South Carolina Debate Highlights

Pat Boone Gets Out the Anti-Gay Vote

Aging musician Pat Boone (pictured above clad in leather) has a new automated phone call spreading through Kentucky aimed at getting the anti-gay vote out for the upcoming gubernatorial race. In the message, Boone rhetorically asks: "Now do you want a governor who'd like Kentucky to be another San Francisco?"

Audio here.

Texas GOP on Homosexuality

The Texas GOP Party platform:

Homosexuality - We believe that the practice of sodomy tears at the fabric of society, contributes to the breakdown of the family unit, and leads to the spread of dangerous, communicable diseases. Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God, recognized by our country’s founders, and shared by the majority of Texans. Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable “alternative” lifestyle in our public education and policy, nor should “family” be redefined to include homosexual “couples.”

Texas Sodomy Statutes - We oppose the legalization of sodomy. We demand that Congress exercise its authority granted by the U.S. Constitution to withhold jurisdiction from the federal courts from cases involving sodomy.

Wow. That's pretty anti-gay.

Gallup Poll - GOP and Evolution

A new Gallup poll on evolution shows that a majority of Republicans (68%!) are scientifically illiterate. C'mon guys, you're making the rest of the country look bad.


Although the correlation is even stronger in this group:


It's worth reading the link, which outlines the reasons why people tend to not believe in evolution. The #1 reason? "I believe in Jesus Christ." Seriously. Other popular reasons include "I believe in the almighty God, creator of Heaven and Earth," "Due to my religion and faith," "I believe in what I read in the Bible," and "I'm a Christian." According to Gallup, "The majority of these responses are clearly religious in nature."

More GOP and Evolution

Minority leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives Tom Emmer (R-MN) was recently asked if he believes that the earth is merely thousands of years old. Perhaps sensing that his position is indefensible, Emmer dodges the question twice, says that he has a different science, and calls his questioner an "evolutionist." Fellow Minnesota Representatives laugh at him.



Isn't it sad that the Minnesota Republican party has elevated this guy to such a high position of leadership?

The GOP and Evolution

At the Republican debate last night, the moderator asked if any of the ten candidates did not believe in evolution. Three of the ten(Brownback, Tancredo and Huckabee) raised their hands.

Just to flesh things out a bit, let's see what these guys have had to say about the topic in the past:

Sam Brownback:

• "it is impossible to observe macro-evolution, it is scientific assumption"
  -Speaking in support of the Santorum amendment (at S6152) which would have teachers present objections to evolution whenever it is taught in science classes

Mike Huckabee:

• "I think that students also should be given exposure to the theories not only of evolution but to the basis of those who believe in creationism."
  -Arkansans Ask
  
• "I think schools also ought to be fair to all views. Because, frankly, Darwinism is not an established scientific fact. It is a theory of evolution, that’s why it’s called the theory of evolution. And I think that what I’d be concerned with is that it should be taught as one of the views that’s held by people."
  -Arkansans Ask
• "I do not necessarily buy into the traditional Darwinian theory, personally."
  -Arkansans Ask
• "If you want to believe that you and your family came from apes, I'll accept that....I believe there was a creative process.''
  -Associated Press
  

House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has just announced the new members of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.

Democratic members, appointed by Nancy Pelosi (D-CA):

• Congressman Ed Markey of Massachusetts, Chairman
• Congressman Earl Blumenauer of Oregon
• Congressman Jay Inslee of Washington
• Congressman John Larson of Connecticut
• Congresswoman Hilda Solis of California
• Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth of South Dakota
• Congressman Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri
• Congressman John Hall of New York
• Congressman Jerry McNerney of California

Republican members, appointed by John Boehner (R-OH):

• Congressman James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, Ranking Member
• Congressman John Shadegg of Arizona
• Congressman Greg Walden of Oregon
• Congressman John Sullivan of Oklahoma
• Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee
• Congresswoman Candice Miller of Michigan

It's interesting to note, however, that all but one of the Republican appointees (Greg Walden) voted against creation of the committee in the first place.

The Land Before Time

The Iowa Republican Party has included support for Intelligent Design / Creationism in its party platform.

3.4 We support the teaching of alternative theories on the origins of life including Darwinian Evolution, Creation Science or Intelligent Design, and that each should be given equal weight in presentation.

Bob Vander Plaats, the running-mate for Iowa's gubernatorial race has much the same to say on the topic:

"If we are going to teach evolution, there is another viewpoint and one that holds pretty good too (evolution) in regards to creation," Vander Plaats said. "I think that is something that I would want to visit further along with Jim Nussle in regards to 'Where are you at on that?' But my viewpoint is I would like to give both of these (time in the classroom)."

Fuckin' Iowa...