Now that Sarah Palin is John McCain’s vice presidential pick, the record of all of Sarah Palin’s opinions and judgments will now be carefully vetted by the national media. Palin is on record with two opinions, widely seen as anti-science, that, I’m sure, Palin will be pressed again and again to explain: 1) the cause of global warming and 2) the teaching of creationism is public schools.

Sarah Palin, in a recent interview said she does not believe climate change is caused by human behavior. She said, “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.”

To believe that human behavior has no impact on climate change, global warming, is a big deal. Such belief has huge policy implications. Palin will need to explain her stand on global warming. Palin seems to the right on McCain on this issue. McCain is on record as stating that human activity is responsible for global warming. Also, Palin wants to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). McCain opposes drilling in ANWR.

The second area of anti-science controversy, coming from previous Palin comments, inevitably, will center on Palin’s statements about teaching the theory of intelligent design in public schools.

The Anchorage Daily News, ran this article, “‘Creation Science’ Enters The Race” two years ago, when Palin was a candidate for the office of governor of Alaska, that indicates that Palin believes that school children should learn both the theory of evolution and the theory of intelligent design

“The volatile issue of teaching creation science in public schools popped up in the Alaska governor’s race this week when Republican Sarah Palin said she thinks creationism should be taught alongside evolution in the state’s public classrooms.

“Palin was answering a question from the moderator near the conclusion of Wednesday night’s televised debate on KAKM Channel 7 when she said, “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.”

“Her main opponents, Democrat Tony Knowles and Independent Andrew Halcro, said such alternatives to evolution should be kept out of science classrooms. Halcro called such lessons “religious-based” and said the place for them might be a philosophy or sociology class.

“The question has divided local school boards in several places around the country and has come up in Alaska before, including once before the state Board of Education in 1993.

“The teaching of creationism, which relies on the biblical account of the creation of life, has been ruled by the U.S. Supreme Court as an unconstitutional injection of religion into public education. ….

In an interview Thursday, Palin said she meant only to say that discussion of alternative views should be allowed to arise in Alaska classrooms:

“I don’t think there should be a prohibition against debate if it comes up in class. It doesn’t have to be part of the curriculum.” She added that, if elected, she would not push the state Board of Education to add such creation-based alternatives to the state’s required curriculum. Members of the state school board, which sets minimum requirements, are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Legislature.

“The Republican Party of Alaska platform says, in its section on education: “We support giving Creation Science equal representation with other theories of the origin of life. If evolution is taught, it should be presented as only a theory.” Palin said she thought there was value in discussing alternatives.

“It’s OK to let kids know that there are theories out there,” she said in the interview. “They gain information just by being in a discussion.”