September, 16 2008, 04:25pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Sam Husseini, (202) 347-0020;
or David Zupan, (541) 484-9167
Palin and Creationism
WASHINGTON
PHILIP MUNGER
Available for a limited number of interviews, Munger is editor of the "Progressive Alaska"
blog and can address a number of aspects of Gov. Palin's record. He
said today: "One thing that hasn't gotten much attention is Palin's
apparent belief in creationism. Around June 1997 she told me she
thought the Earth was about 6,000 years old and that people and
dinosaurs walked the Earth at the same time. In 2002 or 2003 (I know it
was Nov. 11 since it was at a Veterans Day event) I asked her about
this again since my kids and her kids were in the same school district
and I was concerned about creationism being taught as if it were a form
of science. This time she didn't answer directly, but said that it
didn't matter since 'the Lord is coming soon.'"
FREDERICK CLARKSON
Author of the book Eternal Hostility: The Struggle Between Theocracy and Democracy, Clarkson is editor of the forthcoming Dispatches from the Religious Left: The Future of Faith and Politics in America. He is founder of the interactive blog "Talk to Action" about the religious right.
He said today: "More than any candidate in modern political history,
there are fair and sound reasons to ask GOP vice presidential candidate
Sarah Palin about the relationship between her religious and public
policy views.
"For example, Palin told a reporter when she ran for governor that she
is a creationist, refused to comment on evolution, and said that she
thought discussion of creationism in science class was valid.
Similarly, the churches with which she is affiliated preach that we are
living in the End Times as described in the Book of Revelation.
"The question is what are the public policy implications of her
particular ... beliefs on everything from what is taught in the public
schools to the way such interpretations influence her views on foreign
and military policy."
More Information
A nationwide consortium, the Institute for Public Accuracy (IPA) represents an unprecedented effort to bring other voices to the mass-media table often dominated by a few major think tanks. IPA works to broaden public discourse in mainstream media, while building communication with alternative media outlets and grassroots activists.
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