Palin is pro-creationism
Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska and John McCain’s just-announced running mate in the current presidential race, supports creationism.
Her position was made clear in her 2006 gubernatorial campaign, when she said it should be taught alongside evolution. Creationism, unlike intelligent design, is an openly religious ideology and is prohibited from being taught in public schools by the First Amendment. Palin later soft-pedaled her statement, explaining, “I don’t think there should be a prohibition against debate if it comes up in class. It doesn’t have to be part of the curriculum.” But the Republican Party of Alaska’s position is that “Creation Science be given equal representation with the other scientific theories in the classroom.”
Regarding her personal views, she has said: “I believe we have a creator,” and was unable to explain whether she accepted evolution: “I’m not going to pretend I know how all this came to be.”
August 31st, 2008 at 10:48 am
You should see if you can find the video of this morning’s “Meet the Press.” Tom Brokaw grills McCain surrogate Tim Pawlenty on Palin’s views on creationism/intelligent design. Pawlenty starts by calling it “creationism” and then shifts to calling it “intelligent design,” but he punts, under tough questioning from Brokaw, on whether both should be given equal weight. I think Palin’s going to flush out a lot more creationists for your list!
August 31st, 2008 at 11:03 am
This is a great tip, thanks. I think a candidate’s position on creationism and science education is a great barometer, but I didn’t think it would be much of an issue in its own right in this election. But it would be fantastic if the Dems pushed it into the spotlight to expose a lot of the nonsense the Republicans have supported.
As you point out here, in so many cases those who don’t accept evolution (or even more ridiculously, in some ways, equivocate about it) really have any idea what they really think or how to talk about it. If the Obama campaign forced a discussion about science a lot of ignorance could be exposed.
September 7th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
As the newly elected mayor of Wassilla, Alaska, Palin sought to ban books with “inappropriate language” from the public library. (Time Magazine, Sept 15, 2008)
The desire to thwart the open exchange of ideas is an eqrmark of closemindedness, and not a trait I look for in a leader. I have never heard of an evolutionist banning books.