Palin's Biggest Gaffe Yet

[lame54]

http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/10/sarah_palin_ignorant_and_antis.php

Sarah Palin: Ignorant and anti-science

Posted on: October 24, 2008 10:17 PM, by PZ Myers

This is too much. Sarah Palin gave a policy speech today in which she claimed that she wanted more support for children with disabilities, more tools to test for disorders, and while also decrying the expense of scientific research.

"Where does a lot of that earmark money end up anyway? <…> You've heard about some of these pet projects they really don't make a whole lot of sense and sometimes these dollars go to projects that have little or nothing to do with the public good. Things like fruit fly research in Paris, France. I kid you not."

I am appalled.

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? — and countries like France and Germany and England and Canada and China and India and others are all respected participants in these efforts.

Yes, scientists work on fruit flies. Some of the most powerful tools in genetics and molecular biology are available in fruit flies, and these are animals that are particularly amenable to experimentation. Molecular genetics has revealed that humans share key molecules, the basic developmental toolkit, with all other animals, thanks to our shared evolutionary heritage (something else the wackaloon from Wasilla denies), and that we can use these other organisms to probe the fundamental mechanisms that underlie core processes in the formation of the nervous system — precisely the phenomena Palin claims are so important.

[grannylib]

1. Huge mistake...unfortunately, most rePigliCons are equally stupid

and won't understand just how epic a FAIL that statement was.

[Democat]

2. Palin probably thinks the Earth is a few hundred years old!

And she almost certainly doesn't believe in evolution.

What do you expect from someone like that when it comes to science?

[Lifelong Protester]

38. a true Flat Earth person, as John Kerry called her...

[fascisthunter]

3. she really is that stupid and is banking on others to be even more clueless

deluded nut cake.

[Idealism]

4. what makes this gaffe even worse...

as Olbermann pointed out yesterday is that fruit fly research being done at the University of North Carolina have provided important research to establishing a genetic pattern that identifies autism. Kind of sad that in her speech saying she wants to help special needs, she wants to cut funding to the research of said speacial needs...

[kimmylavin]

5. Of course they use fruit flies!

You can get thousands of generations in just a short time; that's a fantastic genetic research tool!

God, she makes my head hurt.

[tbyg52]

42. Has this woman never taken a basic science class? Or read a book?

I've known why fruit flies are used since before I was even in *school*, because my parents bought me books! I can't imagine what she pictures when she says "research on fruit flies," but I know it ain't reality.

[lapfog_1]

6. She belongs to the same group of idiots that think

private enterprise "invented" the internet.

[LeftishBrit]

7. Shocking

Fruit fly research has already had very important positive effects on human medicine, increasing our understanding of, and thereby helping us to treat, diseases such as cancer, heart disease, birth defects, neurological disorders such as Huntington's disease, diabetes, etc.


www.nihrecord.od.nih.gov/newsletters/10_03_2000/story05.htm

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/11/051122093217.htm

www.hda.org.uk/research/rs009.html

www.bbsrc.ac.uk/media/releases/2005/050929_fruit_fly_cancer.html

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6433463.stm

www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/story.asp?storyCode=403602§ioncode=26



But someone who doesn't realize that it's a good idea to go directly to hospital when your waters break, and a bad idea to use a tanning bed, is probably not the best source of wisdom on medical research.

PLEASE do not elect this idiot!

[RainDog]

8. not only that, but fruit fly research has been applied in the field of genetics

for issues such as autism.

Palin's child isn't autistic, unlike McCain's seeming misunderstanding. However, there are many Americans with family members with autism spectrum disorders and, rather than spend money on printing out bullshit about the creationist view of the grand canyon, we prefer our taxpayer dollars go to research that can benefit many.

Palin is such a convoluted intellectual runt.

She's an example of someone who is too stupid to know she's stupid.

[jberryhill]

27. She has a nephew that is autistic - that makes her an expert

We need to get research money out of the hands of "scientists" and let the parents decide what to do with it because what on earth would medical research institutions know about autism.

And - oh yeah - we have to let special needs parents be able to send their children to the "school of their choice" since, as we all know, private Christian schools are noted for their advanced educational therapy programs.

Such a fountain of stupid I have never seen.

[RainDog]

30. Did you see the research on Christian fundie churches?

I should look for it over at digg, but the talibornagains repeatedly told people who had previously been dx'd with either bipolar disorder or schizophrenia (MAJOR mental illnesses, both with genetic markers that have been made public, etc.) that their problems were not mental illness, but rather a spiritual problem.

This is repulsive.

People in their congregations, in other words, may lose their lives by this "malpractice," since I am sure the vast majority of them do not have medical licenses. Bipolar disorder is the biggest factor for someone who kills him/herself. Bipolar disorder is a greater risk factor than depression.

This is just like their belief in "praying the gay away."

I wish god would rapture them all... that's the nice way of putting it.

[Odin2005]

35. Don't forget all those nutcase parents like Jenny McCarthy that think they can "cure" us autistics.

:puke:

[jberryhill]

36. I understand there is a lot of popular controversy on the subject

Science is for sorting out what works, and it is not a conspiracy.

[G_j]

9. guess she never took a science class

her definition of DNA ?

Democrats (are) Not Americans?

[Idealism]

10. lol

well ISNT IT??!

[renate]

13. welcome to DU!

:hi:

[SammyWinstonJack]

45. Isn't it--- what?

DNA=Democrats (are) Not Americans? You find that funny? And agree with it? Or were you being sarcastic?

[mitchum]

18. Her father must have been a real piss poor science teacher

[HereSince1628]

11. It's only a bit worse than calling a planetarium projector an overhead projector

just sayin'

[Paladin]

12. Fruit Flies Have Been Used For Decades In Research Projects

And awareness of the crucial role of the fruit fly in scientific projects is high school biology class-level stuff.
What a pathetic waste of space Palin is......

[goclark]

16. Who writes her speeches? Maybe one of her children

that belonged in school.

[mitchum]

20. Or maybe Tawwwwwd The Suitcase Pimp

[NJGeek]

14. In what respect, Charlie?

[BrklynLiberal]

15. We all knew SHE was stupid. It seems that her speech writers and all her handlers are just

as dumb as she is...

[undeterred]

34. Or she just won't listen to anyone.

She's a "rogue", a "diva", who thinks she knows more than anyone else when in fact she knows less.

[Sparkly]

17. I loved Richard Wolfe's take on this...

"Keith, I’m going to be as restrained and measured as I possibly can about this. This is the most mindless, ignorant, uninformed comment that we have seen from Governor Palin so far, and there's been a lot of competition for that prize." - Richard Wolfe, Newsweek

[ACTION BASTARD]

22. Leave it to the British to make his point and slam

this ignorant, know-nothing right at the very end.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

24. One of the best things in life

is British understated humor. Nice one, Richard.:applause:

[jberryhill]

28. He was containing his rage nicely...

The level of frightening dumbth was off the meter in this speech, and any educated person is justifiably horrified at the prospect of this woman getting anywhere near science funding decisions.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

19. Google the word "drosophila" and you get about 13 million hits

most of the links related to genome research and the like, going on throughout the world.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=drosophila&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&oq=

[MindMatter]

21. More on fruitflies

As you say, people who make fun of fruitfly research are just plain ignorant. And I mean that in the truest sense of the word. They aren't necessary evil or bad people, they are just expressing opinions that show they don't know what they are talking about.

35 years ago, when I was in school, we had a biology teacher who raised fruitflies. Everybody though he was eccentric, but in fact, he was involved in some of this early research. I don't remember the exact details, but as I recall, he dissected the fruitflies in order to obtain the pituitary gland. Talk about some precision knife work. Maybe somebody can explain why this gland was so interesting to scientists. I heard it had to do with early DNA research, but I don't know if that is true.

[spooky3]

23. New McLame-Palin campaign theme: "Our Public Educational System Is So Awful...

that, if only Gov. Palin had had vouchers, she could have gone to a nice private school where they would have MADE her stay awake in class and do her high school biology homework! It's those damn liberals' fault that she didn't know about fruit fly research!"

[SpiralHawk]

25. republicons = the Know-Nothing Party

Why do republicons HATE facts?

[jberryhill]

29. Facts have a liberal bias - but you knew that already /nt

[jberryhill]

26. "Fruit fly research in Paris, France"

Gawd I can't get that line out of my head.

I'm shocked she didn't say "Gay Paree".

This woman is an incredible well of pure dumb. The appeal to her supporters is clear, though. I mean, why would them there Pareeseeans be worried about fruit flies when their wimmen are walking around France without any pants.

So, not content with damning the Adler Planetarium, they don't like biological research either.

Unless, of course, it relates to harbor seal genetics in Alaska.

WTF is WRONG with these people?

[barbtries]

33. a lot n/t

[Canuckistanian]

49. She should be asking why this valuable research isn't being done in the USA

PLEASE keep this woman away from any SEMBLANCE of political power.

[pleah]

31. K&R I saw this on Keith Olbermann the other night, and, Richard Wolfe

who usually is quite reserved, let loose on Failin. It was a great segment.

[Orsino]

32. This will be her most insignificant gaffe, I think.

Americans care little for science, unless it's the science of bombs and boner pills. Eggheads are elitists, and real, hard-working Americans aren't inclined to support them. :puke:

[buddysmellgood]

37. Sarah doesn't believe in evolution or science so it's all silly to her.

[bertman]

39. That's "floot fries" to you, monsieur Lame54.

[lame54]

41. I think she thinks they're gay

[bertman]

50. That thought had crossed my mind, too.

[TheKentuckian]

40. It used to be that folks didn't take pride in their ignorance

Now people act like a Gold medal, the key to the city, and manna from heaven.

Most everything they are ignorant about comes without any excuses and they would know if they paid any attention. I'm not feeling patience because they have no excuse for their dizzying stupidity.

[RedCappedBandit]

43. The people voting for her are just as stupid

[Ikonoklast]

44. What is with Republicans and France? Why is French=Bad to them?

I would love to ask one of these intellectual midgets if they thought this Nation would have even existed if not for the French and their support of our revolution by entering the war in 1778 on our behalf.

Even though it is argued that they did so for their own geo-political reasons, there was a strong antipathy for our fight against tyranny.

They just about went bankrupt helping us defeat the British.


Allons Enfants De La Patrie!

[agentS]

46. Eh...wait till Tuesday or Wednesday.

5 bucks says she'll say something even more stupid. Maybe even bust out a N-bomb or two at a rally. You KNOW that's comin'.

[northernlights]

47. yeah, but you don't get it

God created the world in 6 days and evolution is bunk, and "just a theory" anyway.

Since evolution is bunk, all that work on fruit flies is bunk. So is anything involving dna. Also all work in microbiology, since when we witness bacteria evolving in realtime, we're really just imagining things and it can't possibly pertain to humans, because evolution is just theory. Also anti-God and anti-murkan. Not to mention, unpatriotic.

So what we need to do is pray real hard and then God will rain the cures down on us. Science has nothing to do with it. It's all about God's will and currying favor with God. And kicking down, of course. Kiss up; kick down. That's not some dumb scientific theory, which is after all just theory. That's God's will and FAITH in action. So it's real.

:sarcasm:

[ismnotwasm]

48. She has brought me to the point of ennui

Way faster than bush did. I mean I care about what she's doing and stands for, but what she says? I used to defend her intellectual abilities, as much as I fucking hate her, I thought there is no way a women who reached the Governorship of Alaska could be that stupid.

And she is, she really, really is. Jesus where in the fuck do these people come from? And who the fuck are actually voting for them?

[Ilsa]

51. the folks that vote for people like Palin also believe that the moon is a source of light.

No kidding, Bill Nye, the Science Guy, encountered one (or more) of them at a science fair for kids somewhere around or in Waco, Texas. Not all that far, relatively speaking, from the Biblical museum showing men riding dinosaurs.

[LatteLibertine]

52. I saw KO talking about this too

as usual he properly pwned her.