Jon Huntsman: Rick Perry 'Out Of The Mainstream' On Evolution, Climate Science

Republican presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman revived an attack on rival GOP candidate Rick Perry over his stance on evolution and climate change over the weekend.

Huntsman called the Texas governor's views on science "out of the mainstream."

“If you’re going to run from climate science, if you’re going to run from other mainstream scientific principles, evolution among them, I think you’re suggesting to a whole lot of people out there that you’re out of the mainstream,” Huntsman said during an appearance on Bloomberg’s “Political Capital With Al Hunt."

It's not the first time Huntsman has criticized Perry for being "outspoken" about his views on evolution and science on the trail. Perry has said that he thinks "God is how we got here" and that evolution is "a theory that's out there."

Huntsman was pressed on his past characterization of the GOP as the "anti-science party" at a recent Republican presidential debate. He was asked, "Who on this stage is anti-science?"

While Huntsman declined to name any specific rival candidate, he expressed concern that his GOP opponents were running away from "mainstream conservative philosophy."

"When you make comments that fly in the face of what 98 out of 100 climate scientists have said, when you call to question evolution, all I'm saying is that in order for the Republican Party to win, we can't run from science," Huntsman said.

In August, Huntsman wrote in a tweet, "To be clear. I believe in evolution and trust scientist on global warming. Call me crazy."

Asked about the message by ABC News, Huntsman said, "I think there's a serious problem. The minute that the Republican Party becomes the party –- the anti-science party, we have a huge problem." He added, "We lose a whole lot of people who would otherwise allow us to win the election in 2012."

Below, video of what Huntsman had to say about the Republican party and science at a recent presidential debate.

WATCH:

Below, a slideshow highlighting the views of Republican presidential candidates on evolution, creationism and intelligent design:

Comments

[Cayce58]

08:57 PM on 10/06/2011

Evangelicals ignore a lot of the bible so why is it difficult to ignore another piece. They demand that I take Genesis and the Bible as literal but that requires that I believe in reincarnation. Why is the creation literal but the statement "though shalt be born again" a simile of a metaphor of a ritual.

[Jim Steinberg]

06:45 PM on 09/28/2011

Huntsman is correct, of course. Problem: Are there any mainstream Republican voters left?

[syl1969]

06:58 PM on 09/26/2011

What this country does not need is another dumb Texan who doesn't believe in science!! We need someone who will lead in the 21st century - not the 19th or 20th!

[cqtestk4xs]

09:46 AM on 09/25/2011

Although I plan to pull the lever for Obama, I like Huntsman and even Romney. At least if one of these two got elected you would have someone who doesn't have his head buried in the ground believing there is no global climate change and that evolution is just a theory, equal in stature to creationism. As for the rest of the Republican pack of wanna be president, mainstream America isn't ready to crawl back to the 1800s

[grayplace]

02:21 AM on 09/22/2011

RP isn't just out of the mainstream, he's out of his mind.

[reddsox35]

03:09 PM on 09/21/2011

Rick Perry can not help the way he believes, he is a blind believer because of his faith. I feel those that are of "intelligent design" are really not so intelligent when they cant open their mind or eyes to the proof around them. There is no proof that anything in the bible is romtely true.

[eaarth2]

11:52 AM on 09/21/2011

Out of the Mainstream? Perry - NO!

Here is a man who thinks the world is 6,000 years old, and I was born in a cabbage patch (white)

Texas is drying out and burning- bad karma?

[Kache]

12:50 AM on 09/21/2011

Ya know what Ricky, I'm a firm believer in the tooth fairy, but, unlike you, I realize that that disqualifies me from sitting in the Oval Office (even as a spectator).

[joeyfoto]

11:35 PM on 09/20/2011

Rick Perry represents the core of the mainstream of far-right fundamentalist Christian bigotry.
We think these irrational beliefs are simply preposterous nonsense and ignorance, but they are code for "we possess the 'Absolute Truth' of 'God's Word.' Whoever disagrees with "God's Army' scorns God." If you question that, look into the fringe-positions of the ministers at Perry's "Prayer Day."

That is both his fixed position and his core constituency — they are the voting block, that Perry believes will carry him to the White House. I think that he and they are delusional, but we'll see...

[jsim6974]

10:28 PM on 09/20/2011

Good for you Huntsman...unfortunatly, it's political suicide for a rightwinger to agree with science.

[JShep]

05:37 PM on 09/20/2011

The effects of AGW on climate change is scientific "theory", not scientific "proof". There is room for doubting the claims of compouter models that have to constantly be tweeked when they fail to accurately predict actual temperature increases. The temperature rise predictions by one computer model can be as much as 10 times that of another - does this not give reason for some level of doubt about the accuracy of both models? Since the debate on global warming could effect our economy by trillions of dollars, shouldn't there be more debate on the subject by noted scientists from both sides?

[chrisd3]

09:02 PM on 09/20/2011

If you're going to comment on science, you first need to revisit your eighth grade science text and refresh yourself on two basic facts.

1. In science, "theory" does not mean what you seem to think it means.

2. There is no such thing as "scientific proof." There is only the weight of evidence. That we have, in spades.

As for your comments on the models, please understand that they are not the foundation of AGW but simply an attempt to put numbers on it (and, by the way, contrary to your apparent belief, they are doing pretty well). If, as is now the case, the amount of energy reaching the Earth exceeds the amount of energy that's leaving it, the planet WILL get warmer. It is inevitable. All the models are really trying to do is quantify how fast it's going to happen and how it will affect different regions.

"shouldn't there be more debate on the subject by noted scientists from both sides?"

Unfortunately, there are essentially no "noted scientists" on the other "side." Among those who have really studied climate science, agreement on the fundamentals of AGW is approaching unanimity.

[Kache]

12:53 AM on 09/21/2011

You tell 'em Bullwinkle! You wrapped that up pretty good.

Fanned!

[DesertRatzoRizzo]

03:13 PM on 09/20/2011

Evolution is science.
Creationism is fiction.
Intelligent design is delusion.

[peter ricci]

01:54 AM on 09/21/2011

Intelligent design is the identical twin of creationism, just a different name!

[Sunwyn Ravenwood]

04:58 AM on 09/21/2011

If we were intelligently designed we would have plug-in modular components.

[hungryaardvark]

03:09 PM on 09/20/2011

Huntsman's wrong. Perry's right in the middle of the mainstream of his 2%ers. It doesn't matter to him that the other 98% thinks him loony, a craven hussy, or simply in it for the power trip. They are 100% out of his 2% mainstream and MUST be ignored.

[airforcevet43]

03:05 PM on 09/20/2011

Conservatives are Asking???

Why is everything out of this mans' mouth subject to criticism???

The Answer can be found in Grandpa's old saying........

You can walk the world around and many may think you're a fool.....but then, you can open your mouth and remove all doubt.

[Jacquie Hamilton]

02:34 PM on 09/20/2011

The minute that the Republican Party becomes the party –- the anti-science party, we have a huge problem - too late Jon. You are that party.