WASHINGTON, D.C., May 8, 2009 — Vernon Ehlers brings something to Congress few others can offer: Scientific intellect…And a spot in Playboy.
The 75-year old nuclear physicist made national headlines when Playboy ran a story and photo of him during his campaign several years ago.
But when he’s not starring in Playboy, he’s the scientific brains of Congress.
“Oh, it’s extremely helpful, because there are so few scientists,” Ehlers said. “My colleagues are constantly asking me questions about scientific issues.”
He was the first research physicist to be elected to Congress, and has served on the Science and Technology Committee ever since. And he’s tackled numerous issues, such as helping Congress decide, “Should we try to go to Mars?”
“We certainly could use more scientists in Congress,” Ehlers said. “There are quite a few scientific issues and very few scientists in Congress.”
There are even fewer Congressmen in Playboy. But that didn’t stop the controversial magazine from picking up a Grand Rapids Press story about him.
During a recent campaign, his opponent, Attorney Jim Rinck, developed an unusual statement that eventually got back to the magazine.
“I got him in Playboy,” Rinck said. “When I ran against Vern I announced and said he was the smartest man in the district. It was such an unusual statement it hit the wires and Keith Olbermann from MSNBC picked up on it. I don’t think anyone has ever ran for office and declared his opponent was the smartest man in the district. Eventually, Playboy picked up on it that I was running against the smartest man in the district. Kind of worth the price of admission if you know what I mean?”
Dave Murray, who originally reported on the story for the Grand Rapids Press, wrote a second story about Playboy’s coverage of the situation. Murray said the Playboy story was a short mention about Ehlers and was in the “newsy portion of the magazine.”
Ehlers laughed about the situation afterwards.
"I guess I'm a surprised that they didn't ask me to be Playmate of the Month," Ehlers told Murray. "But then I suppose their circulation would take a beating. I'm not too worried about it. I'm sure none of my constituents are subscribers."
Ehlers told Murray he’s not a subscriber either.
“I never knew how much I valued my integrity and my ethics till I got into politics,” Ehlers told The Herald’s Katherine Wisen when he visited Cornerstone University to speak on Feb. 20. “It’s really important to me to defend my reputation.”
Ehlers said his whole life revolves around his faith.
“I don’t think being a Christian in Congress is any different than being a Christian teacher or a Christian (lawyer),” he said. “Being a Christian affects your thinking and ideas and beliefs and every area of your life if you’re truly a Christian. So it’s not only about my Christianity affecting my science, but my Christianity affecting all parts of my life.”
And with his faith leading the way, Ehlers battled through the potentially embarrassing Playboy incident and continues to guide scientific efforts for Congress.
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