L-McCain        R-Palin

In a 2006 gubernatorial debate, the soon-to-be governor of Alaska said of evolution and creation education, “Teach both. You know, don’t be afraid of education. Healthy debate is so important, and it’s so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both.”

Asked by the Anchorage Daily News whether she believed in evolution, Palin declined to answer, but said that “I don’t think there should be a prohibition against debate if it comes up in class.” “I’m not going to pretend I know how all this came to be,” she said.

“It’s unfortunate McCain would pick someone who shares those particular anti-science views, but it’s not a surprise,” said Barbara Forrest, a Southeastern Lousiana University philosophy professor and prominent critic of creationist science. “She’s a choice that pleases the religious right. And the religious right has been the chief force against teaching evolution.”

Palin’s statements track with the official Alaska Republican Party platform, which support creation science and intelligent design by name, and says that “evidence disputing the theory should also be presented.”

When asked about Palin potentially being a step removed from the White House, Forrest responded, “We’d have a creationist as President. But that’s not new — we’ve already got one.”

We wonder if this will be discussed in the coming debates.




  1. QB says:

    Cirdan, such as?

  2. Skippy says:

    #62, please present this proof that disproves evolution. I’m guessing it’s as full of holes and inconsistencies as the bible.

  3. Right says:

    I would love to see this proof presented as well. Please remember, Cirdan, to be scientific in your statements so we can analyze them properly.

  4. QB says:

    Personally, I don’t really care about creationism per se. Of course, this stuff is best debated in Philosophy and Rhetoric but we don’t teach that in schools anymore.

    The problem I have with the whole thing is that creationists won’t do the hard work to be taken seriously. Most of their arguments boil down to “If I squint hard enough, I see intelligent design”. All of it’s based on post hoc speculation and not research.

    I’m a skeptic so what I want to be convinced. I want to see creationists put their money where their mouth is and propose experiments which would support their position and discount other explanations. That would require serious thought, logic, and a lot of hard work. If you want to be taken seriously, be serious.

    The whole intelligent design position is whiney and self-centered. Creationists come off as just another group demanding their rights without the accompanying responsibility.

  5. John Paradox says:

    Don’t forget to have Intelligent Falling in physics class.

    J/P=?

    All praise the FSM!

  6. Jägermeister says:

    #62 – Cirdan – The proof and arguments from the creationist side to disprove evolution is not taught in schools.

    Creationism – Dumbing down the population, one kid at the time.

  7. brendal says:

    She’s a politician with a J-school degree…she’s packin’ more with that than anytime she hits the shooting range…you’ll see. In fact, I’m surprised John hasn’t commented on this yet.

  8. QB says:

    Jagermeister, that’s hysterical. Squint and you’ll see God.

  9. hhopper says:

    “creationist science” = oxymoron

  10. baremauler says:

    Evolution is fact.
    I take back what I said yesterday.
    baremauler

    If you have a friend, or emenmy, that could appreciate a couple fat guys beating on them, give us a call.

    baremaulers

  11. Cursor_ says:

    The only reason why the people that only want evolution taught is because they know most americans are so dumb they would believe ANYTHING if it came from a teacher or someone with a lambskin on the wall.

    This argument works for people that only want creationism.

    No matter who’s dogma it is, it will still leave shit on the carpet.

    Cursor_

  12. R.O.P. says:

    Sorry LegHorn, christians are in the minority in the world, so evidently by your logic, you are wrong!

  13. bobbo says:

    #68-69==Jag==how many two’fers do you get in a row on a thread? Both excellent.

    “Behold, the atheists nightmare!”===and all I actually thought was “Yea, those two bozo’s.”

    The argument goes by Intelligent Design and show the approach completely–not so much intelligent design as human imagination that a pattern or design exists. I had to laugh a few months ago I read the best response to the effect that banana’s of the type they used were completely human engineered from the wild stock available. Even though their are at least 250 species of bananas (from memory) the Chaquita Banana we find in stores is a human creation of directed breeding.

    That clip should be shown everytime any ID argument is raised. Thanks.

  14. Thomas says:

    #51
    > Not true. Take the
    > big bang theory (not
    > the one Clinton followed),
    > natural laws have to
    > be suspended for it
    > to be true…

    Also not true. The Big Bang Theory is really a scientific hypothesis that appears to fit the available data.

    #62
    > There is a bunch of
    > proof to disprove
    > evolution too.

    Evolution is an observable fact. Your statement is the equivalent of saying there is proof that the sun does not rise and that objects do not fall.

  15. Uncle Patso says:

    Just think of all the money we’ll save on medicine! We can get rid of Medicaid, Medicare and all those costly medical schools and arrogant, self-satisfied doctors. All those tons of medical school texts can be replaced with a Bible and your friendly local neighborhood faith healer!

    Come on, you can’t argue against geology, physics, and more than one hundred years of biological science in one breath and FOR medical science in the other, can you?

  16. Hey. Regardless of her seemingly dunderheaded views on teaching creationism or ID (or whatever you want to call it) in the classroom, she DOES have a good grasp of the immigration issue:

    http://tinyurl.com/59lfj9

  17. Jägermeister says:

    #76 – bobbo – Both excellent.

    Thanks. 🙂

    not so much intelligent design as human imagination that a pattern or design exists

    Imagination is an important cornerstone of any religion. One experiment to prove that it’s all in the head would be to get together 25 people who have seen Jesus and have them individually draw his image. After all, it’s such an important dude, so the image much be etched in their memory. I’m pretty sure that the beard would be the only thing the images would have in common.

  18. Jägermeister says:

    #79 – Mister Mustard

    Just imagine him being Mexican… no way he would get an honorary citizenship…

  19. #81 – Jägermeister

    >>Just imagine him being Mexican… no way
    >>he would get an honorary citizenship…

    Well, I don’t know. If Cheech Marin weren’t already a citizen, I’ll bet he’d have a good shot at it with her,. Governor Palin does have extensive experience with the chronic, the bud, the blunts.

  20. Jägermeister says:

    #82 – Mister Mustard

    Cheech Marin is cool… but he gives JCD nightmares… 😉

  21. Steve Shafer says:

    Palin has spent 2 years as governor of a state whose population is a quarter that of Brooklyn. She is unqualified. Her limited intellect is shown by her belief that creationism should be given “equal time” in science classrooms with evolution. That McCain would pick an unqualified woman of limited intellect demonstrates that he is more interested in winning the election than providing competent leadership. That “social conservatives” hail this as a great candidate shows that they care more about their personal agenda than securing the future of our country.

  22. Jägermeister says:

    #84 – Steve Shafer – …“social conservatives” … care more about their personal agenda than securing the future of our country.

    Bush catered to these folks and got elected, so don’t be too surprised.


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