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By Jon Hurdle
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - A leading Republican senator allied with the religious right differed on Thursday with President Bush's support for teaching an alternative to the theory of evolution known as "intelligent design."

Republican Sen. Rick Santorum, a possible 2008 presidential contender who faces a tough re-election fight next year in Pennsylvania, said intelligent design, which is backed by many religious conservatives, lacked scientific credibility and should not be taught in science classes.

"I think I would probably tailor that a little more than what the president has suggested," Santorum, the third-ranking Republican member of the U.S. Senate, told National Public Radio. "I'm not comfortable with intelligent design being taught in the science classroom."

Proponents of intelligent design argue that nature is so complex that it could not have occurred by random natural selection, as held by Darwin's 1859 theory of evolution, and so must be the work of an unnamed "intelligent cause."

Santorum is the third-ranking member of the U.S. Senate and has championed causes of the religious right including opposition to gay marriage and abortion.

He is expected to face a stiff challenge from Democrat Bob Casey in his quest for re-election next year in Pennsylvania, a major battleground state in recent presidential elections.

Most Americans believe that God created human beings or guided the process of evolution, according to a CBS poll last November. Two-thirds said they wanted creationism taught alongside evolution in schools.

Reuters

My guess is the close election caused him to not support the president .
PS: Everyone from Pennsylvania vote or die.

 

[distantmantra]

First Frist with stem cell research, and now Santorum with Intelligent Design. Who will jump ship to save their career next?

 

[Tamanon]

-gasp-

DIFFERING OPINIONS? BIZARRE!

 

[Tommie Hu$tle]

Something about rats and sinking ship sounds woefully timely about now.

 

[Dan]

Santorum's all over the place. He just did an interview with Brian Leher and said that Americans shouldn't be able to "defin[e] their own concept of existence."

This guy is scum, but shit, just as with the Frist situation, I guess any dissent with Bush from the right is a good thing...

 

[Lo-Volt]

Dissent from Bush was a notable theme in 2004, but it didn't mean as much as it could or should have. There are John McCain and Dr. Frist and now Santorum, but I'd imagine them being more chummy together when it comes to defending the Republican majority. They just not far enough from each other for this to be significant, I think. And I'm not that interested in what Rick Santorum has to say, unless he's not a lame duck anymore and I didn't get the memo.

 

[videogamer]

-gasp-

DIFFERING OPINIONS? BIZARRE!

Well, it doesn't match up that well with Santorum's past statements with regards to evolution and other social matters. Just compare the OP's quote with Santorum's past actions on intelligent design. What is he up to?

 

[xsarien]

-gasp-

DIFFERING OPINIONS? BIZARRE!

I believe the correct terminology is "Flip-Flop."

Santorum's just trying to save his political career, it's pretty damned transparent.

 

[Triumph]

 

[videogamer]

I believe the correct terminology is "Flip-Flop."

Santorum's just trying to save his political career, it's pretty damned transparent.

Will it still be a "flip-flop" if he can explain how he changed his positions? If not, then lets award him a little purple heart band-aid for standing up to Bush.

lacked scientific credibility and should not be taught in science classes.

Gah this is a guy who (IIRC) cited a Discovery Institute paper.