Intelligent Design An Issue In Iowa Lt. Governor Race

In Iowa, the teaching of Intelligent Design in public school science courses has become an issue in the race for Lieutenant Governor. Today's Des Moines Register reports that Republican Lt. Gov. candidate Bob Vander Plaats has publicly supported the teaching of intelligent design along with evolution in public schools. 35 faculty, students and others from several Iowa universities have signed a letter sent to the media opposing Vander Platts' position. Drafted by Hector Avalos, a religion professor at Iowa State University, the letter says: "we see intelligent design as a faith-based claim that is being misrepresented as a scientific one."