Ten of the worst things said in 2012

Some people have a tendency to say bad things. Sometimes the quotes are bad because they are stupid, sometimes because they are wicked, and sometimes because they are just incomprehensible. We’ve tried to include some of each.

DREAMers are “brats”

CNN contributor Ruben Navarrette Jr. said this one. Specifically, he said, “At times, these young people act like spoiled brats.” He says DREAMers are going too far in their protest actions and act “entitled.” Oooooooooooo! Those bastards! How dare they feel entitled to be citizens of the country in which they grew up! In a rambling, self-contradictory column, Navarrette argued further that DREAMers are demanding better treatment than “run-of-the-mill illegal immigrants” – even though he later chastises them for demanding too much, including comprehensive immigration reform for all undocumented immigrants. This could have been the worst thing said, but it is lessened by the insignificance of Navarrette’s column.

The 47 percent

Everyone knows about Mitt Romney’s idiotic comment, made in Florida, in which he states that 47 percent of the country are dependent on the government and will therefore vote for Obama. This comment would be higher on the list, except that it has a good side: it helped Romney lose the election.

Rape’s not so bad

Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., told the world that in cases of “legitimate rape” a woman’s body has a way to “shut that whole thing down.” Later, Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock let everyone know that “even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that is something that God intended to happen.” What exactly is he accusing God of? Whatever your views on abortion, we bet you were appalled by these statements. Especially if you actually, you know, believe that God is good.

Arm the teachers, put guards in schools, etc.

As a country, we have this terrible problem of people shooting up schools. It’s not unheard of elsewhere, but it’s far less common. Of course, the problem can’t be that there are too many guns or that the guns are too effective, according to the NRA and Republican lawmakers in many states. Shooters wouldn’t have a tougher time on their rampages if they didn’t have a gun at all or if they had to stop and reload after six shots. No, the real solution is arming the teachers or putting armed guards in schools. The armed guards thing didn’t work out so well at Fort Hood, a military base where virtually everyone was armed, or at Virginia Tech, which had its own police force. Arming the teachers? With all due love and respect to my grade school teachers, who did a fine job of teaching, I don’t think they’ would have done such a fine job as Dirty Harry-style warriors. Other solutions (hint: better gun control in all states) are in order.

Apple should try to compete with Google Maps!

Anyone who tried to use the app that came with the new iPhones understands.

Democrats like slavery

That was Rep. Allen West, whom the good voters of Florida had the sense to throw out in the November elections. Specifically, he said, “[T]he Democratic appetite for ever-increasing redistributionary handouts is in fact the most insidious form of slavery remaining in the world today, and it does not promote economic freedom.”

And we thought we’d already covered the worst forms still existing slavery.

The Mayans

Okay, Dec. 21, 2012, came and went. Can everyone who thought the world would end on that day – based on a thousands of years old calendar that didn’t even predict the end of the world – just take a few moments to admit that they are stupid? Or, to be more charitable, that they acted very stupidly? On a related note, congratulations to the Mexican and Guatemalan tourism industry on a successful campaign!

Anything Rick Santorum said on the UN rights of the disabled treaty

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, torpedoed by Republicans in the Senate, would have put the world on course to emulate the Americans with Disabilities Act. But for people like Rick Santorum, UN-phobia took over, causing him to say such stupid things as, “CRPD gives too much power to the UN, and the unelected, unaccountable committee tasked with overseeing its implementation, while taking power and responsibility away from our elected representatives and, more important, from parents and caregivers of disabled persons.” That this simply isn’t true doesn’t matter to people so fearful of the UN as Santorum and the GOP in general. To them, any treaty that is even remotely connected to the United Nations (you know, the organization that, despite its flaws, has done more than any other to reduce poverty, provide potable drinking water, etc. than any other organization on Earth) is just another step toward the rule of the World Government. Put on your foil hats!

Marco Rubio: “I’m not a scientist, man”

When asked by GQ how old he thought the Earth is, Fla. Senator and presumptive Republican candidate for the 2016 elections answered, “Whether the Earth was created in 7 days, or 7 actual eras, I’m not sure we’ll ever be able to answer that. It’s one of the great mysteries.” It’s not a mystery at all. The Earth is about 4 billion years old. The only people who disagree are members of extreme religious sects. Most Christians understand this, as do most Jews and Muslims. Scientists definitely understand this. Who exactly is Rubio trying to appeal to? Oh, that’s right: the Republican base.

There you have it. Ten of the worst things said in 2012. We tried to put them in order, but we couldn’t figure out which was worst and which was best. A few were almost in the #1 spot, but those possible negative victories were undone by various factors. And don’t worry: we understand that there were a lot more than ten things said. If you think any others should be added to the list, feel free to enter them in the comments. Whoever comes up with the best wins that most special feeling of being the smartest person in the room. We admit that if you’re sitting alone in front of your computer the feeling’s not so special, but it will have to do.

Best wishes!

Photo: Rep. Akin looking clever. Donkey Hotey // CC 2.0