Bear DNA and John McCain's Silly Science

We've all heard John McCain's tired joke about the pork barrell spending on bear DNA (a paterniy issue or a criminal one -- so funny the first dozen times you hear it ... less so the next 100 times).

I never actually knew the details of the bear DNA study. It turns out, as Jack Farrell notes over at Thomas Jefferson Street, that the study is for a good cause. (No word on harbor seal DNA.) But of course, as Jack notes, McCain and Sarah Palin are happy to have creation myth taught along with evolution science in schools.

Comments

[AustinCynic]

The debate was the first time I'd heard about this joke and it didn't strike me as funny the first time. This is actually the kind of earmark I don't mind. Projects like this help manage resources like wildlife and may also advance basic knowledge as well.

There is, I have heard, a similar program to study crab DNA in Alaska with an eye toward better management of crab fisheries (we've got to keep The Deadliest Catch on the air, after all). Funny how THAT earmark didn't get mentioned by McCain.

[klondiker]

What strikes me about that joke is the fact that it shows McCain's utter inability to see the big picture. Railing about $3 million projects when the economy is collapsing seems silly. It's like worrying about a stain on the carpet when the house is on fire.

He does that with his whole spiel about earmarks and pork-barrelling. Earmarks, as bad as they might be, are not going to solve the problems facing the economy.

The same goes for energy. Drilling will not solve our energy problems.

We need a president who can think bigger and bolder.

[HoldenLitgo]

A president who could think at all would be nice. It's been demonstrated before, but seems to have lost its allure, that basic reasoning skills and intellect are a big plus in that job. Again, Obama/Biden leads McCain/Palin by two and a half heads.