Perry dismisses evolution as ‘a theory that’s out there’

(God, how my home state has crumbled in the areas of rational governance and the arts and sciences. When I was in school, they didn't teach "creationism" at all, much less in science class because it isn't science and there is nothing scientific about any aspect of "creationism." It is a fable taught in Sunday school class while kids glue cotton balls to little outlines of sheep and tape them to the windows while they sing "Jesus Loves the Little Children." Back then, Texas was an almost entirely blue state, having only ever elected 3 Republican Governors by the time I graduated. Since then,Texas has elected only 3 more republican Governors: Bill Clements, George W. Bush, And Ricky Perry. 

The foundation of progressive governance and education established over 164 years has been completely unraveled in under 16 years, presided over by Bush and Perry. It seems wholly unlikely, but sadly it's true. Now, kids get a useless education of conservative christian ideals, pro-corporate morality and privatized schools, and diminished arts and humanities. 164 years of progressive education, governance, arts, humanities, and sciences produced such diverse Texas minds exported to the world like Molly Ivins, Howard Hughes, Carol Burnett, Walter Cronkite, Willie Nelson, Roy Orbison, Gene Roddenberry, Audie Murphy, Lloyd Bentsen, Barbara Jordan, Janis Joplin, Ann Richards, F. Murray Abraham, Bill Hicks, Steve Martin, Forest Whitaker, Tommy Tune, Robert Rodriguez, Megan Mylan, Terrence McNally, Richard Linklater, Kris Kristofferson, Mike Judge, Tommy Lee Jones, Wes Anderson, Powers Boothe, Chris Cooper, Joan Crawford, Jamie Foxx, Woody Harrelson, Erykah Badu, Ron White, T-Bone Burnett, Van Cliburn, Roky Erickson, Kinky Friedman, Lyle Lovett, Elliott Smith, Barry White, Rusty Weir, Tom Landry, Tex Avery, Berkeley Breathed, Dan Piraro, Robert E. Howard, Larry McMurtry, Joe Bob Briggs, Amon G. Carter, Dan Cook, Linda Ellerbee, Norm Hitzges, Jim Lehrer, Brad Sham, Lauren Anderson...and a list that would take days to complete. In the 16 years during which this state has gone through a massive gerrymandering and conservative christian upheaval funded by corporate sponsorship, our theocratic education system with a de-emphasis on art and science and an emphasis on creationism and conservative persons of interest and biblical principles has produced: Jessica and Ashley Simpson, Anna Fermanova, Chris Bosh, and assorted American Idol contestants.--jef)

"In Texas, we teach both creationism and evolution in our schools," Says Perry.
By David Edwards - RAW Replay
on 08.18.11

Climate change isn’t the only science that Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry has doubts about.

The Texas governor told a boy in New Hampshire Thursday that evolution was also questionable.

“You know, it’s a theory that’s out there,” Perry replied. “It’s got some gaps in it. In Texas, we teach both creationism and evolution in our schools. Because I figure you’re smart enough to figure out which one is right.”

“How old do you think the Earth is?” the boy had asked earlier.

“You know what? I don’t have any idea,” Perry said. “I know it’s pretty old. So, it goes back a long, long way. I’m not sure anybody actually knows completely and absolutely how long the Earth is.”

CNN noted that about 35 protesters had confronted Perry regarding Social Security and Medicare at the same event.

Watch this video from ABC News, broadcast Aug. 18, 2011. Check out the kid's mom using her kid to ambush Perry with accusing questions the kid would not have asked himself.