Florida Senator Marco Rubio, touted by some as the great Republican hope in the 2016 presidential election, thinks whether students learn sound science is irrelevant to the economy. Asked in an interview for GQ magazine how old he thinks Earth is, Rubio decided not to anger evolution deniers on the religious right:
“I’m not a scientist, man. I can tell you what recorded history says, I can tell you what the Bible says, but I think that’s a dispute amongst theologians and I think it has nothing to do with the gross domestic product or economic growth of the United States. I think the age of the universe has zero to do with how our economy is going to grow. I’m not a scientist. I don’t think I’m qualified to answer a question like that. At the end of the day, I think there are multiple theories out there on how the universe was created and I think this is a country where people should have the opportunity to teach them all. I think parents should be able to teach their kids what their faith says, what science says. Whether the Earth was created in 7 days, or 7 actual eras, I’m not sure we’ll ever be able to answer that. It’s one of the great mysteries.”
Rubio is no doubt aware that Texas Gov. Rick Perry, himself a supporter of teaching “intelligent design”/creationism in public schools, could be one of his opponents for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.
another idiot with “creationist” baggage
When he said “… I’m not a scientist …” he said a mouth full. Obviously, he’s not a critical, analytical thinker. He should not be in a position of making decisions about education and he should NOT be deciding how tax dollars are spent. People like him will continue to pop up like gopher mounds on a new lawn as long as people vote for them.
It used to be the case that people used reason in all but one facet of life, but these people actually seem to have abandoned reason in all those other facets as well. They have positioned themselves to be incapable of evidence-based policymaking.
First, you don’t have to be a scientist to be scientifically literate, just as you don’t have to be a writer to be literate.
Rubio is an IDiot, pure and simple. He’s passing off his own ignorance and laziness as “not being a scientist.”
Second, he has no problem expressing his stupid, illiterate, religious, pandering opinion which he’s all to ready to codify into public policy. We’ve seen this with McLeroy and Jindal and all the other political creationists.
Rubio has no political future so long as he believes that he must pander to The Base, a dwindling demographic of stupid people.
While it’s true that growing the economy has nothing to do with the age of the earth it’s also true that we need to elect leaders that show sound judgement. And belief in superstition and myths is not in anyway indicative of sound judgement.
If Rubio is, as advertised, the great hope for the future of the republican party then the party is in a world of hurt.
Or the country when they take over again.
It is my sincere hope that Perry AND Rubio run for President in 2016. Unless the Democrats choose an orangutang for their candidate, they are certain of a win.
I am also pleased to see so many GOPers
denying the reality of their recent loss of seats in
the senate and Congress not to mention the “surprise” OBama win.
The fact that they were surprised indicates the GOP continues to live in la la land with regards
to science, defense, foreign policy, the budget, taxes, women’s rights, education,
minorities and gay citizens.
We may not experience as much of a Renaissance to thinking citizens here in Texas, but antionally, the denial spells more trouble for the GOP. The President has called their bluff and won on taxes for the wealthy. They’re trapped.
The fiscal cliff will actually be a fiscal bloom ofr Americans as the death grip the GOP has on our economy is broken by fair tax policies.
Keep it up guys !