August 18, 2011

Rick Perry dances around some of those tricky "gotcha" science-y questions, the kind that could get him trouble with his base if he doesn't mention creationism as an equally valid concept but also could get him completely discounted as a nutbar if he goes too far with that kind of talk among regular folks who don't think the earth is flat, or that we rode around on dinosaurs back in the Flintstones era.

KID: "How old do you think the earth is?"

RICK PERRY: "You know what? I don't have any idea....I'm not sure anybody knows absolutely and completely for sure."

KID: "Do you believe in Evolution?"

RICK PERRY: "It's a theory that's out there. It's got some gaps in it. In Texas we teach both creationism and evolution....You know, 'cos I figure you're smart enough to figure out which one's right." [WINK]

Sounds like he said "gas" but I'm pretty sure it's "gaps". That would be consistent with his overall message.

UPDATE: Apparently Rick Perry has no idea what he's talking about though.

“No, it is not true," said Kathy Miller, president of the Texas Freedom Network, an interest group that has lobbied the State Board of Education to keep religion out of public schools. "Texas science standards do not call for teaching creationism in the classroom."

David Bradley, a social conservative member of the State Board of Education, said he hadn't heard the governor's comments. But when asked if Texas schools teach creationism alongside evolution, Bradley responded: "Not specifically."

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