O'Donnell called evolution 'a myth', said she wanted to stop Americans from having sex

Delaware Republican Christine O'Donnell once wanted to stop everyone in America from having sex, and proudly declared it on television. The tea party candidate for US Senate also once told an audience that she believes evolution is "a myth" that is easily negated by asking why monkeys aren't currently evolving into humans.

With old video clips like these, who needs a democratic opponent?

Videos of O'Donnell making the bizarre statements are the latest in a series of embarrassing revelations about the candidate, whom many have compared to former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.

HBO's liberal talk show host Bill Maher kicked off the bizarre clip parade, featuring late-90s footage of O'Donnell admitting to a past interest in "witchcraft." Maher threatened to show another clip of the candidate making bizarre statements every episode until she appears on his show. O'Donnell, a longtime conservative activist, ended up making light of the remarks, passing off her history in witchcraft as mere youthful indiscretion. The video became a toast of the media for the entire week.

Maher had previously shown a 1998 clip of her telling an audience that school shootings happen because public schools do not force children to attend Bible studies. She's also said that masturbation is a sin, and worried that scientists may be creating "mice with human brains."

On Friday night's episode of Real Time with Bill Maher, the host made good on his promise to feature another clip of O'Donnell making a bizarre statement, this time showcasing 1999 footage from his former show on the ABC network. In the clip, O'Donnell calls the evolution of life "a myth."

"Evolution is a myth?" Maher asked, almost apoplectic. "Have you ever looked at a monkey?"

"Well then why aren't they -- why aren't monkeys still evolving into humans?" she retorted.

(The answer, which was not provided to O'Donnell at the time, is that humans did not directly evolve from monkeys or even apes, which is why monkeys of today are not mutating into humans. Scientists estimate between 5-8 million years ago, a common ancestor within the African ape family ultimately led to the branching out of primate biology, guided by natural selection and environmental feedback. At least a dozen human-like species spun out of this, with pre-human hominids finally emerging as the dominant group, finally becoming what's known today as Homo sapiens, i.e., man.)

In another clip aired by MSNBC, this time from 2003, O'Donnell proudly declared her opposition to sex education, claiming that teaching youths about prophylactics is a waste of time.

"You have to wear a condom. You have to protect yourself when you're going to have sex, because they're having it anyway...There's nothing that you or me can do about it," argued Eric Nies, who was representing the Moment of Hope foundation, taking the position in favor of sex education.

"The sad reality is -- yes, there is something you can do about it," O'Donnell retorted. "And the sad reality, to tell them slap on a condom is not..."

Nies interjected: "You're going to stop the whole country from having sex?"

"Yeah," O'Donnell replied. "Yeah!"

Challenged on the probability of that ever happening, she raised the stakes: "I'm a young woman in my thirties and I remain chaste."

O'Donnell, a favorite of the conservative-leaning tea parties, defeated nine-term Rep. Mike Castle for the GOP nomination, even over the objections of the Republican establishment in the state. She faces Democrat Chris Coons in the general election and at last sampling, dragged more than 15 points behind in the polls. O'Donnell is also facing a criminal complaint filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), which alleged that she used more than $20,000 in campaign money to supplement her personal finances and pay late rent.

After a controversy over her mid-90s comments on masturbation, O'Donnell suggested that her views on sex have since matured.

This video is from MSNBC's Scarborough Country, broadcast in 2003.

This video is from HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, broadcast Sept. 24, 2010.