Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann has once again expressed doubts about the validity of evolution, and her support for introducing creationism, also known as Intelligent Design, into the public school science classroom.
Friday, speaking at the Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, Bachmann reiterated her suspicions about evolution and her support for evolution. This is not the first time Bachmann has made such claims.
In 2006, Bachmann claimed “there is a controversy among scientists about whether evolution is a fact… hundreds and hundreds of scientists, many of them holding Nobel prizes, believe in intelligent design.”
Needless to say, for the vast majority of educated individuals, Bachmann's claim about a scientific controversy is false to the point of being ludicrous. Evolution is accepted science, and the foundation of modern biology. The only real controversy about evolution is religious. The theory makes certain religious claims, like the fundamentalist Christian claim that the earth is only 6,000 years old, simply untenable.
Perhaps more disturbing than Bachmann's doubt concerning the validity of evolution and her support for intelligent design, is the fact that many Republicans support her position, a position that critics find to be indicative of a severe intellectual disconnect with reality.
For many, Bachmann and her fellow Republicans' disdain for science is appalling. For many to teach intelligent design side by side with evolution in a science classroom is nothing short of child abuse, and a clear attempt at religious indoctrination.
Bachmann, speaking to reporters in New Orleans following her speech to the Republican Leadership Conference, made the following statement:
"I support intelligent design. What I support is putting all science on the table and then letting students decide. I don't think it's a good idea for government to come down on one side of scientific issue or another, when there is reasonable doubt on both sides."
Bachmann seems to be confused. There are some things students don't get to decide. Many things are not up for debate: 2 +2= 4; the earth is not flat, but shaped like a globe; and evolution is the foundation of biology, providing a coherent and unifying explanation for the history and diversity of life on Earth.
Michelle Bachmann recommends teaching of Intelligent Design, alienating all those not ignorant of scienceMs. Bachmann, let me explain it quickly. Evolution = Science.Intelligent Design = Philosophy. Thank you, and good night.Every time @Michele Bachmann supports teaching "intelligent design" in school I will donate to @Barack Obama 's campaign. #SCIENCE not MagicHow can you support putting "all science on the table" when intelligent design is not science?Michele Bachmann believes in Intelligent Design even though she's living proof against it.Michelle Bachmann wants Intelligent Design taught in schools. That's what the Taliban teach.Bachmann wants schools to teach Intelligent Design. Sure! Let's also teach pre-Copernicus geocentrism w/Earth at center of universe
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