Sarah Palin on Science

The Wikipedia article on Sarah Palin has information that suggests her attitudes toward science. Sarah Palin has a bachelor degree in communications-journalism, and her only job outside government was apparently that of a television sports reporter. It seems to me that there are three "hot button" issues that set the tone: environment, reproductive biology and stem cell research, and evolution versus creationism.

Environment: "Palin has strongly promoted oil and natural gas resource development in Alaska, including in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)....When asked about climate change after becoming Senator McCain's presumptive running mate, she stated that it would 'affect Alaska more than any other state', but she added, 'I'm not one though who would attribute it to being man-made.'......In May 2008, Palin objected to the decision of Dirk Kempthorne, the Republican United States Secretary of the Interior, to list polar bears as an endangered species. The State of Alaska filed a lawsuit to stop the listing amid fears that it would hurt oil and gas development in the bears' habitat off Alaska's northern and northwestern coasts. She said the move to list the bears was premature and was not the appropriate management tool for their welfare." According to Slate, Governor Palin is also in favor of programs that would shoot wolves from aircraft in order to increase the population of moose.

Reproductive biology: She "has described herself as being as 'pro-life as any candidate can be.'" I find this 2006 Q&A from the conservative Eagle Forum Alaska on a blog:

Q: Will you support funding for abstinence-until-marriage education instead of for explicit sex-education programs, school-based clinics, and the distribution of contraceptives in schools?

SP: Yes, the explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support.

According to CBS:

She takes the militant position of opposing allowing women to choose to terminate pregnancies even in cases where they have been raped. She also opposes allowing abortions in cases of incest.......

She opposes embryonic stem-cell research and other scientific initiatives that might give sick people the option of choosing treatments that could cure them or at least allow them to treat their ailments.

Creationism versus Evolution: The Lang Report states:

Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin wants creationism taught in science classes. In a 2006 gubernatorial debate, the soon-to-be governor of Alaska said of evolution and creation education, "Teach both. You know, don’t be afraid of education. Healthy debate is so important, and it’s so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both."

Comment: This appears to be someone who has little understanding of nor respect for science. JAD