Republican Bradley Byrne, running for governor of Alabama, is under attack from fellow Republicans because he’s “too liberal.” After all, he accepts evolution and thinks that some parts of the Bible might not be literally true.
Nope, no conflict between faith and evolution. . .. .
Alabama – stooopid IS as stooopid DOES.
Why did I have to be born in Montgomery? More evidence against ID.
*sigh*
I have a feeling things are about to get really scary here in my home state. The Republicans (one of whom will almost certainly win) are falling all over themselves to out-crazy one another.
I feel like I’m trapped in a redneck version of an Eddie Izzard sketch here: “So my choice is …or Roy Moore?”
“no conflict between faith and evolution”
Of course not! The people attacking him just have the wrong kind of faith. And, you know, telling people that has always worked out well historically.
Is that ad real? The music, the exaggerated he-haw enunciation, the bit about the bible… I can’t really believe this wasn’t made by someone mocking religious conservatives.
I know, I know, Poe’s law, but has anyone confirmed that this ad is actually sincere?
Just did some checking and I think this is real. It’s highlighted on the anti-Byrne “Welcome to the Real Bradley Byrne” page, which also links to the PAC (and apparently the sponsor of the webpage) that sponsored the ad:
About Us
Holy. Shit.
Not only is it real, it’s supposedly backed by the AEA. At least, the AEA is the one bankrolling the Republican PAC. Puts in a good word for science education in Alabama, yeah?
And the “he-haw enunciation” is in fact how many of us Alabama natives actually talk. So just because it sounds funny to foreign ears doesn’t make it fake! :]
Also not the kindest way to describe the accent, I’ll admit. My apologies to all of you intelligent and thoughtful Alabamians!
Bradley Bryne was my dorm-mate freshman year (he was a soph). Even then he showed signs of intelligence, such as questioning his profs, and reading more than the bible. Apparently this backfired on him and made him over-qualified for governor in Alabama. He really should move. North.
Maybe the person who came up with the ad was hit in the head by one of those stars that fell on Alabama?
‘Bama neighbors, I am sorry for y’all, though it’s only a matter of minutes before my own state of Florida has another reason to be embarrassed too.
Hmmm…I don’t know. I’d be willing to bet a good number of folks in Alabama would see this ad and then think twice about voting for Byrd. Those two things especially (supporting evolution and saying parts of the Bible aren’t true) are certainly huge turnoffs for a lot of the population. The candidates understand they won’t get elected if they don’t talk about God.
Check out another Repub candidate, Roy Moore. You may have heard of him…
http://www.moore2010.com/?page_id=439
*Byrne*
Geez…I’ve been away from Bama too long.
Funny. I posted on this today as well noting the same issue about how this highlights that the tension between science and religion is present on the side of the religious. I guess it’s just that obvious.
I grew up in Texas, so this isn’t so hard to believe. I’m currently living abroad and, the more of this stuff I see, the less I’m sure I want to come back.
This seems consistent with the backwardness of the first guy from AL that I ever met. ~40 yrs ago as a freshman at a not-nearly-as-southern college, there was a guy down the hall from there, where either the locals had inexplicably switched the vernacular for genitalia, or he had been fed the reverse. The first few weeks we were there, he was apt to pop his head in the door, evenings, and say, “Let’s go to town and get some cock!” Eventually, someone must have re-oriented him and for the rest of the year he’d periodically pop his head in and say, slowly and with a broad grin, “Pussay!”
Although this article begins with a discussion of Elena Kagan’s sexuality, it includes a good summary of Robert Bork’s failure to be approved as a Supreme Court justice in 1987 because of opposition to his being agnostic or a ‘non-believer’. It’s a disturbing look at the role of religion in American politics. I wonder if the situation would be any different today?
http://www.slate.com/id/2253637/
Apparently (from Pharyngula), he does not accept evolution after all. He’s issued a statement reinforcing his proud ignorance.
The ability to understand what you read causes a well known liberal bias.