Congressmen Charles Darwin

[Dimmauk]

Charles Darwin gets 4,000 write-in votes in Georgia

ATLANTA (Reuters) - A Georgia congressman who attacked the theory of evolution found himself with an unlikely opponent in Tuesday's U.S. election, when 4,000 voters in one county cast write-in ballots for the 19th century father of evolution, British naturalist Charles Darwin.

In a September 27 speech, Paul Broun, a physician and member of the U.S. House of Representatives Science, Space and Technology Committee, called evolution and the Big Bang Theory, "lies straight from the pit of hell."

Since Broun, a Republican, had no opposition in the general election, a University of Georgia plant biology professor, Jim Leebens-Mack, and others started a write-in campaign for Darwin, the father of the theory of evolution.

"We don't feel our interests are being best served by an anti-science fundamentalist representing us on the Science, Space and Technology Committee," Leebens-Mack told Reuters on Friday.

The write-in votes in Athens-Clarke County will not count officially since Darwin was never certified as a write-in candidate, but Leebens-Mack hopes the campaign will encourage a strong candidate, Democrat or Republican, to challenge Broun in 2014.

"I think there could be Democratic opposition, but even more likely is having a rational Republican who understands issues like global warming, scientific reasoning more generally," said Leebens-Mack.

Broun received 16,980 votes in Athens-Clarke County, home of the University of Georgia, Broun's undergraduate alma mater.

Broun's office issued a statement on Friday that did not directly address Darwin, saying that the congressman "looks forward to representing the ... constitutional conservative principles" of his constituents.

The statement also noted that Broun "received a higher level of support from his constituents in Athens-Clarke County this election cycle than in any of his previous campaigns."

[Rhinox]

Hank the cat

[Kyte]

How in the fuck does someone like that end up on a science committee.

[Niiro]

'merica

edit: I mean 'muricah

[Cream Soda]

Link? this needs to go on my facebook

[Athas]

I get that House members tend to be more partisan then in the Senate, but seriously do Republicans not have anyone who actually believes in the advancement of science and technology to sit on this committee?

We need to go back to the days when representatives only sat on like 2 committees max.

[Guyverarmor]

How in the fuck.....the fuck....Ok, I gotta go punch a penguin or something after hearing what that guy said.

[Tyrath]

How in the fuck does someone like that end up on a science committee.

I don't know but all of these guys are in charge of shit they shouldn't be.

The 4 Craziest Scientific Theories Posed by U.S. Politicians

[bechyni]

What the literal fuck

[TacoTaru]

Hank the cat

Hank is a boss. He got almost 6k votes in his senate race.

[Jaybar]

Oh man, that taxidermist-church Broun was at reminds me of this college that is next door to me (no images available except this 3D tour thing) -

http://nwbbc.com/safari/index.aspx

[Helm]

Me thinks they should get some actual scientists on the payroll to advise on, you know, science.

[Odin'sLaw]

Auntie Isladar for Sciences leader!

[Ksandra]

How in the fuck does someone like that end up on a science committee.

article says that he had no opposition. Dems gotta step up their game.

[Athas]

Dems aren't gonna waste the resources, however pants-on-head this guy is he's in a pretty damn red state.

[Moss]

At least there is some hope for my state, but it's current representation is sad

[Outlaw]

I don't know but all of these guys are in charge of shit they shouldn't be.

The 4 Craziest Scientific Theories Posed by U.S. Politicians

I almost wish I had not clicked on that. My brain hurts.

[BaneTheBrawler]

I wish I could be surprised by any of that.

[Guyverarmor]

I wonder if Egon is on any of those boards...

[Kerberoz]

ATLANTA

/shrug