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News & Views item - September 2008 |
AAAS Comments on US V-P's Views in Respect of Some Scientific Matters.
(September 6, 2008)
The US American Association for the Advancement of Science issued the following statement in regard to views expressed by Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin the Republican vice-presidential candidate chosen by presidential contender Senator John McCain.
Republican VP Pick Supports Teaching "Both Sides." Alaska Governor Sarah
Palin, Sen. John McCain's choice for his running-mate, has expressed views on a
number of issues of interest to scientists. In a televised debate during the
Alaska governor's race in October 2006, Palin, in response to a question about
teaching creationism in public schools, replied (
dwb.adn.com/news/politics/elections/story/8347904p-8243554c.html
), Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so
important, and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching
both." As governor, Palin has opposed the federal government's decision to list
the polar bear as a threatened species because of climate change and shrinking
sea ice with an op-ed in The New York Times (
www.nytimes.com/2008/01/05/opinion/05palin.html ) and a
suit in federal court (
gov.state.ak.us/archive-11993.html ). She believes that
human activities are not responsible for global climate change, favors drilling
in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and opposes federal funding for human
embryonic stem cell research – all positions that conflict not only with the
Democratic platform but also with positions McCain has taken in the past.