“While most curricula in Europe today unashamedly teach evolution as a recognised scientific theory, the same does not apply to the United States. In July 2005, the Pew Research Center conducted a poll that showed that 64% of Americans favoured the teaching of intelligent design alongside the theory of evolution and that 38% would support the total abandonment of the teaching of evolution in publicly owned schools. The American President George W. Bush supports the principle of teaching both intelligent design and the theory of evolution. At the moment, 20 of the 50 American states are facing potential adjustments of their school curricula in favour of intelligent design. Many people think that this phenomenon only affects the United States and that, even if it is not possible to be indifferent to what is happening on the other side of the Atlantic, it is not the Council of Europe’s role to deal with this issue. That, however, is not the case. On the contrary, it would seem crucial for us to take the appropriate precautions in our 47 member states.”Underlining mine.
From the Council of Europe “Report”:
37. “... The American President George W. Bush supports the principle of teaching both intelligent design and the theory of evolution.....” ~ The dangers of creationism in education http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=/Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc07/EDOC11297.htm
Let us be precise and tell the _whole_ truth, shall we?:
Bush August 2005:
On August 1, 2005, a group of reporters from Texas met with President Bush in the Roosevelt room for a roundtable interview. (Transcript August 2, 2005 - WashingtonPost.com) Excerpt:
Q: I wanted to ask you about the — what seems to be a growing debate over evolution versus intelligent design. What are your personal views on that, and do you think both should be taught in public schools?
THE PRESIDENT: I think—as I said, harking back to my days as my governor—both you and Herman are doing a fine job of dragging me back to the past. (Laughter.) Then, I said that, first of all, that decision should be made to local school districts, but I felt like both sides ought to be properly taught.
Q: So the answer accepts the validity of intelligent design as an alternative to evolution?
THE PRESIDENT: I think that part of education is to expose people to different schools of thought, and I’m not suggesting—you’re asking me whether or not people ought to be exposed to different ideas, and the answer is yes.”
Dr. John Marburger III, Presidential Science Advisor, said, “evolution is the cornerstone of modern biology” and “intelligent design is not a scientific concept.” Aug. 2, 2005 - The New York Times
Dr. Marvin Cohen, President of the American Physical Society, and recipient of the National Medal of Science from President Bush in 2002, in an Aug. 4 release, said that as Presidential Science Advisor John Marburger has explained, President Bush does not regard intelligent design as science. If such things are to be taught in the public schools, they belong in a course on comparative religion, which is a particularly appropriate subject for our children given the present state of the world.”
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Clinton/Gore August 27, 1999:
“..a spokesman for Vice President Al Gore announced that the vice president “favors the teaching of evolution in the public schools,” adding the decision should be local and “localities should be free to teach creationism as well.” ...in certain contexts, such as in a religion class..”
Gore’s boss, President Bill Clinton, agrees that local control of schools is proper. “I think the president believes the curriculum is by law and by all common practice left to local school boards,” White House Press Secretary Joe Lockhart said.
What do the Republican presidential hopefuls say about evolution?
Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the GOP front-runner, believes both evolution and creationism are valid educational subjects.
“He believes it is a question for states and local school boards to decide but believes both ought to be taught,” a spokeswoman said. ...
....Pope John Paul II announced last year that the Roman Catholic church would not oppose evolution — it seems to be mostly fundamentalist Protestants who oppose the theory. ..”
[[[ Not quite. The _whole_ truth: “Theories” of Evolution by John Paul II http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=3659 ]]]
..But it remains to be seen whether this argument, which never seems to fall completely out of the public discourse, will play a major role in the still-evolving 2000 presidential election landscape.” ~ By Bruce Morton/CNN Presidential candidates weigh in on evolution debate
http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/08/27/president.2000/evolution.create/