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Jeb Bush Jr., the son of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), on Tuesday defended Sen. Marco Rubio as "pro-science" after the Florida Republican said he was not sure if the Earth was created in seven actual days because "it’s one of the great mysteries."

“I’m not a scientist, man,” Rubio told GQ's Michael Hainey in the magazine's December issue. “I don’t think I’m qualified to answer a question like that. At the end of the day, I think there are multiple theories out there on how the universe was created and I think this is a country where people should have the opportunity to teach them all. ... Whether the Earth was created in 7 days, or 7 actual eras, I’m not sure we’ll ever be able to answer that. It’s one of the great mysteries."

In an interview with Jeb Bush Jr. on Tuesday, CNN's Soledad O'Brien noted that Rubio seemed to be pandering to scientists and people who support creationism with a "multiple non-answer."

"It was a strange question and kind of a head-scratching type of answer," the younger Bush agreed. "Going back to the Republican Party and how we kind of shape the tone, we got to be a kind of pro-science and pro-technology party. And I think Marco Rubio is just that.

He added: "But we also can't forget about our traditional values, things like faith and family. And Sen. Rubio certainly represents that. On the Earth question, I guess I have to read more closely in terms of getting a better understanding, but, yeah, kind of a strange response, I guess."

On the question of whether his dad would run for president in 2016, Jeb Bush Jr. offered a strange response of his own: "I don't know... no comment... I certainly hope so."

This is some kind of wonderful.

Evolution is the fundamental idea in all of life science, in all of biology. According to Bill Nye, aka "The Science Guy," if grownups want to "deny evolution and live in your world that's completely inconsistent with everything we observe in the universe, that's fine, but don't make your kids do it because we need them."

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After Mitt Romney went pandering to the right-wing during his commencement address at Liberty University earlier this week, Bill Maher took his a few shots at the school during his New Rules segment on Real Time this Friday.

MAHER: And finally, new rule, you can't expect me to believe anything Mitt Romney said last week at Liberty University because a: He's a liar. And b: Liberty University isn't really a university. It's not like an actual statesman visited an actual college. It's more like a Tupac hologram visited Disneyland. [...]

This is a school you flunk out of when you get the answers right. [...]

Conservatives often say that gay marriage cheapens their marriage. Well, I think a diploma from Liberty cheapens my degree from a real school.

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Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann says schools should teach children about evolution and intelligent design because "the best thing to do is to allow all scientific facts on the table."

During a question-and-answer session at the University of Northern Iowa Wednesday, Bachmann was asked if intelligent design should be taught as science in public schools.

"I think that all science should be on the table," the candidate explained. "I think the one thing we do not want to have is censorship by government."

"I do believe that God created the Earth," she continued. "And I believe there are issues that need to be addressed -- the Second Law of Thermodynamics, the issue of irreducible complexity, the dearth of fossil record."

According to many scientists, all three issues Bachmann mentioned do not discount the theory of evolution.

Scientific American's Steve Mirsky wrote in 2005 that arguing irreducible complexity as evidence against evolution was a "full-blown intellectual surrender strategy."

While Charles Darwin cited a lack of fossil records as "the most obvious and serious objection that can be urged against the theory," University of Chicago professor Jerry Coyne believes the objection is no longer valid.

"Since 1859, paleontologists have turned up Darwin's missing evidence: fossils in profusion, with many sequences showing evolutionary change," Coyne explained in a 2005 article.

And University of Minnesota, Morris associate professor PZ Myers says the claim that the Second Law of Thermodynamics makes evolution false is "one of the oldest canards in the creationists' book."

A student from Bancroft, Iowa, who identified himself as a Catholic, explained to Bachmann that there was big difference between a "theory" like intelligence design and a "scientific theory" like evolution.

"The idea of creationism by an intelligent designer is not scientific," he said. "It is pseudo-science. There is no hard evidence that says that God created Earth. There is nothing like that. Whereas, we have physicists, chemists, biologists, many other people in the science field that say this is how the Earth was created, this is how the universe was created. ... How can you say that creationism can be taught in a public school where this would actually increase the combining of church and state?"

"I think what you are advocating for is censorship on the part of government," Bachmann replied. "I want all facts on the table. ... Why would we forestall any particular theory? Because I don't think that evolutionists, by and large, say that evolution is a proven fact. They say that this is a theory as well as intelligent design."

"So I think intellectually, the best thing to do is to allow all scientific facts on the table and let students decide."

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Rick Perry dances around some of those tricky "gotcha" science-y questions, the kind that could get him trouble with his base if he doesn't mention creationism as an equally valid concept but also could get him completely discounted as a nutbar if he goes too far with that kind of talk among regular folks who don't think the earth is flat, or that we rode around on dinosaurs back in the Flintstones era.

KID: "How old do you think the earth is?"

RICK PERRY: "You know what? I don't have any idea....I'm not sure anybody knows absolutely and completely for sure."

KID: "Do you believe in Evolution?"

RICK PERRY: "It's a theory that's out there. It's got some gaps in it. In Texas we teach both creationism and evolution....You know, 'cos I figure you're smart enough to figure out which one's right." [WINK]

Sounds like he said "gas" but I'm pretty sure it's "gaps". That would be consistent with his overall message.

UPDATE: Apparently Rick Perry has no idea what he's talking about though.

“No, it is not true," said Kathy Miller, president of the Texas Freedom Network, an interest group that has lobbied the State Board of Education to keep religion out of public schools. "Texas science standards do not call for teaching creationism in the classroom."

David Bradley, a social conservative member of the State Board of Education, said he hadn't heard the governor's comments. But when asked if Texas schools teach creationism alongside evolution, Bradley responded: "Not specifically."

MSNBC featured two very bright high school students on Hardball and then on Lawrence O'Donnell's Last Word and seeing these kids stand up to the history revisionists like Michele Bachmann or these people trying to push creationism into our school kids as science gives me some hope for our future.

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In the video above -- Andy Kopplin's son takes his anti-creationism campaign to 'Hardball':

Zack Kopplin, the son of Andy Kopplin, Mayor Mitch Landrieu's chief of administration, was featured on a segment of "Hardball with Chris Matthews" this evening.

Kopplin, a high school student, discussed his efforts to combat the Louisiana Science Education Act, a 2008 law that governs how local school systems can introduce supplemental materials into science lessons on topics such as evolutionary biology, global warming and cloning.

During the segement, Kopplin expressed his belief that Gov. Bobby Jindal, who graduated as a biology major from Brown University and signed the act into law, in his "heart of hearts" knows "how vital evolution is to biology."

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And the subject of the threats did not come up on O'Donnell's show, but here's a reminder of what this student put up with after challenging Bachmann that Dave wrote about last week -- Right-wingers flood teen who challenged Bachmann to a debate with threats of violence.

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During the first GOP presidential primary debate in South Carolina, Governor Tim Pawlenty is asked about his support for the teaching of creationism in public schools and whether he personally believes in the theory. Pawlenty said that he supported local school boards making those decisions and then tried to change the subject before he answered whether he personally supported it.

After Pawlenty attempted to pretend that he in any way shape or form supports union membership, Williams brought him back around the the initial question he asked and Pawlenty punted again and just said it should be left up to the parents and local governments.

Here's more on that topic from the Minnesota Independent -- Out of the closet: Pawlenty endorses teaching creationism in schools.

From The Arizona Guardian:

Arizona state Senator Sylvia Allen (R) voices support for opening up uranium mining in the state. Sen Allen responds to statements by environmentalists by assuring them that the "Earth is 6,000 years old..." Twice.