The Long View

Don’t get me wrong. I’ve known Republicans all my life. Some of my best . . . well, some of my friends, are Republicans. Some of my extended family are Republicans. Heck, when I was a teenager we even had black neighbors who were Republican (because it was the Party of Lincoln). So for over half a century, I’ve known Republicans. Recently, I’ve been trying to remember, when did the Republicans become the Party of Vincible Ignorance?

Incurious George’s manipulation of bogus science is infamous. Now we have Moose Party Sarah (who believes in a Flintstones prehistory when humans lived with dinosaurs) taking aim at scientific research. Specifically, basic genetic research that uses the humble workhorse of gene research, the fruitfly. Sarah Bullwinckle mocked fruitfly research in a speech that she gave on the subject of special needs children. Let’s see if I get this right: Scientists use fruitflys for basic genetic research; basic genetic research leads to discoveries about inherited disabilities or disabilities resulting from genetic damage; genetic damage creates “special needs.” Of course, if Sarah understood genetics, she would have to acknowledge evolution, wouldn’t she?

The blogger Pharyngula has this to say: ”This idiot woman, this blind, shortsighted ignoramus, this pretentious clod, mocks basic research and the international research community. You damn well better believe that there is research going on in animal models – what does she expect, that scientists should mutagenize human mothers and chop up baby brains for this work?”

No wonder Christopher Buckley, the son of William F. Buckley, Jr., has endorsed Obama instead of McPain.