Yet another GOP candidate rejects modern biology
Posted December 23rd, 2007 at 11:45 am
Way back in May, in one of the more memorable debate moments of the year, John McCain was asked a straightforward question: “Do you believe in evolution?”
It’s the 21st century and McCain is an educated man, so it should have been an easy one, but he’s a Republican, and he needs to appeal to a far-right base that has little use for modern science — so he hesitated. After a pregnant pause, McCain said, “Yes.”
The Politico’s Jim VandeHei opened it up to the stage: “I’m curious, is there anybody on the stage that does not agree, believe in evolution?” The camera didn’t show the 10 candidates for very long, but three would-be presidents raised their hand: Sam Brownback, Mike Huckabee, and Tom Tancredo.
At the time, I was torn. Was it good news that seven in 10 Republican presidential candidates accept scientific reality, or was it bad news that three in 10 presidential hopefuls reject the foundation of modern biology?
As it turns out, though, there was one more evolution-denier on the stage who, for whatever reason, didn’t raise his hand at the time. Ron Chusid directed me to this Ron Paul video, posted to YouTube last week. Here’s the key exchange:
Audience member: I saw you in one of the earlier debates, all of the candidates were asked if they believe the theory of evolution to be true and they had a show of hands, but I didn’t see which way you voted, and I was wondering if you believe it to be true, and should it be taught in our schools.
Paul: First, I thought it was a very inappropriate question, you know, for the presidency to be decided on a scientific matter. And I, um, I think it’s a theory, theory of evolution, and I don’t accept it, you know, as a theory…. I just don’t think we’re at a point where anybody has absolute proof, on either side.
Yes, in 2007, 10 Republicans were running for president, and four of them reject modern biology. |
