#550: Wendy Callahan

Wendy Callahan is Co-Director of Vaccination Liberation and director of the Florida chapter of Vaccine Information and Liberation. She also runs a website, Vaccine Information, which contains the whole gamut of antivaxx insanity, from links to hardcore woo (such as homeopathy) to posters labeled “pharmageddon”). She is on the record calling parents who vaccinate “child abusers,” claiming that “you can't poison yourself into health,” and arguing, concerning the constituents of vaccines that “these ingredients don't belong in a vaccine. They belong in a Satanic ritual.”

Callahan is most famous for her less than flattering appearance on Penn & Teller, an installment that also featured one Carl Buzz, who claims that, cancer didn’t exist before around 1945 (which to him, as opposed to reality, was when vaccines were introduced), despite the fact that e.g. radical mastectomy for breast cancer was developed in the 19^th century.

Diagnosis: Batshit loon; crazy and dangerous.

#483: E. Calvin Beisner

Although one may like to give a nod to Sharon Begley for her tendencies to play up manufactroversies and non-existing conflicts she is generally in the vicinity decent at covering science. E. Calvin Beisner would not be able to distinguish evidence from a basket of the number three if his life depended on it.

Beisner is a political activist and dominionist who used to be a theologian at the Knox Theological Seminary (Ft. Lauderdale). He staunchly defends pretty much every kind of radical wingnut lunacy that exists, and generally vies with Brian Fischer for the position of the most fractally wrong delusional maniac alive at the moment. His current main theme seems to be global warming denial and anti-environmentalism, and it is worth pointing out that although he calls himself ”Dr. Beisner” his education is in Scottish history, which is about as relevant to climate research as the Bible. Beisner was behind the Cornwall Declaration, and the Cornwall Alliance. The latter is a denialist organization (of the ”environmentalism is unchristian” type) that receives plenty of funding for promoting denialism, and which claims that environmentalism is dark paganism the goal of which is to wipe out 95% of the world’s population. Beisner is also on the advisory board for the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow, the employer of several "experts for hire" (Patrick Michaels, Marc Morano (more on him here), Michael Fumento) to promote denialism, as well as co-author of the infamous ”A Call to Truth”, which firmly keeps truth out of calling distance. Beisner’s Bible-based ”expertise” was impressive enough to have him testify at a Congressional hearing on global warming (in which he argued that one shouldn’t believe in the conclusions of IPCC because it is an atheist organization), but they invited Monckton as well, which tells you something about the standards.

Of course, Beisner rejected – outright – the Koch Foundation sponsored study that famously came up confirming man-made climate change.

The Cornwall Alliance is also behind the infamous Green Dragon 12-part documentary series to "educate" people on environmentalism. To do that, they draw on the expertise of a wide range of authorities on the matter, including Beisner himself, David Barton, Wendy Wright (of Concerned Women for America), Bryan Fischer, Tom Minnery (of Focus on the Family), and Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council. The series was endorsed by Victoria Jackson. It pushed the usual talking points, and a few novel ones inspired by John Birch Society-style conspiracy theories: environmentalism is a secular religion, the goal of which is to wipe out Christianity and establish a world government. Indeed, Beisner has argued that since environmentalism is a religion the Environmental Protection Agency, being one of many partners involved in promoting the film ”The Lorax”, is in ”violation of the separation of church and state” (as opposed, apparently, to mandatory school prayer; also here). Apparently Pixar’s movie ”Brave” is also part of a Satanic plot to undermine God’s plan with mankind by deliberately trying to stem population growth.

According to Beisner, the environmental movement is ”depraved” and ”modeling itself after Satan” – apparently that’s what counts as rigorous science in his circles (the screed is here) – and that not using fossil fuels is an insult to God; that is, failure to use coal, oil, and natural gas is an insulting rejection of the gifts that God has given to us, Beisner maintains, gifts which He buried deep in the earth because He delights in our search for and discovery of them. Apparently the argument does not apply to wind or sun energy.

In fact, it is not only the failure to use fossil fuels – even believing that climate change is happening ”really is an insult to God ... and it will eventually lead to tyranny.” The fact, apparently, is that God made the world strong and robust, and carbon dioxide is “fertilizer” for plants and helps them grow more. In short, the modern environmental movement represents ”the greatest threat to Western civilization” mankind is facing because it combines ”the utopian vision of Marxism, the scientific facade of secular humanism, and the religious fanaticism of jihad” into a pseudo-religion that undermines Christianity.

Though he has often teamed up with them, Beisner has on other occasions criticized Focus on the Family, since the latter organization has, on some occasion, supported legislation to reduce mercury emissions (because such emissions rather obviously hurt babies). Beisner, of course, would have none of it. ”Some of [the people supporting the legislation] have 100 percent pro-abortion voting records in Congress,” Beisner argued.

Of course, Beisner is also a hardcore creationist, but no one would at this point think that Beisner really had any clue about how science works or about the role of testing and evidence.

He has also argued that AIDS is God’s punishment on homosexuals, and he is thoroughly afraid of the nefarious and extremely influential gay lobby in Washington. Tornadoes are punishments from God as well, it seems. Take that, climatologists.

Diagnosis: Hardcore insane fundie denialists, and it is telling how many people are unable to distinguish the incoherent ranting of a mad theologian from evidence-backed claims by actual experts (best explanation: Dunning-Kruger). Beisner must, however, be considered extremely dangerous.

#213: Larry Klayman

Larry Klayman is a legend in the law business for his long row of knee-jerk, utterly unhinged lawsuits. The founder and chief representative of the Miami and D.C. based Klayman Law Firm, Larry is best known as the founder and former Chairman of Judicial Watch (which Larry has, of course, subsequently sued as well). Judicial Watch gained notoriety through the initiation of 18 civil lawsuits against the Clinton Administration, and subsequently an unsuccessful lawsuit against Vice-President Dick Cheney in order to obtain information about the White House's energy task force. He currently runs an organization called “Freedom Watch”.

Among the lawsuits Klayman has filed is (at least) one against the Islamic Center in Manhatten on the grounds that the project was a “nuisance”.

Klayman is predictably enough among those who suspect Obama of harboring secret, less than benign motives: “Despite Obama's early claims that his is a Christian, the American people are not stupid. Simply calling oneself a Christian, does not make one a Christian. Obama's heart tilts toward radical Islam and the terrorist states which it foments". He also argued that Obama was behind the swine flu. His evidence is a little unclear. He has also raged about what he perceives as a government conspiracy to hide evidence for extra-terrestrial life (yes, that’s the level his mind operates at).

Klayman likes attention, and has apparently realized that making a fool of himself is a good way to get it.
Diagnosis: Legendary kook, and a rather entertaining one. Probably relatively harmless.

#147: Doug Giles

Pastor Giles is one of the most vehement critics of atheists in … well, on ClashRadio, at least. Or in Miami. As far as I can tell he resides in Miami. His master argument against atheism is that everyone knows God exists and that atheists deny it because they want to justify their hedonistic lifestyles. Well, so it is not really an argument per se – more a conjunction – but his audience doesn’t really need arguments in any case. The closest to a premise I could find was “the apostle Paul states that God has made Himself known, via creation, to all men”. Since God has made himself so painfully obvious through creation, then of course everyone has to know (the argument is not as strong as I’ve made it sound here). More here.

He appears, in a different screed (but with the same, uh, argument) here, in the company of luminaries such as Mike S. Adams, Dinesh D’Souza, David Limbaugh, Marvin Olasky and Michael Medved.

Giles attempts a jovial, jocular style for his bigoted screeds, and it doesn’t quite work. For instance in the anti-gay screed here (well, it cannot possibly be anti-gay – I mean, Giles assures us that he has “several friends that are gay”), the argument seems to start off from: “I'm not homophobic but chick-o-centric. Let's keep it positive, okay? It's not that we dislike you, the gay guy; it's just that we really like girls.” And without any other discernible premises, it is supposed to follow that hence gays shouldn’t have rights and it is OK to discriminate against them.

You can test your Doug Giles knowledge here. Doug generally equates being (truly) Christian with voting Republican, gun rights and tea bagger capitalism.

I think he thinks he is funny.

Diagnosis: The stupid is so strong with this one it burns. Wingnut and nutjob. He seems to be popular with a certain type of believer, but his overall impact is unclear.

#120: Dallas Ellis

A completely unimportant schmuck, Dallas Ellis is a pastor and, uh, hobby-scientist who apparently attempts to emulate the intellect of the great Ray Comfort when it comes to scientific rigor and brilliance. His only claim to fame is the circulating clip of a public hearing in Orlando when people were allowed to stand up and explain their views on evolution (this was before the Florida wedge proposal met its timely demise). As an argument to match Comfort’s banana argument, I give you Dallas Ellis’s argument from oranges.

The basic argument is that no commonsensical person could conceivably believe that people or pets could be related to an orange – hey, round orange fruits ain’t looking nothing like furry, cute animals that jump around and lick your face; hence evolution is bunk (the fact that he doesn't notice that an orange isn't really an organism and that the analogy from the very start is like questioning whether I'm related to my grandmother's left foot, is the least of his problems).

If nothing else, he kinda elevates the argument from ignorance fallacy to an art form. More here.

Diagnosis: Astoundingly moronic nincompoop. Probably relatively harmless.

#95: Kimberly Daniels

In a previous post we mentioned Daniel Cameroon and his campaign against Easter eggs. Cameroon was a spoof, however. Christian Broadcasting network’s Kimberly Daniels is not, and though her selected target is Halloween rather than Easter her screed is frighteningly redolent of Cameroon’s. CBN took down the original article after public responses made the responsible people dimly aware that it was perceived as kinda silly – it can still be found here, though.

Daniels asserts that "most of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches" and informs us that she does “not buy candy during the Halloween season. Curses are sent through the tricks and treats of the innocent whether they get it by going door to door or by purchasing it from the local grocery store.” Apparently what goes on behind the scenes of the Halloween celebrations includes (but is not limited to):
- Sex with demons
- Orgies between animals and humans
- Animal and human sacrifices
- Sacrificing babies to shed innocent blood
- Rape and molestation of adults, children and babies
- Revel nights
- Conjuring of demons and casting of spells
- Release of "time-released" curses against the innocent and the ignorant.

Daniels’s official website is here.

Daniels tours the country in a 30-foot Winnebago dubbed "The Demon Buster" as she teaches others about deliverance ministry and performs Christian rap music to bring deliverance to homosexuals, HIV/AIDS victims, drug addicts and convicted felons (she has also written a slew of books, including ”Delivered to Destiny” and ” Clean House, Strong House: A practical guide to understanding spiritual warfare, demonic strongholds and deliverance”); a biography can be found here. A more objective assessment is here.

She is viciously anti-gay and points out that Obama, by supporting equal rights, is clearly not a Christian

Diagnosis: As unhinged as it is possible to become; utterly, irrevocably lost to sanity and reason. More entertaining than dangerous, though.

She operates with her husband, Ardell Daniels, who isn’t a single notch better than she is.