Unemployment is at 9.1 percent, housing and stock prices are plummeting, national debt is exploding, and Medicare is going bankrupt.
Yet MSNBC anchor Chris Matthews' greatest fear is a president that doesn't believe in evolution or climate change (video follows with transcript and commentary):
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Aren't you worried, though, that in a world where we have to compete with science, in science and technology with Chinese and Indian young geniuses, and some of them move here, and some that are still over in their countries around the world, we're competing in a world of science and technology to be a country that might be led by someone who doesn't believe in evolution? Who doesn't believe in climate change? Who doesn't believe in the scientific community of his own country, the National Academy of Science, for example, on climate change? Wouldn't that be kind of scary to have somebody who is so anti-intellectual as president?
If I could answer that question for Matthews' guest RNC chair Reince Priebus, the current White House resident believes in both of these theories, and the country is going to hell in a handbasket.
So how's that working for us?
It sure appears belief in these theories doesn't qualify one for the highest office in the land. As such, disbelief in them shouldn't be a disqualifier.
As it pertains to evolution, since the theory was first advanced in 1859, it's safe to say that some of this nation's greatest presidents didn't believe in it including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and likely Abraham Lincoln.
As for climate change, as this has only been advanced in the past 20 years or so, everyone prior to Bill Clinton likely didn't believe in it.
Are they all disqualified, too?
Taking this a step further, given jobs and the economy are now considered to be the number one priority facing the nation, shouldn't a better litmus test of beliefs be whether or not a candidate subscribes to Keynesian economics?
Since the '30s totally disproved this theory as have the past two and a half years, shouldn't anyone believing the government can spend our nation out of a recession be totally disqualified to be president?
That seems far more important at this point in history than one's position on evolution or climate change.
