Charles Darwin Enters Race Against U.S. Rep. Paul Broun

Scientist Charles Darwin is making a posthumous write-in run for Congress. And today, his supporters will help his campaign by criticizing his biggest opponent — U.S. Rep. Paul Broun.

"Charles Darwin for Congress," a group formed in response to comments the 10th District Georgia Republican made in September about evolution and the Earth's creation, will be protesting Broun's inclusion on the House Science Committee today at the University of Georgia Arch. The protest was started by Athenian Tim Sarassa.

The group will be handing out flyers informing voters of Broun's statements and encouraging them to write Darwin's name in on Election Day. They will also be protesting again on Nov. 2 in Athens and Augusta.

"Rep. Paul Broun is hurting our community, state, and country with his ignorant comments on scientific issues," the group stated in a press release, adding that Broun "has no place on the House Science Committee."

Darwin's group started after Broun stated he believed evolution was a lie "straight from the pit of Hell." During a speech at the 2012 Sportsman's Banquet at Liberty Baptist Church in Hartwell, Ga., Broun, a medical doctor, said the and that he had found evidence for this during his work "as a scientist."

"God's word is true. I've come to understand that. 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," Broun said during the banquet. "It's lies to try to keep me and all the folks who were taught that from understanding that they need a savior." 

Following the comments, UGA plant biologist Jim Leebens-Mack started a Facebook page introducing Darwin as an alternative candidate. The page has garnered over 1,300 supporters.

Leebens-Mack said although he didn't organize the protest, he had hoped for this kind of action from the beginning. 

"I really think it's important that people do write in for Charles Darwin," he said. "I think if we got a few thousand votes, like 10,000 or 20,000 votes, that would be a strong message to Paul Broun and Republicans who are in leadership. But it would also be a message to other people in the district, such as Democrats or Independents, that Paul Broun is vulnerable and that he could be voted out of office."

Leebens-Mack said he started the Facebook page not only to protest Broun's position, but also to send a message about anti-intellectualism and anti-science sentiment.

"I think it would raise awareness in the 10th district, in America and in fact the world that this anti-intellectualism and anti-science — although there is a vocal minority that says 'Yeah, that's okay,' the majority don't agree with it," he said. "People aren't that crazy in Georgia. As much as Georgia is sometimes portrayed as backward or out-of-touch, there are a lot of thoughtful, intelligent people who are outraged by this sort of thing."

Darwin for Congress' Facebook page is not the only place the movement has been noticed. An editor's note in the Athens Banner-Herald says the protest could help mitigate outsiders' impression of Georgia's 10th District. Flagpole's Pete McCommons has written that Charles Darwin may be the better fake candidate for the race and that his alter ego, "Pete McCommunist," has dropped out.

Broun's comments garnered criticism from the science community, including a reprobation from Bill Nye. Nye told The Huffington Post in an e-mail that the Earth is "simply not 9,000 years old" and that Broun is "by any measure unqualified to make decisions about science, space, and technology."

The protest will be held at the UGA Arch from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday. The group has stated all interested parties are welcome to attend.