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dacium2007
9th January 2008, 01:49 AM
Ron Paul - When asked about The Theory Evolution:

"I think its a theory. The theory of evolution, and I don't accept it, you know, as a theory. It probably doesn't bother me, its not the most important issue for me to make a difference in my life to understand the exact origin. I think that the creator that I know, you know, created us, everyone of us and the universe. And the precise time the manor and all, I just don't think were at the point where anybody has absolute proof of on either side. So I just don't err, If that were the only issue quite frankly I would think its an interesting discussion, a theological discussion, and I think its fine, but if that were the issue of the day I wouldn't be running for public office."

Many other do the same sort or 'spin', claiming its a battle that is undecided about the origins of the universe. Notice how he jumps straight to the battle of origins, he isn't really talking about evolution here, he jumps straight over it, ignores it almost. It as if he is saying the theory of evolution is something that should be decided by theological discussion! Oh dear, where is the reason!

Then there is the much bigger problem that he and so many other politicians seem to have. If you reject evolution you have to reject science. They can 'spin' it all they want. But if he does not accept evolution, he cannot accept carbon dating, fossil records etc. etc. etc, he can't accept any scientific theory at all. Why are more people no dragging him over the coal's for this? If he doesn't 'accept' evolution, whats to stop him not 'accepting' the germ theory? The theory of gravity? Anything else that doesn't fit with his religion? And he shakes it off as if its a completely unimportant point, as if it doesn't matter if the most powerful man in the world will dismiss a scientific theory because it does not fit with his view of a creator.

Kerberos
9th January 2008, 02:05 AM
I think all the top tier candidates of either party, with the exception of Huckabee, accepts evolution.

Ladewig
9th January 2008, 06:10 AM
But if he does not accept evolution, he cannot accept carbon dating, fossil records etc. etc. etc, he can't accept any scientific theory at all.

Why have you eliminated the possibility that he was lying to attract votes?

marksman
9th January 2008, 06:50 AM
Who accepts evolution?

Hillary Clinton (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/05/us/politics/05clinton.html?_r=1&fta=y&oref=slogin)
John Edwards (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/04/us/politics/04text-dems.html)
John McCain believs in evolution (http://www.evolutionnews.org/2006/07/senator_mccains_take_dont_cens.html) and he used to support the teaching of intelligent design, but he has since backed off that position and now believes ID doesn't belong in science classes.
Barack Obama (http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/robertjacobs/CGt9)
Bill Richardson (http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/newsroom/speeches?id=0023)
Mitt Romney (http://www.reason.com/news/show/124271.html)

I couldn't find a quote for Giuliani, though he did not raise his hand at the Republican debate where people who did not believe in evolution were asked to raise their hands. He has not taken a position for or against the teaching of Intelligent Design. Fred Thompson's campaign manager said that Thompson favors letting local schools teach ID (http://www.alexbeinstein.com/2007/10/fred-thompson-campaign-spokeswoman.html), but he too has said he believes in evolution. Only Huckabee (http://www.preaching.com/resources/inside_preaching/11561528/) and Paul (http://reason.com/blog/show/124160.html) are on record as rejecting evolutionary theory.

Mr. Stick
9th January 2008, 02:22 PM
From that last link:
In a South Carolina forum, Paul was asked about his views on evolution, to which he replied, "I think it's a theory, the theory of evolution and I don't accept it as a theory." He also said that he thought it was an inappropriate question to be asking presidential candidates.

HOW DARE YOU! :rolleyes:

My favorite response from any candidate about the evolution/creationism debate was from former Sen. Mike Gravel (Alaska). When LiveScience asked the senator if he thought creationism should be taught in public schools, Gravel replied, ""Oh God, no. Oh, Jesus. We thought we had made a big advance with the Scopes monkey trial....My God, evolution is a fact, and if these people are disturbed by being the descendants of monkeys and fishes, they've got a mental problem. We can't afford the psychiatric bill for them. That ends the story as far as I'm concerned."

Priceless :D


This really seems to be the essence:
All of the candidates say they believe in God. So even those candidates who accept biological evolution as the scientifically valid way to describe how living things came to be are theistic evolutionists. They believe that God has somehow guided the process of evolution to create us (perhaps by intervening undetectably at the quantum level). It looks as though all of the Democratic presidential candidates are theistic evolutionists. Among the Republicans McCain, Giuliani, and Romney also appear to be theistic evolutionists. Both Huckabee and Paul say that they don't know how God created the world, but they both say that they don't accept biological evolution as the explanation. They, along with Hunter and Thompson, apparently would allow creationism/intelligent design to be taught in public school science classes.