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Ed Brayton is a journalist, commentator and speaker. He is the co-founder and president of Michigan Citizens for Science and co-founder of The Panda's Thumb. He has written for such publications as The Bard, Skeptic and Reports of the National Center for Science Education, spoken in front of many organizations and conferences, and appeared on nationally syndicated radio shows and on C-SPAN. Ed is also a Fellow with the Center for Independent Media and the host of Declaring Independence, a one hour weekly political talk show on WPRR in Grand Rapids, Michigan.(static)

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Now THIS is How You Pull a Poe

Posted on: December 27, 2009 9:09 AM, by Ed Brayton

I'm sure you've seen by now that Sen. Tom Coburn, on the floor of the Senate, urged people to pray that one of the Democrats would be unable to show up to vote for cloture on the health care bill. You may also know that on a related vote, Sen. James Inhofe, a far-right Republican, did not show up for the vote.

So on C-SPAN, a caller called in to ask another Republican senator if the praying had backfired on them. He pretended (I assume) to be a teabagger and even got choked up. If this is not a Poe, that's frightening. If it is, it was brilliantly done. Video below the fold.

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Crooks & Liars calls not only Poe, but serial Poe:

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/heather/c-span-caller-who-pranked-barrasso-also-sl

Posted by: stoat100 | December 27, 2009 9:19 AM

Ed stated:

If this is not a Poe, that's frightening.

I think it's frightening either way given that we already know that millions of Americans who think like this exist and influence our politics beyond entertainment. Their quaintness wore off about the time I realized they control the climate change debate and the GOP.

Posted by: Michael Heath | December 27, 2009 9:20 AM

I think it's frightening either way given that we already know that millions of Americans who think like this exist and influence our politics beyond entertainment.

I agree. If it isn't for real, it could just as well be.

Posted by: Jeff Eyges | December 27, 2009 12:05 PM

Sen. Inhofe heard Coburn's speech, and it scared him. He didn't want to be near the Senate when the lightning bolts started coming.

And if that's not the truth, it should be.

Posted by: Ed Darrell | December 27, 2009 3:27 PM

He didn't answer the question. Obviously. Did he, or did he not, pray hard enough?!

Posted by: chris | December 27, 2009 7:09 PM

...pray that one of the Democrats would be unable to show up to vote for cloture on the health care bill. You may also know that on a related vote, Sen. James Inhofe, a far-right Republican, did not show up... Says old white bearded guy witha halo up in the sky, "Fx#@$%&*xx I missed him!"

Posted by: jnani | December 28, 2009 1:26 PM

What's especially scary to me is the fact that the lunacy of praying for political opponents to die before critical votes is not something either Barasso or the interviewer openly ridiculed.

Some day, such idiocy needs to be literally laughable, not just figuratively.

Posted by: BaldApe | December 28, 2009 2:25 PM

What is a "Poe"? I don't get the reference.

Posted by: MadRocketScientist | December 28, 2009 3:07 PM

MadRocketScientist: It's from "Poe's Law" (Edgar Allan Poe's rule that poems should be short enough to read in a single sitting). I hope that helps.

Posted by: Modusoperandi | December 28, 2009 3:17 PM

It's a reference to Poe's Law, which states, "Without a winking smiley or other blatant display of humor, it is impossible to create a parody of Fundamentalism that SOMEONE won't mistake for the real thing."

Posted by: dcsohl | December 28, 2009 3:26 PM

MadRocketScientist, don't listen to Modusoperandi.

From Internet rules and laws: the top 10, from Godwin to Poe:

Poe's Law
Not to be confused with the law of poetry enshrined by Edgar Allan Poe, the internet Poe’s Law states: “Without a winking smiley or other blatant display of humour, it is impossible to create a parody of fundamentalism that someone won't mistake for the real thing.”

It was originally formulated by Nathan Poe in 2005 during a debate on christianforums.com about evolution, and referred to creationism rather than all fundamentalism, but has since been expanded.

There's lots more interesting info and links about Poe's Law and other internet "Laws" at the original article.

Posted by: Abby Normal | December 28, 2009 3:29 PM

Ah, OK Got it. I know the concept, I just didn't know it had a name.

Thanks all.

Posted by: MadRocketScientist | December 28, 2009 7:19 PM