UPDATED
I think all politicians, before taking office, and every 5 years after taking office, should be required to take a basic biology class.
Why?
A clear understanding of biological processes is becoming more and more important in politics these days. At the same time we are seeing an increasing number of politicians making critical errors in public statements about matters of biology, including cell and reproductive biology.
At one point in the past, I’ve suggested that the Vice President of the U.S. should be required to be a scientist. This would be akin to Spock on Star Trek, who was the 2nd in command of the ship. I still believe that.
There is no better illustration of the importance of politicians taking refresher Bio courses than Rep. Todd Akin, who is running again Sen. Claire McCaskill in Missouri. He appears to lack a fundamental understanding of biology.
Akin is against allowing women to have abortions in the case of rape. To support this extreme position, he in public made the statement that if women are raped then they do not get pregnant for biological reasons (see video below).
http://youtu.be/fdisTOKom5I
This is of course a total myth and a very hurtful one. He also uses the term “legitimate rape”, another very harmful and offensive thing to stay, implying that there are numerous cases of fake rape. In fact, as President Obama said today “Rape is rape”.
Off to Bio 101 for you, Akins….however, I think in fact you are beyond help.
Many of your Republican colleagues could use a refresher course as well, but it should be mandatory for all national level politicians regardless of party affiliation.
The Tea Party is a ignorant divisive tool, bastardising the female vote. I doubt a refresher course in Biology would make a difference with any creationist embracing candidate.
That said, any woman that votes for candidate that holds these ridiculous beliefs; Votes against the best interest of themselves, their mothers, grandmothers, daughters and granddaughters yet to come. I this is not what Alice Paul fought for when she became a political prisoner and organized a hunger strike of suffragettes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pO70ZjZ0wrw
Female voters need a refresher course in how they got the right to vote, cherish it as the gift it is and be better educated on why it counts in protecting their rights and freedom. If the Tea Party had it’s way, they would use the female vote to put themselves in a majority, then over turn the Nineteenth Amendment, along with a few other things in our constitution.