The Unqualified Truth

by DarkSyde [courtesy of Daily Kos]

One of the clearest windows into the mind of a politician comes by way of science. Unlike political ideology or religious theology, science is more black and white, there are right answers and wrong answers. Sarah Palin gives the wrong answers. When asked her view on global warming and how it might affect the nation, via Think Progress:

A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location. I'm not one though who would attribute it to being man-made. -- Sara Palin 29 Aug 2005

Why might the Republican Vice Presidential hopeful feel qualified to make science policy for 300 million people? She explained when defending the idea of teaching creationism as science:

Teach both. You know, don’t be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important and it’s so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both. And, you know, I say this, too, as the daughter of a science teacher.

Being the daughter of a science teacher and unafraid of information obviously didn't work for Palin. Otherwise she would know that teaching creationism as science has been literally proven in the nation's highest courts to be fraudulent and illegal.

By some accounts Palin is a nice person who has many positive, professional attributes; maybe she is, maybe she does. But that alone doesn't qualify someone to lead a nuclear superpower critically dependent on the development and application of science. In Palin's case, what little we know about her suggests the exact opposite: She appeals instead to a minority of conservatives extremists who not only dismiss science, they proudly hold it in contempt. The most alarming part is that that's precisely why the party faithful are so excited she was chosen to be John McCain's successor. But for the majority of voters, Palin is looking less and less Presidential. And, by definition, if someone's not qualified to be President, they're not qualified to be Vice President.