Broun (named one of the "most corrupt" members of Congress by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) is known for espousing unusual opinions on medicine and science. Broun told CNN's Wolf Blitzer in October, "Obamacare is going to destroy everything we know as a nation. Wolf, I’m a doctor. I’m a medical doctor!" Last October, Broun argued against evolution:

God’s word is true. I’ve come to understand that. All that stuff I was taught about evolution, embryology, Big Bang theory, all that is lies straight from the pit of hell. … There’s a lot of scientific data that I found out as a scientist that actually show that this is really a young Earth.

National Journal called him "the most dangerous man in Republican politics," which is the sort of appellation that might undermine his insights into electoral strategy.

As for Gingrey, he's best known for his defense of 2012 Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin. Akin, who said that the female body had ways of "shutting down" pregnancy in the event of rape, was "partly right" according to Gingrey — who, again, is an OB/GYN. Or, rather, he was best known for that. Shortly before the shutdown, he became famous for saying that he envied his staffers who could go become highly-paid lobbyists when he was "stuck here making $172,000."

Somewhat weirdly, The Hill implies that doctors are sort of rare in Washington. "It’s not unusual for doctors to seek elected office. But it’s not necessarily typical for them to win, however," Alexandra Jaffe writes, basing that latter sentiment largely on the loss of Richard Carmona in Arizona last year. But there are 19 physicians in the House and Senate, plus two dentists, two vets, a psychiatrist, three psychologists, an optometrist, and five nurses. Some of whom, we will note, were involved in the original debate over Obamacare.

The Hill does note one advantage that may have helped those doctors win.

A 2012 Gallup survey rated medical doctors as the third most-trustworthy profession, below only nurses and pharmacists. … In contrast, members of Congress were second from the bottom, considered more trustworthy than only car salespeople.

Broun and Gingrey, once professional doctors, are clearly now better understood as members of Congress. Somewhat diluting the value of their insights.

This article is from the archive of our partner The Wire.