McCain Criticizes Scientific Research, Mocking His Own DNA Bear Bill

Today at a rally, McCain criticized a bill that he, himself voted for. At the rally, McCain said that he didn't want to spend our tax dollars, "to study the DNA of bears in Montana."

The presidential wannabe scoffs at pouring millions into studying grizzly bear DNA, but scientists say it's key to preserving the species. "I don't know if it was a paternity issue or criminal, but it was a waste of money," McCain said. The problem is that McCain actually voted for the bill to fund research studying the endangered grizzly bear in Montana.

Why does McCain, who has taken a firm stand on some other environmental issues—he believes more needs to be done to curtail global warming—consider the research to be a waste of time and money? One answer - pork. McCain calls this bill a pork barrel, which is one of his main talking points in this election. But scientists disagree:

"This is not pork barrel at all," says Richard Mace, a research biologist with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP). "We have a federal law called the Endangered Species Act and [under this law] the federal government is supposed to help identify and conserve threatened species."

Do we want a president who can't remember what he has supported and what he has not? Do we need a president who mocks the research that goes in to studying and saving an endangered species? Moreover, do we need a vice president who would shoot those bears to death from a helicopter?