Star Spangled Staggers

US politics from outside the beltway

So, Republican Senator Marco Rubio, how old IS the earth?

He's not a scientist, but he does know how to tell them when they're wrong.

By Alex Hern Published 19 November 2012 16:39

Republican Senator Marco Rubio. Photograph: Getty Images

GQ interviewed Marco Rubio, the junior Republican senator from Florida, former "crown prince of the Tea Party movement", and runner-up in the race to be Mitt Romney's vice-presidential candidate.

Marco Rubio does not have a firm grasp on reality.

GQ: How old do you think the Earth is?

Marco Rubio: I'm not a scientist, man. I can tell you what recorded history says, I can tell you what the Bible says, but I think that's a dispute amongst theologians and I think it has nothing to do with the gross domestic product or economic growth of the United States. I think the age of the universe has zero to do with how our economy is going to grow. I'm not a scientist. I don't think I'm qualified to answer a question like that. At the end of the day, I think there are multiple theories out there on how the universe was created and I think this is a country where people should have the opportunity to teach them all. I think parents should be able to teach their kids what their faith says, what science says. Whether the Earth was created in 7 days, or 7 actual eras, I'm not sure we'll ever be able to answer that. It's one of the great mysteries.

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16 comments

Wed, 2012-11-21 00:53 — Posh Tosh (not verified)

When Moses came down from the Mount with the two slates, God was invented.

Wed, 2012-11-21 00:53 — Posh Tosh (not verified)

( But whom invented Moses?)

Wed, 2012-11-21 00:50 — Posh Tosh (not verified)

The world began when I was born, when I die it will die too!

Tue, 2012-11-20 12:46 — Daniel deB (not verified)

Since when have Catolics beenGenesis literalists?????

Tue, 2012-11-20 09:25 — Barrie J (not verified)

It was 1992 before the Catholic Church pardoned Galileo Galilei (1564 - 1642) for what it described as his heretical teachings.
In 1600 Giordano Bruno went to the stake for having similar views to Galileo.
Sometimes it takes a while for scientific fact to permeate those minds dominated by a fixed ideology.
Perhaps, more to be pitied than blamed but worrying when they have access to power.

Wed, 2012-11-21 00:51 — Posh Tosh (not verified)

You forget Tycho Brea

Tue, 2012-11-20 03:17 — Scott Baty (not verified)

There are no dinosaurs. There are no dinosaurs. There are no dinosaurs. There are no dinosaurs. If I say it enough, I could become Catholick. Yes, CatholicK.

Mon, 2012-11-19 23:22 — steven m (not verified)

I bet God is spinning up there in Heaven by realising that he has somehow made a lot of idiots to inhabit the Earth.

Mon, 2012-11-19 21:58 — M .Wenzl (not verified)

To be fair, at least he acknowledges his own ignorance.

Mon, 2012-11-19 21:26 — JJJ (not verified)

The Catholic Church is very clear on how old the earth is, and there is no justifiable reason to teach kids some half-baked fringe Protestant nonsense (aside from political expediency, of course, of course)

Randian teabaggism is at odds with Catholicism in every way that matters. Marco Rubio is a bad Catholic and deserves a good old fashioned excommunication. (And that goes for Paul Ryan too)

Tue, 2012-11-20 03:25 — Scott Baty (not verified)

So the church knows better than science and carbon dating? Sounds about right. If god made man in his image, why aren't we all invisible?

Tue, 2012-11-20 04:58 — JJJ (not verified)

Actually Scott, the Catholic Church accepts the scientific consensus on the age of the earth, the universe, evolution and all the rest. That was kind of the point of my comment.

Don't know the point of yours was, perhaps a confirmation of your bigoted ignorance?

Mon, 2012-11-19 19:20 — p j wall (not verified)

Imagine asking that 'plant pot' the time!!, he'd mention God, Jesus, moms apple pie, God bless America, Taking our country back, Obama care, etc,
These right wing. christian, tea party, fundamentalist bumpkins, are a very scary, yet funny breed!!, they're deluded, and the rest of the world are laughing at them!!.