Unscientific methods.

• Author: Sanchez, Julian
• Position: Chris Mooney - Interview

In The Republican War on Science (Basic Books), Chris Mooney, Seed's Washington correspondent, examines what happens when the scientific search for truth collides with politics--especially GOP politics. From stem cells to missile defense to evolution, the book chronicles the manipulation of research for partisan ends. Assistant Editor Julian Sanchez spoke with Mooney in October.

Q: Why not just write about the political war on science?

A: I do talk about some abuses of science on the left, and I could have talked about more. However, Republicans are running everything right now. I also think there's something inherent in the Republican Party that makes it more prone to this sort of thing: it has constituencies--the religious right, the fossil fuel industry--that demand statements on science that are out of whack with what we know. Democrats have no constituency that compels them to deny something as fundamental as evolution, and while there are misuses among, say, extreme environmental groups, the Democratic Party tends to cater to more mainline groups where I don't think the abuses are as serious.

Q: Is it fair to lump people who raise questions about global warming in with creationists?

A: Well, they're different issues, but I've linked them together for a number of reasons. The most central is that the strategy for attacking the science and getting Republican politicians to go along is very similar. In both cases you have a scientific...