Scientist: Ben Stein's 'Expelled' should really be 'Flunked Out'

[meegbear]

Comedian and former Nixon speechwriter Ben Stein's new documentary, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, will not open until this Friday, but it has already been widely blasted for its alleged dishonesty and looseness with the facts.

Stein has recently emerged as a prominent spokesperson for so-called "intelligent design," a pseudo-scientific gloss over the religious philosophy of creationism. Using film-making techniques clearly borrowed from Michael Moore, Stein set out to confront scientists and educators about their alleged persecution of supporters of intelligent design, whom Stein claims have been "targeted for retaliation and harassment."

However, the National Center for Science Education has performed an extensive investigation of the "martyrs" profiled in Stein's file and has found a consistent pattern of misrepresentation.

"We reviewed public records and reports on the intelligent design promoters who were supposedly discriminated against, and we discovered that the claims that they lost their jobs over intelligent design are unsupported," biologist Josh Rosenau explained. "That said, professors who aren't making advances in their field, editors who disregard their journal's established practices, and lecturers who repeat creationist falsehoods shouldn't be surprised if they have trouble holding jobs. These people weren't expelled; they flunked out."

<snip>

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Comedian_Ben_Stein_pushed_intelligent_design_0416.html

[Red Zelda]

1. Knowing how stupid this awful country is

the film will probably be a big hit.

[SpiralHawk]

2. Stein - a republicon propagandist telling lies

As usual.

[vi5]

3. Can I ask a sensitive religious question?

O.K. I know that mostly evangelical christians are proponents of intelligent design and forcing it's teaching in school and against evolution and all of that.

But what is the position of the jewish religion on this subject. Because honestly I was under the impression that Ben Stein was Jewish. So is his attachment to this subject religious or just based off of reflexively attaching himself to a "conservative" position just for spite.

[unpossibles]

10. I'm guessing the only religious angle of it

is when they keep saying that evolution is why the Nazis killed so many Jews, so they picked Stein as the spokesmodel.



I did not make that image - but a friend of mine commented: "Wow. Angus Young has not aged well!"

[gratuitous]

4. What sort of scrutiny will Stein be subjected to?

Remember how the wingnuts went over Fahrenheith 911 practically frame by frame, desperately searching for anything they could use? Remember how the Right Wing Echo Chamber told and re-told and re-told again (amplifying every time) every alleged discrepancy? I wonder if any factual digressions in Stein's documentary will receive similar treatment?

What am I saying? Of course not.

On the other hand, this train wreck of a mockumentary looks so horrible (based on the snippet of an ad I saw, so I'm as qualified as anyone else you'll see getting paid millions to comment) that it will not even register on the national consciousness.

[meegbear]

7. The National Center for Science Education and Scientific American both screened it ...

Here's the Scientific American review. The producers were hoping for credibility. They didn't get it.

[PVnRT]

9. Yeah, but they don't get into the mainstream media

This is why we need more people like Carl Sagan around.

[bunkerbuster1]

17. Nah, they were hoping to get crapped on.

Please. the creators know they're duping idiotic Americans who actually think biologists call themselves "Darwinists".

[rpannier]

8. If it does as poorly at the box office as I suspect

They'll pay little attention.

But Ben should take heart...In 30-50 years it may join the likes of Reefer Madness and Plan 9 From Outer Space as a cult classic

edited for spelling

[Snarkturian Clone]

5. I say just let this movie release and die.

The more people complain about it, the more well-known it will become.

[Blue_Tires]

14. agreed

scientists get tired having to slap these same old shitty arguments down when they can be working on real research

[rooboy]

6. whoever designed Ben Stein clearly wasn't intelligent. n/t

[Johonny]

11. He does not exist!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=3170563&mesg_id=3170563

[ProfessorGAC]

13. Oh, How I Wish You Were Right

But, alas, there he is using up perfectly good oxygen.
The Professor

[Johonny]

15. Where is he?

He not right here in this room. How do I know he isn't just like the Piltdown Man. Constructed to fool me. Micheal Creighton pointed out if they can make computer Dinosaurs they can make computer Ben Steins. They can make computers do anything. Even use oxygen! Don't be fooled my friend!

[ProfessorGAC]

19. A Very Funny Point (eom)

The Professor

[lame54]

12. Don't compare his style to Michael Moore - not even close

[bunkerbuster1]

16. It looks pretty damned pathetic to me.

Part of me almost wants it to do well enough to stay out in release long enough for lots of rational people to make lots of fun of it.

If it does as poorly as I imagine it will, it's just another write-off for whichever thug financed it.

[sutz12]

18. I almost want to go see this train wreck, but I can't justify giving that cretin my money.

:shrug:

[Dukkha]

20. this "movie" has Razzie written all over it

the most pathetic attempt at making fundy creationist propaganda. I'm sure it will get screening inside the creationist museum it ranked right up there with it's unique brand of fantasy fiction.