To me, this isn't a conservative issue at all. I think it is fine that some folks accept the theory and others reject it. There is nothing 'conservative' about it. I just don't understand some folks fixation on stuff like this.
I mostly agree with you on this, HitmanNY--though I admit my feelings do get a tad riled by the issue, mostly because I think the whole Creationist schtick puts conservatism in bed with some genuine Neanderthals--and I just don't want to go there!
And I'm still reeling from the post that conflated Piltdown and Neanderthal fossils!
I for one would have no problem with people believing whatever they want. If someone's religious belief is that God created everything in six days, in spite of all the evidence to the contrary, then that's their right. However, it is the creationists that have made this into a political issue. The increasing association in the public mind between creationism and conservatism is potentially dangerous to conservatism. Please spare me any polls that suggest that the majority of people are creationists. There are many people who are religious and believe that God created the universe in six days but would oppose teaching such religious concepts in schools or otherwise politicizing their religious beliefs. Don't think for one second that the Democrats won't use this against us, labelling Republicans as "pig-ignorant idiots who want to turn the US into a theocracy." Don't think for a second that such attacks would not be effective among the general public.