Flip-Flop? Confused? McCain on teaching Intelligent Design... YES!... NO!... Sometimes!

[npincus]

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Story?id=2897153&page=2

In 2005, he told the Arizona Star, "I think that there has to be all points of view presented. But they've got to be thoroughly presented. So to say that you can only teach one line of thinking … or one belief on how people and the world was created I think there's nothing wrong with teaching different schools of thought."

/When asked if intelligent design should be taught in science class, McCain said, "There's enough scientists that believe it does. I'm not a scientist. This is something that I think all points of view should be presented."


But in Aspen in 2006, McCain said of intelligent design, "Should it be taught as a science class? Probably not."


McCain's view on how the world was created, however, is pretty straight-forward. At that same Aspen event, McCain said "I happen to believe in evolution" though he said he "respect(s) those who think the world was created in seven days."


http://politicalwire.com/archives/2005/08/24/mccain_backs_intelligent_design.html

McCain Backs "Intelligent Design"

In an interview with Arizona Daily Star editors, Sen. John McCain endorsed teaching "intelligent design" in the nation's schools because "he believes 'all points of view' should be available to students studying the origins of mankind."

August 24, 2005




http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/politics/90069

On Tuesday, though, he sided with the president on two issues that have made headlines recently: teaching intelligent design in schools and Cindy Sheehan, the grieving mother who has come to personify the anti-war movement.

McCain told the Star that, like Bush, he believes "all points of view" should be available to students studying the origins of mankind.

The theory of intelligent design says life is too complex to have developed through evolution, and that a higher power must have had a hand in guiding it.


http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/154403.aspx

Now, on Intelligent Design, I asked the McCain camp this question:

Understanding that teaching Intelligent Design is a local issue, does Senator McCain believe teaching Intelligent Design in science class alongside Evolution is a good idea?

Here's the campaign's response:

"Senator McCain believes evolution is supported by science, but that we shouldn’t be afraid to expose students to other theories."


Critics say that McCain's position on teaching intelligent design in schools is not easy to decipher.

[WinkyDink]

1. McCain: Evidence of Non-Intelligent Design.

[madmom]

2. or proof that everybody makes mistakes!

[jody]

3. Should science be taught based on supernatural or natural laws? More precisely should science

classes include magic a la Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?

I don't object to a non-science course covering as many different religions as possible including
irreligion.

IMO that could help people in a multicultural society learn to tolerate one another.