McCain Belief In Intelligent Design Evolving ... Away From Religious Right

JABBS

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Thu Dec-29-05 12:28 AM
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McCain Belief In Intelligent Design Evolving ... Away From Religious Right

Arizona Republican John McCain's position on "intelligent design" appears to be -- no pun intended -- evolving.

McCain has spoken in favor of teaching intelligent design, or ID, in public schools for several months, taking the popular conservative opinion -- shared by the Bush Administration -- that public school students should be availed of "all points of view."

Modern use of the term "intelligent design" dates back less than two decades, but it has nonetheless grown popular among the religious right. It is a belief that a higher power, rather than evolution, is responsible for the world as we know it today. Scientists and those who believe in separation of church and state believe that if ID is to be taught, it should be left for religious school rather that public school. JABBS has proposed that ID be taught in public schools only if it can be offered side-by-side with Biblical archaeology, which has found that many of the stories of the Bible are just that ... stories.

When McCain spoke about ID with NPR's Tom Ashbrook last month, even he struggled to explain why it was that ID should be taught in science class.

ASHBROOK: And you support the teaching of intelligent design in American schools? Is this an election-ready position?

McCAIN: No, I support the airing of all viewpoints in America, including Marxism, including socialism, including libertarianism, including -- I think Americans should be exposed to all ideas and viewpoints. I don't think they should be excluded. I don't think they should be excluded.

ASHBROOK: How do you put intelligent design in there, make a kind of equation between that and evolution science, and not undercut science itself, John McCain?

McCAIN: Because I believe, my belief, it was a time before time when the hand of God played a key role in the creation of this world. And I'm entitled to that belief. You may not hold it, but that's my belief, that God did create this incredible universe in which we reside, and every day I see manifestations, as Darwin did, of his work. But that does not mean�.

ASHBROOK: Why not teach that in a religion class, then? Why in the science part of the textbook?

McCAIN: Why teach Marxism, and why teach socialism, and why teach other theories?

ASHBROOK: They may be welcome, but they're in political science, you wouldn't teach Marxism�.

McCAIN: No they're not in political science, they're taught on their own.

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McCain struggled -- as other ID believers before him -- to come up with a reasonable explanation of how a "belief" fits into a science class. Are Marxism and socialism taught "on their own"? Maybe at the university level. But in lower grades -- the same grades over which the ID debate brews -- those theories are taught in political science or history classes, if at all.

Ashbrook's lead question -- "Is this an election-ready position?" -- along with McCain's difficulty answering questions about ID, may have struck a nerve with McCain's political handlers.

Last week, in an interview with MTV News, McCain's view on ID seemed to evolve into something more appealing to the political middle.

"Every young American should be exposed to every point of view. I'm not saying (intelligent design) should be taught in science classes. But I'm saying young people should be exposed to it. I also believe that God had a hand in creation. I certainly don't believe the Earth was created in seven days. But when I stand on the rim of the Grand Canyon and look at that grandeur, I detect the hand of God there in the time before time. I see no reason why students should not be exposed to all theories, recognizing that Darwin's theory's certainly one that is generally accepted in most of the scientific community. I think it's not inappropriate to say there are also people who believe this. Let the student decide."

So, as Ashbrook questioned, now McCain believes that ID should be taught outside science class, and seemingly in a comparative religion class. Hmmm.

McCain proclaims himself to be a conservative -- and liberals who fell in love with him during the 2000 campaign should not think of him otherwise. But that hasn't stopped many conservatives -- especially on talk radio and television -- from being angry with McCain over positions they feel are designed to appeal to the political middle or left -- from appearances on Comedy Central's The Daily Show With Jon Stewart to his recent successful push for legislation banning cruel or inhumane treatment of U.S. detainees worldwide.

Maybe the gap exists because McCain doesn't buy into the conservative noise machine spin cycle. Sure, he allowed himself to be used by President Bush on the campaign trail last year -- remember Bush's kiss on his forehead? -- because he knows any road to the White House goes through the conservative-driven Republican primaries.

The appeal McCain has among the middle is that, even while campaigning for Bush last year, he stood up for John Kerry when the Swift Boat Veterans launched their fact-challenged smear campaign. McCain isn't afraid to speak kindly of Kerry or other Democrats, like Ted Kennedy or former president John Kennedy. Unlike the boobs in the conservative noise machine, he understands that a person doesn't become smart just because he calls his opponent stupid.

So McCain flip-flopped on ID. The religious right will probably be furious, and maybe radio clowns like Mark Levin will have something else to shout about. But McCain knows that the left and most of the middle doesn't accept ID in public schools as an "election-ready position."

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This item first appeared at Journalists Against Bush's B.S.