American Politics.

[Vimto]

I am reading more and more about a potential Republican hopeful in the American Presidential race. I refer to Michele Bachmann; much has been written and there will be much more written. I see see that she is a lawyer which is not a good start. There is one question however, that all presidential candidates should answer:

Do you believe in the Biblical creation story or the Theory of Evolution; Genesis or Darwinism? How would SHE answer this very important question? No fudging or obsfuscation and serious answers only please. I would appreciate contributions from the United States in addition to Europe.

[CanisMajor]

No US politician would ever get into that game Vimto, whatever their personal beliefs they would dodge that question. No doubt there are many in the US that accept natural selection and the whole Darwin picture but a huge proportion of the US, sadly, are religious and no politician, let alone a potential Presidential canditate would risk alienating them. As a republican she will need the college votes of the bible belt states to stand any chance at all.

[jno]

she believes in creationism and intelligent design. She hasn't fudged it.

Some quotes here:

http://theness.com/ne...promotes-creationism/

[Vimto]

The link was most interesting jno; have a look Canis. You see, I worry when I hear of high schools and colleges that are not permitted to teach proper science and I worry when I hear of $14 trillion of debt and little being done. It's the case that a large percentage of the U.S. population are in denial on many major issues. To have the leader in the same boat is a tradgedy.
I have asked many Americans both here in Europe and on my fairly frequent visits to the States about the dearth of quality Presidential candidates when you have so many very capable people and the general answer is that those clever enough and statesmanlike enough wouldn't touch the job with a bargepole. It's a great pity because I care.

[CanisMajor]

I was referring to the electoral college that elects Presidents.

In politics generally the public will not pay for the best people so they end up in the private sector. So in politics you tend to get those that can't get a proper job although there are notable exceptions to that. The basic issue is that top politicians are grossly underpaid but saying so tends to illicit hysterics from the populus. In a nutshell, you pay peanuts you usually get monkeys.

[Clanad]

I'm not sure what your problem is with Ms. Bachmann. She, like most other members of the House and Senate (as well as the President) is an attorney. Additionally, she and her husband have started and ran a business, they have, I believe 5 children plus they have been foster parents to 23 other children. She has a law degree from Oral Roberts University as well as a master’s in tax law from William and Mary University. She worked as a federal tax attorney until the birth of her fourth child and home schooled most of her children. She was elected to the Minnesota State Senate and later elected to the U.S. House of Representatives to serve two terms. She has raised nearly $14 million dollars all in small donations but... the best thing she has going for her is that the liberals hate her with the same venemous vengance as the hate Sarah Palin.
She has consistently said that the teaching of courses in any school is up to the local school boards (elected, here in the U.S.) and should not be dictated from the Federal level.
She makes no secret of her Christianity, having provided home to unwed and otherwise handicapped young girls at her own expense. However, she does not wear her religion on her sleeve and, notably, does not run for President on the basis of her femininity.
The links provided by jno, read in fairness states exactly her position... and there are numerous acredited scientists of many persuaions that disagree with aspects of evolution... but that's never been a mainstay of her campaigns. (See if you can get a consensus on the definition of 'species' among biologists, for example).
Regardless, the attacks on both her and Palin defy credulity. Once again, it indicates in spades that liberals are truly afraid of intelligent, clearheaded women who know where they stand on issues and aren't afraid to state them...
By the way, the set piece of her campaign is the debt and how to overcome it...

[Clanad]

Additionally, your understanding of how the Electoral College works here in the U.S. is way off base... it serves only to level the playing field of the less populated States vs the Big States. Otherwise, the residents of New York, Los Angeles and other large metropolitan areas would be the only votes that count.

[ichkeria]

I know religion should be a private affair but in the USA it plainly isn't
I think it IS an issue that in a country such as the US, supposedly the hub of the free world, and undoubtedly full of excellent and intelligent people, such a high proprtion of "creationists" seem to rise to the top, like scum. They are entitled to their beliefs, but I won't easily forget our RE teacher at school, who was a right-wing creationist. He put me off reading Animal Farm for years as he claimed it was a "thumbs-up for Communism" and he still writes batty letters to US religious publications about the evils of Darwinism.
It does scare me that people like Palin and co rise so easily to the top in US politics. Hopefully not all the way to the top, though.

[Vimto]

Well I seem to have ruffled a few feathers, not least from Clanad whose leanings are very obvious but I really must put her right on one or two points. I have no axe to grind regarding Mrs. Bachmann other than the fact that she is a legal eagle. I was simply asking a question on where she stood on a major issue and I have received mainly sensible answers from mainly sensible and articulate people. I am not familiar with some of your expressions Clanad such as "in spades"and "way off base", which I think must mean that I don't understand how the Electoral College works when, if you read what I said, I never mentioned the voting system at all.
Incidentally, is this lady a Roman Catholic? I ask because of the five children which can sometimes act as an indicator.
I sympathise with your views on Palin, ichkeria. She comes over as the worst kind of opportunist and appears to be, if not a person of very little brain, then a person of very little knowledge of the world outside her very narrow parameters.
Maybe it's time to have a woman as President as after all Maggie did wonders for us here in Britain and knew the value of the friendship with Mr. Reagan and Mr. Bush Snr., two very sensible gentlemen.