http://blogs.jta.org/ENTRY_PERMALINK_HERE/jewish-dems-go-coulter-on-huckabee/ If the National Jewish Democratic Council is so steamed over Ann Coulter’s saying that Jews need to be perfected by embracing Christianity, then why has it released a cartoon mocking the religious views of GOP presidential hopeful and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee? Yes, as the NJDC notes in its accompanying press release, back at a debate in May, Huckabee raised his hand when the candidates were asked if any of them did not believe in evolution. So what? Huckabee was asked a question and he answered. It’s not as if he said it in the context of advancing legislation that would ban the teaching of evolution or require the teaching of Creationism. Is the mere belief in something other than evolution now grounds for disqualifying a person from the White House? Even if you think the answer to that question should be yes, why is it kosher to mock the guy’s religious beliefs? If all that weren’t enough, as it turns out, the NJDC is not only mocking his religious beliefs – it’s distorting them. On at least two occasions, Huckabee has clarified that by answering no to evolution, he was rejecting the idea of a Godless creation process (see two clips below). Is the Earth billions of years old? Are human beings descended from primates? Maybe, but then God was directing the process, he says. And, either way, he asked, what does that have to do with being president? One can certainly quibble with a view of evolution that puts God in the driver’s seat, but then you’re quibbling with what I suspect is a mainstream view among Americans of various political and religious stripes. en-us aeden@jta.org Copyright 2007 2007-10-29T;21:04:48-05:00 coby7@yahoo.com This cartoon does not mock the religious views of Huckabee.  It mocks his views on the theory of evolution - a scientific theory - and by extension his views on many different branches of science.  For example, in the clips you provided, Huckabee “isn’t sure” how old the Earth is - this is not just an issue of evolution, but also of geology and astronomy. And yes, one’s attitude toward science is important to one’s qualifications for president.  Not accepting outright the universally held scientific view that the Earth is over 6000 years old should disqualify a candidate.  Just as believing that the Earth is the center of the universe should.  Of course, a nuanced view that inserts some divine role in evolution and the creation of Earth may be acceptable (at least to some).  However, I find it frightening that Huckabee does not think the answers to these questions are important and/or relevant or even worthy of his time and consideration.  Science is important.  This only becomes a religious issue for those who choose to make it so.  There are plenty of people who have no problem accepting both evolution and the belief in God.  The two are not mutually exclusive (just as believing the Earth revolves around the sun does not rule out the existence of God). This cartoon does not mock the religious views of Huckabee.  It mocks his views on the theory of evolution - a scientific theory - and by extension his views on many different branches of science.  For example, in the clips you provided, Huckabee “isn’t sure” how old the Earth is - this is not just an issue of evolution, but also of geology and astronomy.
And yes, one’s attitude toward science is important to one’s qualifications for president.  Not accepting outright the universally held scientific view that the Earth is over 6000 years old should disqualify a candidate.  Just as believing that the Earth is the center of the universe should.  Of course, a nuanced view that inserts some divine role in evolution and the creation of Earth may be acceptable (at least to some).  However, I find it frightening that Huckabee does not think the answers to these questions are important and/or relevant or even worthy of his time and consideration.  Science is important. 
This only becomes a religious issue for those who choose to make it so.  There are plenty of people who have no problem accepting both evolution and the belief in God.  The two are not mutually exclusive (just as believing the Earth revolves around the sun does not rule out the existence of God).

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