LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee on Friday sought to explain why he doesn't believe in evolution, saying he is not opposed to teaching Darwin's theory.
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(Photo: AP / Mark J. Terrill)Republican presidential contender Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, answers a question during the first republican presidential primary debate of the 2008 election at the Ronald Reagan Library, Thursday, May 3, 2007, in Simi Valley, Calif.
Huckabee was one of three GOP candidates who raised their hand during Thursday's debate when asked if they don't believe in evolution — the development of organisms and species from a primitive state.
The other candidates were Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas and Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado.
Huckabee said if given a chance to elaborate on the question from MSNBC moderator Chris Matthews, he would have responded: "If you want to believe that you and your family came from apes, I'll accept that....I believe there was a creative process."
Huckabee said he has no problem with teaching evolution as a theory in the public schools and he doesn't expect schools to teach creationism.
"We shouldn't indoctrinate kids in school," he said. "I wouldn't want them teaching creationism as if it's the only thing that they should teach."
Also, students should be given credit for having the intelligence to think through various theories for themselves and come to their own conclusions, he said.
He said it was his responsibility to teach his children his beliefs though he could accept that others believe in evolution.
"I believe that there is a God and that he put the process in motion," Huckabee said.
The former Arkansas governor said about the evolution question: "I'm not sure what in the world that has to do with being president of the United States."
Associated Press Writer Libby Quaid in Washington contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
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