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Evolution Is Just a ‘Theory That’s Out There,’ According to Rick Perry

Every day that Rick Perry is on the campaign trail, Mitt Romney looks a little more sane by comparison. When he’s not busy threatening Fed chairman Ben Bernanke or claiming that man-made climate change is a scheme cooked up by scientists in order to secure more funding, Perry is questioning the validity of evolution, as he did at a café in New Hampshire this morning at the behest of a young boy and his weird, manipulative mother:

One woman who did not appear to be affiliated with the protesters ushered her son up to the governor and prompted him with questions for Perry like “do you believe in evolution?”

It’s a theory that’s out there,” Perry told the child. “It’s got some gaps in it. In Texas we teach both Creationism and evolution.”

Just some theory that someone threw out there, on a whim, like the one about how the length of Justin Timberlake’s hair corresponds to the quality of his movies.

As shocking as it is to hear from the guy who is arguably the current front-runner for the GOP nomination, this is actually not the first time that Perry has expressed his doubts about evolution. However, because he’s a candidate now, the comment will inevitably receive more scrutiny than when he said this in July:

There are clear indications from our people who have amazing intellectual capability that this didn’t happen by accident and a creator put this in place,” Perry said.

In a famous moment at a Republican primary debate in 2007, the candidates assembled on stage were asked whether any of them did not believe in evolution. Three hands went up, those of Mike Huckabee, Sam Brownback, and Tom Tancredo. The next GOP debate is September 7. Time to bring that question back.

But before then, someone should ask Perry to explain these “gaps” and “holes” in evolution. And “it’s not in the Bible” doesn’t count.

Perry heckled as campaign shifts into new phase [Political Ticker/CNN]

Evolution Is Just a ‘Theory That’s Out There,’ According to Rick Perry