Or at least, the question of whether they believe in it does--
Via Kevin Drum, at
Political Animal, I saw this
TNR piece, asking prominent conservatives about their views on evolution and "intelligent design." Drum breaks down the count as 8 believers in evolution, 3 un-believers, and 4 who refused to answer the question.
In fact, the results are more complicated, since many deflected or qualified their answers in ways that look suspiciously like attempts to dodge the issue. Indeed, tho a few answered the questions forthrightly (Jonah Goldberg, for example), I'd say the reaction of the majority is best characterized as a fraidy-cat refusal to give straightforward answers.
More below the fold...
For example, Pat Buchanan--whom Drum counts as an un-believer in evolution--disavowed belief in "absolute evolution" (whatever that is) and said it can't "explain the creation of matter" (well, duh) but did allow that a "Darwinian evolutionary process ... inspired by a creator" is a "real possibility."
Stephen Moore of the Free Enterprise Fund--whom Drum also counts as an un-believer--says he believes in "parts" of evolution, but thinks "there are holes in evolutionary theory" (a first in the history of science!).
Norman Podhoretz said the question "is impossible to answer with a simple yes or no"--but declined to provide a more complex answer.
And in the "have their cake and eat it too" department, several (including David Frum and Tucker Carlson) seemed to express belief in both intelligent design and evolution--that is, in evolution as a process set in motion by a divine creator.
But my favorite answer has got to be this one: William Kristol, who makes his living spreading
his opinions like fertilizer, replied that "I don't discuss personal opinions."
Cross posted from hiramhover.typepad.com