The representative who called “evolution a lie ‘from the pit of hell'” is running unopposed in the GA 10th (And what we can do about it)

There’s been a bit of news around the representative from the Georgia 10th, not merely because he said this:

“God’s word is true. I’ve come to understand that. All that stuff I was taught about evolution, embryology, Big Bang theory, all that is lies straight from the pit of hell. It’s lies to try to keep me and all the folks who are taught that from understanding that they need a savior. There’s a lot of scientific data that I found out as a scientist that actually show that this is really a young Earth. I believe that the Earth is about 9,000 years old. I believe that it was created in six days as we know them. That’s what the Bible says.”

Because he said it while serving as a member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. He is running unopposed, so there’s no opponent we can give to to show our disagreement. (If you haven’t been watching, this is not the first scientifically-dubious claim a candidate for national office has made).

There are a clutch of members of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology who hold similarly newsworthy viewpoints who do have opponents we can donate to. But what can we do about this Congressman, who will hold a place on the Hill for two more years no matter what?

We can shame the companies and groups which employ the people who fund him at a level which may indicate “bundling” (list from OpenSecrets, a project of the Center for Responsive Politics), including:

Rank	Contributor	Hires lobbyists?	Lobbying firm?*	Lobbyist(s) give to member?	Total	Indivs	PACs
1	AFLAC Inc				$10,000	$0	$10,000
1	American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons				$10,000	$0	$10,000
1	Citizens United				$10,000	$0	$10,000
1	Coca-Cola Co				$10,000	$0	$10,000
1	Every Republican is Crucial PAC				$10,000	$0	$10,000
1	Home Depot				$10,000	$0	$10,000
1	Koch Industries				$10,000	$0	$10,000
1	Whitaker Oil				$10,000	$10,000	$0
9	American Society of Anesthesiologists				$8,000	$0	$8,000
9	Southern Co				$8,000	$0	$8,000
11	American College of Radiology				$7,000	$0	$7,000
12	Safari Club International				$6,245	$0	$6,245
13	American Dental Assn				$6,000	$0	$6,000
13	Davco Restaurants				$6,000	$6,000	$0
13	Honeywell International				$6,000	$0	$6,000
16	Fieldale Farms				$5,700	$5,700	$0
17	American Academy of Ophthalmology				$5,500	$0	$5,500
17	Wendy’s Co				$5,500	$500	$5,000
19	American Health Care Assn				$5,250	$250	$5,000
20	Norton Agency				$5,200	$5,200	$0

That’s only the employers of his top 20 contributors. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, only .06% of the U.S. population donates more than $2,500 to political campaigns, and one way to track the efforts of corporations to influence the committees which regulate them is to track “bundling,” where individuals give in a pattern at the direction of a corporation or group to circumvent the intent of campaign finance laws.

Maybe you don’t feel like shaming anyone today. Instead, consider supporting candidates who believe in science: Democrats tend to be better about this, but not always. If you like your candidates to have ovaries as well as scientific chops, consider EMILY’s List as a place to get started donating/volunteering/voting for.

And if that’s not enough–run yourself. I’m serious. In her book Campaign Boot Camp: Basic Training for Future Leaders Christina Pelosi talks about how women don’t think about running for public office unless we’re asked, so I’m asking you. Run. Not this year, it’s too late, but you’ve got enough time to get a campaign going for next cycle.

Because if you don’t, people like this one will.

Inspirational Quote:

“The challenge now is to practice politics as the art of making what appears to be impossible, possible.”–Hillary Rodham Clinton