Republicans - Anti-Science and Anti-Geography: Who is Responsible for this Dismal Report Card?

Republicans who deny the dangers of global warming are hard enough to understand, especially given data about earth's rising temperatures.  But, their failing science grade goes beyond geological learning.  

Many right wing Republicans are unable to understand a woman's reproductive system. Some deny that rape can cause pregnancy, which is as stupid as believing having sex while standing will bring the conception of a baby boy.  

Adding to this growing list of failing grades on science and physiology is the ineptness of some Republicans who deny that Canada is a foreign country.

If only denial of science, physiology and geography were funny, it would certainly make an entertaining comedy skit - but it's not humerous at all, because it's all frighteningly true.

In fact, one zealous supporter of Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz, who happens to be among those who would like for this concrete thinking man to be our US President, says the fact that he was born in Canada doesn't mean he was "born on foreign soil".  Being born on American soil is an important consideration for people who want to be US President.

Ted Cruz Supporter Offers Truly Bizarre Take On His Canadian Birth…

Texas senator Ted Cruz was born in Canada, and the question of whether or not that would disqualify him for president is up in the air, legally speaking. But, Cruz doesn’t consider it a problem at all, and neither do his supporters. One Cruz supporter even defended the senator by saying that Canada’s not even really “foreign soil.”

Cruz is officially renouncing his Canadian citizenship, and this week he released his birth certificate, just to clear the air. Whatever 2016 ambitions he does or doesn’t have are clearly not going to be stopped by this little bump in the road. Cruz even joked on Thursday about the controversy, telling the audience sarcastically, “I am secretly a citizen of Ethiopia.” (Oh My God! Dear Senator Cruz, this condescending statement about your birth isn't worthy of any American citizen, never mind, a US Senator.)

Cruz has a groundswell of conservative support, if he tries to run. But here’s how one woman defended Cruz’s presidential eligibility:

“Well, as far as I’m concerned, Canada’s not really foreign soil." You know, that’s the way I look at it.”

This quote would be impossible to believe, if it weren't on video.

So, along with being anti-science, ignorant of physiology and geography, the right wing supporters of extremist candidates are also ignoring Article II Section I of the US Constitution.  

"No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States."

"Natural born citizen" isn't defined in the Constitution, but this requirement was intended to protect our nation from foreign influence.  Cruz was born in Canada. Although his mother was American, he is not a "natural born citizen", unless he challenges the definition of this requirement in the US Constitution.   

Changing or clarifying the Constitution to accommodate one Senator's birth is a daunting task, especially for people who don't believe Canada is a foreign country.

This stupid concept about Canada "not a foreign country" is less weird than one would think.  I know a lady who didn't believe she needed a passport to enter Newfoundland.  This lady was at the airport, preparing for her flight to St. John's, Newfoundland, when the airport check-in requested her passport.  She left it home. Fortunately, she had access to a person who could enter her home and obtain the passport for her.  She received her passport in time to board her flight.  But, this incident begs the question: if she had a passport, why wasn't it with her when she went to the airport? "Because I just didn't know I needed it," she said.  In other words, she didn't know Canada is a foreign country.

Another person told me her first visit to Montreal, a few years ago, was the only time she'd been to Canada.  Yet, I was with this very lady when we both traveled to Nova Scotia.  I said, "You were in Canada when we went to Nova Scotia!"  She didn't believe me. Even after I showed her a map, she insisted her first trip to Canada was when she went to Montreal.

Yes, Republicans! This is third grade geography:  Montreal, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland are all in Canada.  Canada has been foreign soil ever since the the English won the Battle of Quebec in 1759; Canada has been foreign soil ever since.

“Well, as far as I’m concerned, Canada’s not really foreign soil." You know, that’s the way I look at it.” So says the Senator Ted Cruz supporter.

Being a "natural born citizen" wouldn't be such an incendiary concept if right wing extremists were smart enough to accept a Hawaii birth certificate, where President Obama was born, as sufficient to full fill his Article II Section I of the Constitution qualification.  Without a shred of evidence, "birthers" believe President Obama was born in Kenya, Africa.

Conspiracy extremists insist President Obama is lying about his Hawaiian birth certificate.  Somehow, President Obama's mother mystically transported  herself to Kenya, via some magical carpet, just in time for her son to be born on foreign soil. This kind of travel in 1961, when President Obama was born in Hawaii, would have been difficult for a woman 9 months pregnant. I sincerely doubt any commercial airline would have allowed his mother to fly at her advanced stage of pregnancy.  It's a rhetorical issue, because President Obama was born in Hawaii, although birthers refuse to believe it.

Right wing extremists create many conspiracy theories, asserting President Obama is not a natural-born citizen of the United States and consequently, under Article Two of the U.S. Constitution, is ineligible to be President of the United States.  

But, many reputable officials have verified President Obama's  birth records, validated by the Hawaiian hospital where his mother Ann Dunham gave birth and by the state of Hawaii.  

Therefore, if Senator Cruz really wants to become president, it's plain ignorant and hypocritical for conspiracy birthers, who deny President Obama's birth place, to say, “Well, as far as I’m concerned, Canada’s not really foreign soil." You know, that’s the way I look at it.” 

Nevertheless, under the strict interpretation of the Article II clause, Senator Cruz is disqualified from becoming US President. Using the same logic as conspiracy birthers, who try to discredit President Obama, Senator Cruz is not a natural born US citizen. 

“Well, as far as I’m concerned, Canada’s not really foreign soil." You know, that’s the way I look at it.” So says the Senator Ted Cruz supporter.

Americans can't have anti science politicians, who are ignorant of reproductive physiology and geography, as leaders of our nation.  

This seeming growing Republican trend toward denial of science, physiology and geography must be an indictment of our nation's deteriorating educational system.  A person should not pass elementary school if they can't name the 50 US states and know how the 10 Canadian provinces are not among them.  

American simply can't put people in charge of our nation who believe, “Well, as far as I’m concerned, Canada’s not really foreign soil." You know, that’s the way I look at it.” So says the Senator Ted Cruz supporter.

Moreover, Senator Cruz should teach his supporters to behave responsibly, rather than allow them make him look like a fool.

By the time Senator Cruz tries to run for president, he will likely have enough crazy supports who, by then, will have abandoned their birther obsession. Instead, these delusional people will likely transfer their energy to deny the validity of Article II Section I of the Constitution.  

Let's never let this happen.  We must vote all extremists, including Senator Cruz, out of office before their delusional obsessions become incurably epidemic.

Meanwhile, many right wing Republicans obviously need to go back to school.