stephanopoulos asked. 

“No, middle income is $200,000 to $250,000 and less,” Romney responded. 

His campaign later clarified that Romney was referencing household income, not individual income. 

The Census Bureau reported this week that the median household income — the midpoint for the nation — is just over $50,000.

As you can see from the graphic at the top of this post, people making more than $200,000 are in the top 4% (not 50%, as Romney claimed!) of all income earners in the country. Maybe Romney was referring to the median household income of Republicans? Or of Republicans who have donated to his campaign?

Yet another example of Republicans seeking to exist and have a political discussion in a world which is based on their own fevered dreams, completely unrelated to a fact-based reality.

Simply astonishing.

Herman Cain Says Homosexuality Is A Sin and A Choice

MadProfessah first blogged about Black republican presidential candidate Herman Cain way back in April, noting then that he was once a mathematics major.

Cain has started making headlines because he is starting to appear in the middle or at the top of polling lists in early Presidential primary states, with more support than media darlings like Jon Huntsman and Tim Pawlenty.

Openly gay Miami Herald blogger Steve Rothaus has the transcript:

"I believe homosexuality is a sin because I'm a Bible-believing Christian, I believe it's a sin," he said. "But I know that some people make that choice. That's their choice." 

Cain was asked: "So you believe it's a choice?" 

"I believe it is a choice," he responded.

I wonder if Mr. Cain believes in the Golden Rule?

Hat/tip to Rod 2.0