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Last Friday, the Republican candidates - all ten of them - assembled at the Reagan Library for their first debate on the way to the primaries. Apart from upping the rhetoric on winning the already-lost war on terror in Iraq, the candidates were asked a series of questions on several issues among which this question on evolution was included.
Surprisingly, at least 3 candidates - Sam Brownback, Mike Huckabee, and Tom Tancredo - raised their hands in response that they do not believe in evolution. Sam Brownback, a candidate that is heavily reliant on the fundamentalist Christian right to make a serious bid and Tom Tancredo who only focuses on illegal immigration were expected to answer in negative but I was surprised by the response of Huckabee. But I guess, people will even disown their rationality in favor of votes. McCain gave a typical fence-sitter response that he believes in evolution but cannot deny the existence of God while hiking at the Grand Canyon (someone should enlighten him on the power of the Colorado River instead that created the Grand Canyon).
Of course, the intelligent design movement has been festering in the United States for some time now and even President Bush who advocates its inclusion in the school curriculum doesn’t necessarily dispute the veracity of evolution. I am scared about the future of science research in case one of these ignorant individuals get elected to office (odds are low).
The President controls the federal funding of all science research in this country and although private foundations exists, NSF and NIH funding drives most research. An individual who doesn’t believe in the oft-tested theory of evolution is a virtual no-no for the office of President. The qualification of all those three individuals for the office of President is instantly deemed invalid at least in my eyes. I just hope a large majority of Republican votes also feel the same.
by Patrix | on Sunday, May 6th, 2007 at 7:54 pm | 
Current Affairs, Politicking, Science, United States . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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May 7th, 2007 at 3:32 am reply
I had a classmate in college who didn’t believe in evolution either. And this was in smalltown India. His argument? You can put bones together and make anything. That doesn’t prove anything. The idea that man came from monkeys is preposterous.
I didn’t debate it then for fear of hurting his religious sentiments. I laugh about that now. I should have debated it. Though it wouldn’t have helped.
May 7th, 2007 at 8:28 am reply
With their antiquated ideas on evolution, cloning and stem-cell research, the politicians, mostly Republicans, are setting us back at least 50 years in terms of research and funding. I’m afraid the damage will be irrepairable by the time these idiots are done with it.
May 7th, 2007 at 1:04 pm reply
I would recommend a book: The Rebublican War on Science by Chris Mooney.
Also, I do hope that these monkeys (no pun) don’t get elected to office…but I am less than optimistic about it. The Republican party has today has been called the first religious party, and they will make every effort to try to be “secular” and teach ID as a “scientific” “theory” in science class. May their souls burn in hell (sic)
May 7th, 2007 at 6:01 pm reply
Vijay, I haven’t really come across anyone in India who doesn’t believe in evolution and if someone does not, it is simply their ignorance and mostly an individual phenomenon whereas out here it is religious diktat that keeps most from believing.
Santosh, the only heartening thing is that Bush has only 1.5 years left and hopefully a Republican will not win the Presidency at least an extreme right candidate won’t.
Ashutosh, thanks for that link. Looks like an interesting read. The Republicans have tarnished their reputation by letting the loony religious right take over the agenda. I hope for their sake, they wisen up and cast them aside. Belief in science was always an American thing and Republicans are clearly harming their long-term cause.
May 8th, 2007 at 9:10 pm reply
Evolution becomes incredibly shaky as it traces back to where everything began.
There’re just too many uncomfortable questions to which science has no answer, and I doubt if it will ever have.
May 9th, 2007 at 5:11 pm reply
@Anil - Evolution is incredbly sound theory. It does not deal with origins of life at all.That is a common misconception.
@Patrix- It is really good book to read. Chris Mooney does a good job with presenting evidence.
May 9th, 2007 at 8:12 pm reply
Anil, apologies for getting back this late but I am with Sakshi on this one. Evolution is and never was about origin of life but rather how it proceeded after that.
Sakshi, I guess I must pick up that book ASAP. Two recommendations from fellow grad students is rare.
May 11th, 2007 at 12:39 am reply
You know, actually, Huckabee, Tancredo, and Brownback are within the mainstream views of most Americans, and certainly within the mainstream views of most Republicans. The more shocking thing was that out of ten Republican candidates, only three raised their hands.
May 11th, 2007 at 9:38 am reply
Jess, if that is true I feel sorry for most Republicans. Those are definitely not the values of a true Republican but merely that of social conservatives.