You see the same thing here. If you visit the normal conservative political threads many of the really hard-headed creationists sound quite rational and one can easily agree with them.
I think the problem is that evolution interferes with the unique and special relationship creationists think man has with God and they cannot accept that they are just a "piece of the big picture". They will do anything to avoid that, including bringing down the entire structure of science and progress.
I still half think he was pulling my leg.