Don McLeroy Defends Himself

The Dallas Morning News has an article on Don McLeroy in which the embattled Texas State School Board members defend himself against charges he is trying to get creationism in the schools. The Morning News' Terrence Stutz writes:

Under sharp questioning from members of the Senate Nominations Committee, the College Station Republican said that although he holds creationist views – such as that the earth is only 6,000 years old – he has never acted to have creationism or "intelligent design" taught in science classes or textbooks.

"I don't see any way that I am trying to impose my religious views on anyone," he said.

Apparently, this is not enough to sink his candidacy, however:

Despite the criticism, the nominations committee was expected to recommend to the full Senate that it confirm McLeroy's appointment as chairman of the education board by Gov. Rick Perry. The panel took no vote Wednesday.

Among those urging senators to reject the nomination was Southern Methodist University anthropology professor Ron Wetherington, who asserted that McLeroy has used his position to push creationist views – including the appointment of three evolution critics to a six-member committee of experts that advised the board on science standards.

It is difficult to reconcile what McLeroy says here with what he is on record as having said about evolution and the main stream sciences as a whole.