Is Santorum for real? I am afraid he might be!

I quote from TPM:

Rick Santorum is known for his insistence that religion has an important place in political life — and also for criticizing various examples of scientific consensus such as evolution, global warming, stem-cell research, human sexuality, and other matters. But in his latest pronouncement, he might have just outdone himself.

The Des Moines Register reports from a Santorum campaign stop at the University of Northern Iowa, where he talked about education:

Discussing controversial classroom subjects such as evolution and global warming, Santorum said he has suggested that “science should get out of politics” and he is opposed to teaching that provides a “politically correct perspective.”

I believe in separation of state and religion, but I can see why people would consider a candidate's religious views in deciding how to cast a vote. Remember the Reverend Jim Jones who led 909 members of his flock to commit suicide in Guyana?  How about David Koresh who led his followers into a confrontation with federal officers in Waco that left 75 of them dead? Would you want to consider their religious views before voting for them? There are people whose religious views, if they held elective office, would constitute a danger to the public.

To exclude scientific knowledge and especially scientific evidence from politics seems self destructive. The political process provides a forum for discussion of ideas and information, and refusing to include ideas stemming from science and information from scientists in political debates seems only likely to impoverish those debates.