It's a minor subject in science, as well. Evolution is useful as a paradigm and a classificaion mechanism--but it's just a hatrack to keep track of genus and species. Physicians, most scientists, engineers--have no interest or use for it after that.
What I do suspect is that it is a political tool to try to chip off a few conservative Christian votes from the GOP. There is even a Soros-funded movie "documentarian" who is going to try to make some hay out of it. Wonder if he's here on FR doing some drumming-up of support? Not that there are any but the usual suspects and sufferers of Asberger's syndrome, but in places like Pennsylvania and candidates like Santorum (and a few of these regulars have shown an interest in going after Santorum)--it'd go a long way to throwing the Senate to the Democrats.
Good point.
The only ones using a "political tool" are the CRIDers. Scientists want to practice/teach science. ID is not science, but certain people want to "sledge" their religion into science.
How about this: instead of trying to scare rational people away from accepted science ("Drop evolution or else the dems win!!!"), why not try and scare the fundies away from science revisionism? Otherwise, the dems will win!