Rick Perry: Evolution A Theory That's Out There (VIDEO)

During a stop in New Hampshire on Thursday, Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry raised skepticism about the theory of evolution.

"How old do I think the earth is? You know what, I don't have any idea," said the Texas governor when asked about his position on the issue by a woman and her son. "I know it's pretty old so it goes back a long long way. I'm not sure anybody actually knows completely and absolutely how long, how old the earth is."

Perry regarded evolution as "a theory that's out there" and one that's "got some gaps in it." He added that in the Lone Star State both creationism and evolution are taught to students in public schools. He explained, "I figure you're smart enough to figure out which one is right."

The Texas Tribune reports that some in Texas dispute the governor's claim about whether creationism is taught in the classroom in the state. The Tribune notes:

In 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that teaching creationism in public schools was unconstitutional. In the case Edwards v. Aguillard, the court ruled that teaching creationism in Louisiana public schools was the equivalent of teaching religion — and violated the Constitution because it advanced a particular religion.

Earlier this summer, GOP presidential candidate Michele Bachmann expressed doubt about the theory of evolution.

"I support intelligent design," she said after speaking at this year's Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans. "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."

In 2006, Bachmann suggested that some within the scientific community discredit the theory of evolution. "There are hundreds and hundreds of scientists, many of them holding Nobel Prizes, who believe in intelligent design," she said.

Meanwhile, GOP presidential contender Jon Huntsman signaled a different stance on the issue on Thursday. In a tweet he wrote, "To be clear. I believe in evolution and trust scientists on global warming. Call me crazy."

Comments

[Onlyjoined Foraccess]

03:41 PM on 10/04/2011

One thing about Rick Perry that I've never heard mentioned; he claims not to believe in evolution, even laughs at it, but people who don't believe in evolution almost always have religious affiliations that preclude recognizing it as fact; they say they believe that evolution is "contrary to the Bible", which they literally believe.

The thing is, Rick Perry is a Methodist. Methodism has NO problem with evolution, or with science in general

So where does he get this anti-science bias anyway? Or is he faking it? He's ambitious enough to CLAIM to believe anything that he thinks will get him votes, no matter how stupid or easily-disproven.

All I know for sure about Rick Perry's real beliefs is that he obviously does NOT believe in public education and he DOES believe in maximum wealth and power for Rick Perry and Rick Perry's donors and buddies, at the expense of the rest of us.

Speaking of which, you should really do another article focusing on Perry regarding the hefty political favors he doles out to his friends and donors, and the favor he expected from Bush but didn't get, hence his anti-Bush grudge....

[LeftLeanWing]

12:53 AM on 09/24/2011

The Theory of Evolution has been Proven.....
By D_N_A.....   analysis......
that is about as an exact a measurement you can get.
No More......  trying prove or disprove.... just by Observations and Perceptions... or BELIEFs

[mikewill45]

06:07 PM on 09/24/2011

Actually it hasn't been proven but I realize that many don't need proof, just their dogma. It's actually a well known fact that even some atheists support the teaching of intelligent design as they realize for some it does not necessarily involve a "god". Do a search on Monton and his book titled, "Seeking God in Science: An Atheist Defends Intelligent Design". Check it out, if you can actually handle truth rather than dogma.

[dacapm01]

09:28 AM on 09/26/2011

ROFL, so because there is ONE!!! book out there that an "atheist" wrote about his views on evolution, THAT means evolution is OUT. That's that guys, some guy on the internet wrote a BOOK that promotes intelligent design, so it must be true. Gotta love those "special" people on this planet that always fall for the N=1 arguments. BTW mikewill45, if you are so against "dogma" why are you pro religion, that is actual dogma, UNLESS!!! of course you know the actual truth of everything. Please if you do, why are you wasting your time on HuffPost. Get the news out there BROTHER.

[LeftLeanWing]

12:46 AM on 09/24/2011

Since WE were Made in GOD's Image....

The Teabaggers are gonna freak when they findOut that
GOD is actually a Large Black Woman

without a Perm....

[annmulliniks]

05:35 PM on 09/15/2011

Whether these theories are true or false should matter only to the individuals each as they choose to believe. What matters in the context of this article, is how these candidates responded to the question. Like in an interview, How questions are answered is far more important to the observer, than the actual answers.This is because many people will say whatever they think you want to hear just to get in the door. Really, this is what these politicians are doing, applying for positions of power. We need to observe them, not just listen to what they say. Because they will say what they think we want to hear.

[annmulliniks]

05:20 PM on 09/15/2011

Jon Huntsman was the only candidate who answered the question as he really believed. The others just straddeled the fence to please all parties and gather more votes for themselves. This shows how wishey washey they really are. What are they going to do when they get into office? Very likely the same as those already in power. Point fingers and claim it's somebody else's fault!

[Petey Crooozer]

11:50 AM on 09/07/2011

Overheard at Walmart:

"Hay thar Billie-Bob, has yew seen that purdy gurl Michelle Bachmann ayand thet Texis gubner Rick Parry???? Thay iz dummm jes lahk us, less vote fur thayem!!!!"

[samirk7788]

11:05 AM on 08/29/2011

Intelligent Design is the same concept that questions why Humans aren't evolving from chimps right now as we speak since we evolved from them in the past..... What a joke. If Intelligent Design advocates are going to question evolution, at least understand what the theory of evolution is truly saying instead of assuming you understand every fact about it and question it.

Also if you don't believe in Evolution, which is defined in a change in a gene pool towards a certain direction by academia, you invalidate aspects of medicine such as varying drug efficacy and immunizations. The basic concepts that build the theory of evolution, such as radioactive dating and half life (which is used in determining when you need to take another set of drugs in the hospital as well) also support medicine in general. The things people will believe(or say they believe) just to get the vote of constituents who are raised to not believe these things.

By the way, republicans should start questioning gravity and brownian motion as well. They are only theories of course.

[ThomasTrom]

08:54 AM on 08/26/2011

I don't believe in the theory of evolution and I've spent time studying several books on the subject. Evolution itself is fact. All life forms adapt to their environments. But the molecules-to-man theory is really ridiculous. They are so many gaps. It has never been observed. It denies the power of a Creator. The theory of evolution is almost like something out of disney: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/dec/20/sciencenews.evolution

[Bruce Kettelle]

10:11 AM on 08/26/2011

Pietistic fantasy + blind faith = Disney-like result
BTW, molecules-to-man is so real you wouldn't exist without it. Molecules are constructed from atoms, the basic building blocks of everything, living and inanimate.

[ThomasTrom]

11:16 AM on 08/26/2011

Bruce, are you saying molecules-to-man theory is so real, or molecules are real? You can play those tricks on others, don't try them with me. So many of you people say "Evolution is fact", and I always have to say, yes, it is, but there is a big difference between evolution and the theory of evolution. Just as you are playing on words here by describing what molecules are and describing molecules as real, when no one is arguing that molecules aren't real. We're talking the "molecules-to-man-theory". Why are you being so intellectually dishonest? Molecules-to-man theory refers to the large scale evolution where over time organisms evolve in to more complex organisms with added improvements, new organs and changed bodily structures. It is this that lacks evidence, has thousands and millions of missing links and is incoherent with data in various other fields. It is not observable, it has not testable. It is a pseudo-science.

[Susan Shaffer]

12:28 AM on 09/19/2011

"spent time studying several books"
try doing a degree and you might get a better understanding of how it works

[SoSorry]

04:08 PM on 08/25/2011

The earth is pretty 'long' Ricky! I love my country. You can say things like what Dawkins recently said about Rick Perry:
"There is nothing unusual about Governor Rick Perry. Uneducated fools can be found in every country and every period of history, and they are not unknown in high office. What is unusual about today’s Republican party (I disavow the ridiculous ‘GOP’ nickname, because the party of Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt has lately forfeited all claim to be considered ‘grand’) is this: In any other party and in any other country, an individual may occasionally rise to the top in spite of being an uneducated ignoramus. In today’s Republican Party ‘in spite of’ is not the phrase we need. Ignorance and lack of education are positive qualifications, bordering on obligatory. Intellect, knowledge and linguistic mastery are mistrusted by Republican voters, who, when choosing a president, would apparently prefer someone like themselves over someone actually qualified for the job."

[June Conway Beeby]

01:19 PM on 08/25/2011

It should raise a big red danger flag to hear potential political representatives who are so scientific illiterate as those mentioned in this article, who don't trust science, or its usefullness in their world.

This vacuum in their thought processes should mark them with a big black check mark signalling they are not suuitable for any responsible job that requires clear thinking and education. If you care about the future of America do not vote for them.
.

[Susan Shaffer]

12:34 AM on 09/19/2011

i didn't like perry because of the death penalty and his attitude to it.
You are right that this sort of comment is a clear flag

[wayne the pain]

11:16 AM on 08/23/2011

Evolution is a theory like 2+2=4 is a theory! Praying to end the drought is a theory out there! God created the earth in six days is a theory! God parted the Red Sea is a theory! Global warming is a theory like radiation causes cancer is a theory! Perry is a good example of the old saying that you can send a kid to school but you can't make him learn. In Rick Perry's case that is not a theory!

[Jed Wiltzius]

07:23 PM on 08/21/2011

ID has never been scientifically tested, so by operational definition it is not a theory. It is not a hypothesis since there is no model for testing. It is an idea and a belief. Ideas are not taught in science class, only concepts proven via the scientific method.

[samirk7788]

11:18 AM on 08/29/2011

Also some of the main questions that Intelligent Design have asked in the past towards Evolution advocates such as, "Why don't humans still evolve from monkeys?" have been shot down left and right.

[LAustin]

06:57 AM on 08/21/2011

You moderators need to grow up. So childish.

[LAustin]

01:57 AM on 08/21/2011

You moderators are so hilarious.

After I posted something, numerous ppl wrote replies that showed they didn't really read my comment, making all sorts of wild (inaccurate) and stupid assumptions.

After I OWNED all of them and pointed out their assumptions were wrong, *poof* they all disappeared.

Yeah, they OUGHT to be embarrassed.

[POIIUIYT]

11:45 PM on 08/20/2011

after reading hundreds of these blogs i have come to one conclusion. You can't worship god until someone tells you there is a god. and they also tell you how to worship the god they told you about. if there is a god shouldn't the explanation be the same for every culture? the ancient greeks had hundreds of gods, each with a specific purpose and each with a specific temple. are you now saying that they were misadvised? in new guinea there are tribes that worship shot down airplanes in the jungle. where did they go wrong? i think the pagans had it right. you wanna get pregnant.....go to athena's temple.....lay a few bucks on a vestal virgin to offer up a prayer....see what happens .if you get pregnant...there's your proof. voila. they also had oracles who worked a little cheaper. but....there was always money involved.

[Susan Shaffer]

12:36 AM on 09/19/2011

and still people offer up donations to the church. You nailed it.