It's hard to imagine a lower point for an American political party. At last night's Republican presidential debate, one of the moderators asked John McCain if he believed in evolution.
"Yes," said McCain.
Then came the follow up – a jaw-dropping moment that should make all thinking Americans flee from the Republican party like Dirk Nowitzki from a big shot. "I'm curious," said the moderator, "is there anybody on this stage who does not believe in evolution?"
Three – THREE – of the ten Republicans running for President of the United States of America raised their hands. Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado, Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas and former Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas don't believe in evolution. Just like that. As if they'd been asked if the earth were round. (Watch it here).
And it's not just those three, it's the entire party – because at a Republican presidential debate, the question isn't considered ridiculous. It's actually a matter of some debate. Remember, the leader of the party, the "commander guy", President George W. Bush, believes the jury is still out on evolution.
No, Mr. President, the jury has reached a verdict and it is unanimous. Evolution is – what's the word here – fact. It's not an issue where thoughtful people can disagree. You either believe in scientific certainty or you don't.
This certainly does not mean there is no God, or even that God didn't create the universe. That is all possible, all believable. But if you want to be president of the greatest country in the world, of the most powerful nation in history, accepting evolution as scientific fact is a must. But among the Republicans now leading their party off a cliff, this remains an open question.
With that in mind, here are some other suggested questions for upcoming Republican debates:
● "Do you believe in the Tooth Fairy?
● "Do you think professional wrestling is real?
● "Do you doubt the theory of gravity?
● "Do you watch Fox News?"
If you answered "yes," to any of these questions, you're either a member of Bill O'Reilly's family, a sixth grader, or a Republican presidential candidate.
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Evolution Is Not Up For Debate -- Except at Republican Debates
Posted May 4th 2007 10:42AM by Ben Mankiewicz
Filed under: Politics, Elections, Young Turks, Republicans
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 3)
1. Doesn't it make sense that these guys who don't believe in evolution, might not be fully evolved yet? So no wonder they don't get it!
FranniM
Fran at 11:15AM on May 4th 2007
2. Speaking of thinking Americans ... do you not know about evolution? It's a belief, not observational science. It's a philosophy, a framework for understanding, a historical model, used by its believers for understanding observations scientists and others make.
There is no evidence that can be observed showing that all life has a common ancestor. Observations made in the present (of the scientist) may be explained by believers in the framework, but this interpretation is not itself empirical.
Biblical creaitonism is also such a model or framework. It too, is used by its believers as a framework for understanding observations scientists and others make.
All the empirical evidence is the same.
What's the big deal?
Rob Jackson at 2:13PM on May 12th 2007
3. Im glad they spoke up. At least they have the brains and courage to stick to what they believe and not "go with the flow". Of course scientists want everyone to believe in evolution, other wise they might start believing in creation and the laws of the Bible...then how can they get away with all the corruption! Abortions make billions of dollars so dont want to make those sound like murder. Take a look at the drug/medical industry ... no one is looking for cures (or preventions), just a pill to lower the symptoms (there will always be another pill for the side effects!) all about money and power, not truth.
Dani at 12:40PM on May 4th 2007
4. Evolutiion is a theory. Nothing more nothing less. It is a theory that I personally think makes sense, but to compare it to gravity is absurd. Gravity we know. We know it so well that we can measure it, duplicate it, and we even calculated it for the moon before we even got there. Spend 30 min reading a few scientific journals and you will find at least, 3 headlines that read something like, "New Discovery Changes Everything We thought we Knew about Evolution," or "New Finding Suggest That the Earth May Actually be older than we thought." You know give or take a MILLION YEARS or so. The moron who wrote this article is just looking to jab republicans b/c democrats,(you know the ones who filibustered blacks getting to vote and have a KKK member in the Senate) are so "enlightened"
Kristina at 12:42PM on May 4th 2007
5. I agree with that evolution is not a topic for debate and last nights debate was a joke not a debate. I would love to see a good debate where the candidates just go at it now thats a debate not this high school crap they are doing...
http://todaypolitics.blogspot.com/
http://politicians2008.blogspot.com/
bloggershaven at 1:04PM on May 4th 2007
6. "Biblical creaitonism is also such a model or framework. It too, is used by its believers as a framework for understanding observations scientists and others make. All the empirical evidence is the same."
Difference: There is no empirical evidence for creationism.
Laura Poirot at 1:10PM on May 14th 2007
7. Anyone who discounts Evolution either tries to separate it from other science, or somehow compare it to evolution. Nevertheless, Evolution is no different from any other scientific fields. Data is collected and used, whether from genetic information, fossils, or the like, to explain natural processes. Experimental evidence is helpful, but not necessary. Science, unlike religion, starts with data and then generates the explanations. Religion starts with explanations, and then attempts to support it with evidence.
Believe it or not, Gravity has undergone just as much "rethinking" as evolution: compare Einstein's Relativity to Newton's Gravity.
Evolution is just as strong as any other scientific explanation, like it or not.
antidense at 1:45PM on May 4th 2007
8. While pondering these fascinating comments, I concluded this: there is no empirical evidence for empiricism itself. It is an assumption. It requires one to first assume they can believe what their senses tell them. To fully believe in what one's senses say, one must be sure to have either perfect senses, (and not the fallible human type); or labor under a delusion of having perfect senses.
Mitchell TL Thompson at 2:35PM on May 4th 2007
9. Antidense writes "Believe it or not, Gravity has undergone just as much "rethinking" as evolution"
Really? You might want to read the Einstein's theories you are citing. Gravity is not "re-thought" in either theory. Gravity is a measurable known element that is used to expand upon in his theory of relativity. You comparing the ever "evolving" (pun intended) evolution theory to gravity is laughable. Evolution is a sound theory in many respects, especially as it relates to natural selection, but the leaps that it takes, using only "unknown mutations" as an explanation is not even in the same ballpark as gravity. It is not in the same league. It is not even the same sport.
Kristina at 3:15PM on May 4th 2007
10. Why are political pundits always declaring the "end of debate" for scientists? Evolution, global warming.... Politics and science don't mix, as politically motivated people only care about winning not truth.
Mel at 5:41PM on May 4th 2007
11. If you claim not to believe in evolution as observable fact, please refuse to take antibiotics or penicillin the next time you have a life-threatening illness. These drugs that have saved millions of lives are made possible by our knowledge of evolution. Obviously, they must not work, then, since evolution is just a theory.
Back to the debate: When is a moderator going to put us out of our Mittery by asking Gov. Romney this simple question: "Do you believe that the first Americans arrived on this continent via wooden submarine from the Holy Land?" If, as a Mormon, he answers "yes," we're down to two frontrunners. If he answers "no," his Mormon contributors will abandon him, with the same result.
John at 6:44PM on May 4th 2007
12. Wow, wow, wow. Scary scary.
Ok H-u-m-a-n-s, his is a lesson for you.
The Eskimos third eye (lid) had "evolved" to keep those living in the snowy north from going blind by the glare from the sun in the show. The fact that Africans have dark ski as opposed to Norewigeners is also because of sun exposer. YOUR spleen, in all our bodies is shrinking every generation because its use is becoming more and more obsolete. It use to kill germs from our food before we invented fire. Horses have a third bone in their leg that used to be the thumb when these animals had fingers and toes. You finger and toe nails are made of the same substance of hooves of all animals. The Ryno's horn is made of a single strain of hair. The dirty monarch butterfly came out of the pollution of the industrial age. The fact that people grow taller then our ancestors or the fact that we live longer then our past ancestors. Thats is all evolution. Evolution is nothing more then PHYSICALLY ADAPTING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.
WAKE UP PEOPLE, BEFORE YOU PROOVE TO US ALL THAT YOU ARE INCAPABLE OF EVOLVING OUT OF THE STONE AGE....
Jack at 7:43PM on May 4th 2007
13. These discussions about evolution do not have anything to do with the real issues facing Americans in next year's elections. It falls into the same catergory as abortion and stem cell research. They are all wedge issues which the Republicans utilize to get their voters interested in the upcoming election so that they will turn out to vote. Maybe the Republicans should have spent more time dealing with issues like the minimum wage, health care. and the war in Iraq. These are money issues which affect the pocket books of a majority of the people within the United States.
Give Me A Break! at 7:49PM on May 4th 2007
14. Kristina,
How do we "duplicate" gravity?
lil_turk at 1:20AM on May 5th 2007
15. This link will answer many questions of evolution deniers and is also fun! http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/faq/cat01.html
lil_turk at 1:55AM on May 5th 2007