Sarah Palin, republican VP candidate, is, apparently a "teach the controversy" christian...
This could get interesting:
from the wiki entry
"...Palin supported the teaching of creationism alongside evolution in schools,[31] however, she noted she would not use "religion as a litmus test, or anybody's personal opinion on evolution or creationism" as criteria for selection to the school board."
[31] reference is Anchorage Daily News article:
"...The volatile issue of teaching creation science in public schools popped up in the Alaska governor's race this week when Republican Sarah Palin said she thinks creationism should be taught alongside evolution in the state's public classrooms."
Wiki also claims: "Palin, [who] was also the head of the school Fellowship of Christian Athletes, would lead the team in prayer before games."
Interesting choice - seriously, an interesting choice.
Anti-abortion, pro-death penalty, smoked dope, anti gay marriage but "has gay friends", concerned on climate change, appeals to hunting, rural crowd.
Probably much stronger than the initial democrat comments try to spin it, but
certainly vulnerable under pressure in debates and on global issues.
Big issue is whether there are any substantial block of disaffected Hillary supporters who could be pulled over.
ps: see also PaMD at denialism
PS: apparently Palin no longer "has gay friends"
someone naive has been trying to scrub her wiki entry - kos is all over it - tricky things these intertoobs.
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May I present the next Harriet Meyers?
Having watched Palin for a number of years at much closer distance than most of the nation, I have to wonder at how perception trumps reality in politics. She often shoots from the hip, really living the role of a small town girl in a big release movie. Unfortunately she is not the Jimmy Stewart character in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
When the issue is large and she has had some time to receive and weigh advice, I've tended to agree that her position is the rational one. On a smaller, but very symbolic matter, with impact to her "home patch", she lost creditability, with a populist personal intervention stunt, that proved to be a completely unworkable within a short time. The current family imbroglio she's in is serious, with abuse of political power at its heart, and facts now in evidence seem rather convincing.
Her latest major initiative in the state can be likened to FEMA's passing out credit cards to any and all who claimed to be displaced by Katrina. Real problem, popular with recipients, an appeal to "equality", and deeply flawed.
Palin has done nothing on the social conservative agenda since becoming governor.
Which is?
Unfortunately she's championed giving a huge spray of money to every resident - actually not every resident, but explaining would require more background about some uniquely Alaskan situations, and is a good first approximation - to help cover the costs of energy and basic goods in a good part of the state where the run-up in oil prices has created a real disaster. Costs for the basics, even when most sustenance comes from hunting and gathering, would astound most Americans.
About a third of the State's population, the vast majority of them indigenous, live in these areas without roads, grid connections, or firewood. They are staring at a real emergency this winter. There seems to be serious migration to more urban areas of the state going on now.
Rather than target the affected areas, the adopted solution's become one where all of the state's Toms, Dicks, Harriets (and each of their little ones) are getting a rather hefty check from the state with no strings, under the banner of libertarian "equality", and expediency in helping people who are really in dire straits pay for their annual fuel delivery before winter.