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The theory of evolution by means of natural selection has been debated in American politics since Darwin published On the Origin of Species in 1859. The controversy over evolution was one of the political issues, especially among the Republican presidential candidates, that decided the next President of the U.S. in 2008. At the first Republican presidential candidate debate on May 3, 2007 a reporter asked, “Is there anyone on the stage who does not…believe in evolution?” Three out of the ten candidates raised their hands to speak against evolution. Sen. John McCain said, “I also believe, when I hike the Grand Canyon…that the hand of God is there also.” Sen. John McCain became the GOP nominee and seventeen months later his vice presidential nominee, Sarah Palin, was asked the same question by a television anchor. The “CBS Evening News” anchor, Katie Couric, asked the vice presidential nominee whether evolution should be taught in school, which then Gov. Palin replied that “I think it should be taught as an accepted principle” (watch around the 7:30 minute mark of the video link below). Former Gov. Palin’s response was a political shift in her opinion of teaching evolution during her 2006 campaign for governor of Alaska. At this time she believed that evolution and creationism should both be taught in schools.
 
Former Gov. Palin’s shift in response to whether evolution should be taught in schools indicates how important the evolution controversy is in America. Palin was neutral toward evolution during her campaign for governor in Alaska, but two years later she became a proponent for teaching evolution in schools. This could have been Palin’s attempt to take a stance on teaching evolution in schools, but one that would not anger the majority of her voters. According to a 2006 poll by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, 42% of all adults say humans and other things have existed in present form only, meaning that the majority of voters (58%) could believe that life evolved. The political shift of Palin, and that only three out of ten Republicans raised their hands against teaching evolution in schools during the GOP presidential candidate debate, may indicate that America is not ready to formally discuss the evolution controversy.
 
 
http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=215.
 
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2008/10/palin_on_teaching_evolution_in.html