As we near the end of our review of the outrageous and offensive things we heard from the right in 2016, let’s turn to a perennial target of right-wingers: science. You can check out previous posts from the Year in Quotes here.
“There are scientists with political agendas, but … they don’t get to own the data and evidence.”
– Republican Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, when confronted about his denial of climate change science by a victim of historic floods in the Texas Hill Country
“The theory of evolution by natural selection is a controversial theory that is included in this textbook.”
– Part of a one-page disclaimer the Alabama State Board of Education requires be placed in certain science textbooks.
“Bill Nye is as much a scientist as I am. He’s a kids’ show actor; he’s not a scientist.”
– Former Republican vice presidential candidate and half-term Alaska governor Sarah Palin, speaking at an event promoting a film that aims to discredit climate scientists. Nye is a prominent advocate of efforts to address climate change.
“(T)he proponents of evolution know their theory will not stand up under the microscope of serious scrutiny. And that’s why we can say with great confidence, even though it’s politically incorrect to do so, we can say with great confidence that evolution is a myth.”
– Robert Jeffress, the far-right pastor of a Dallas megachurch, in part of a week-long, online attack he launched against evolution
