More Republicans Saying Stupid Things

The fight against ignorance is daunting, and in America, an uphill battle. Although Washington is without a doubt the epicenter of know-knothingism, Republicans in statehouses around the country (predominantly red states) routinely display a shocking lack of basic knowledge about science, history and the Constitution. Here are a few choice examples from last week.

The right to let your kids die

Idaho Republican state representative Christy Perry says that the state has no right to protect children from their parents who refuse them needed medical treatment in favor of faith healing. Apparently it’s okay with her if Idaho children die in the name of God. Perry says that a proposed ban on faith healing would violate the religious rights of her constituents.

So the stomach and the uterus aren’t connected?

Republican state representative Vito Barbieri argued with a doctor on a bill that would ban doctors from prescribing abortion-inducing medication through telemedicine. Dr. Julie Madsen, a doctor testifying against the bill, was explaining that colonoscopy patients sometimes swallow small cameras to let doctors examine colons.

“Can this same procedure then be done in a pregnancy? Swallowing a camera and helping the doctor determine what the situation is?”

No, replied the incredulous doctor.

It’s a miracle. Texas Rep has the cure for cancer

Texas state representative Michele Fiore (R) is keen on allowing people to take drugs that are not FDA approved. As an example, she said this:

“If you have cancer, which I believe is a fungus, and we can put a pic line into your body and we’re flushing with, say, salt water, sodium cardonate [sic-it's "biocarbonate"] through that line and flushing out the fungus. These are some procedures that are not FDA-approved in America that are very inexpensive, cost-effective.”

Republicans hate science and the Constitution

A new Public Policy Polling poll just released finds that:

• 49 percent of Republicans say they do not believe in evolution. Only 37 percent say they do.
• 66 percent of Republicans say they do not believe in global warming. Mind you, even the most science-denying Republicans in Congress have said they "believe" in global warming, they just don't think we should do anything about it. Their base has not yet reached this enlightened state.
• 57 percent of Republicans would support establishing Christianity as our "national religion."

Don’t mess with Texas toilets

Texas State Rep. Debbie Riddle (R) has introduced two new bills that seek to criminalize the use of bathrooms by transgender people. Not only could trans people face jail time and fines for using gender-segregated facilities that match their gender, so too could businesses who make their facilities open to trans patrons.

Your facts are not stronger than my stupidity

Despite being proven bogus and dangerous many times over, the Oklahoma House Children, Youth, and Family Services committee passed a bill allowing parents to utilize gay conversion therapy along a 5-3 vote, ensuring that it will advance to the full House.