Paul Broun may get a write-in challenger: Charles Darwin

After he says theories about evolution are "lies straight from the pit of hell"

Published October 17, 2012 9:23PM (EDT)

 Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga.         (Facebook/RepPaulBroun)
Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga. (Facebook/RepPaulBroun)

Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga.,  is the target of a snarky campaign to get voters to write-in "Charles Darwin" on the ballot.

Neal Boortz, a libertarian radio talk show host in Atlanta, has asked his listeners to write in Darwin's name to send a message to Broun about his views on evolution. "It makes Republicans look like knee-dragging, still-tending, tobacco-spitting Neanderthals," Boortz said.

Broun, who sits on the surprisingly unscientific House Science Committee, is being targeted after he was caught on video saying the following at the Liberty Baptist Church Sportsman’s Banquet: “All that stuff I was taught about evolution and embryology and the Big Bang Theory, all that is lies straight from the pit of Hell. And it’s lies to try to keep me and all the folks who were taught that from understanding that they need a savior.”

There is also a Facebook group called "Darwin for Congress" in support of the campaign.

From the AP:

"The write-in campaign is tongue-in-cheek, said Jim Leebens-Mack, a plant biologist at the University of Georgia who started the Facebook page. But its supporters hope Darwin gets enough votes to pressure Republicans into removing Broun from a leadership post on the House Science Committee. Kevin Smith, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner, did not immediately return a message seeking comment."


By Jillian Rayfield

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

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Evolution Georgia House Science Committee Paul Broun Republicans