Creationist dentist Don McLeroy, appointed twice to the Texas State Board of Education by Governor Rick Perry, is on the hot seat this week, and he is blatantly lying about promoting creationism in Texas public schools.

AUSTIN – State Board of Education Chairman Don McLeroy vigorously denied Wednesday that he has tried to push his creationist beliefs into textbooks and curriculum standards for Texas schools.

Under sharp questioning from members of the Senate Nominations Committee, the College Station Republican said that although he holds creationist views – such as that the earth is only 6,000 years old – he has never acted to have creationism or “intelligent design” taught in science classes or textbooks.

“I don’t see any way that I am trying to impose my religious views on anyone,” he said.

However, two Democratic senators and several witnesses said the board chairman’s actions on proposed science curriculum standards this year indicate he is an opponent of generally accepted scientific theories such as evolution.

“Is it your mission on the board of education to take all students in the state of Texas down the path of your religious beliefs?” asked Sen. Eliot Shapleigh, D-El Paso, citing repeated efforts by McLeroy to water down teaching of evolution in science classes.

McLeroy responded that has never been his intent. “We did not put creationism into the [science] standards. We did not put intelligent design into the standards,” he said of the board’s adoption of new science requirements in March.

That’s a bald-faced lie. McLeroy has absolutely been promoting creationism and its younger, slightly more deceptive cousin “intelligent design” for a long, long time as head of the Texas BOE. Here are the LGF posts about McLeroy to prove it: LGF search: McLeroy.

But then…

Despite the criticism, the nominations committee was expected to recommend to the full Senate that it confirm McLeroy’s appointment as chairman of the education board by Gov. Rick Perry.

Arrrggghhh.