Bravo to GQ for actually asking a real question about science in their interview of Marco Rubio, and making him state outright that he’s just another anti-science Republican: Marco Rubio Interview.

GQ: How old do you think the Earth is?

Marco Rubio: I’m not a scientist, man. I can tell you what recorded history says, I can tell you what the Bible says, but I think that’s a dispute amongst theologians and I think it has nothing to do with the gross domestic product or economic growth of the United States. I think the age of the universe has zero to do with how our economy is going to grow. I’m not a scientist. I don’t think I’m qualified to answer a question like that. At the end of the day, I think there are multiple theories out there on how the universe was created and I think this is a country where people should have the opportunity to teach them all. I think parents should be able to teach their kids what their faith says, what science says. Whether the Earth was created in 7 days, or 7 actual eras, I’m not sure we’ll ever be able to answer that. It’s one of the great mysteries.

This is pretty much the standard Republican line — ignorance. Admitting you believe in science over the Bible is political suicide for Republicans.

And please note that Rubio is in favor of teaching children to believe this nonsense.

Ever wonder why, after many years leading the world, America is now slipping way behind in science education? All you have to do is read the words of right wingers like Marco Rubio, who perpetuate a Bronze Age view of the universe, pretending it’s just as valid as rational scientific theory.

In the same interview, Rubio says his best friend in politics is … Jim DeMint. A Dominionist religious fundamentalist, and another young earth creationist. The right wing is mortgaging America’s future to these fanatics.

And an even more appalling footnote: Marco Rubio is a member of the Senate Science Committee.

As we reported in 2009, Marco Rubio believes the theory of evolution is “destroying the family,” and compares it to communism: Karl Rove Endorses Creationist Florida Candidate Rubio.

Rubio, a Cuban-American, made a comparison to the strategy employed by the Communist Party in Cuba where schools encouraged children to turn in parents who criticized Fidel Castro.

“Of course, I’m not equating the evolution people with Fidel Castro,” he quickly added, while noting that undermining the family and the church were key means the Communist Party used to gain control in Cuba.

“In order to impose their totalitarian regime, they destroyed the family; they destroyed the faith links that existed in that society,” he said.

Although the evolution issue is “obviously” on a “much smaller scale,” both matters are related to the “fundamental question of who is in charge of the upbringing of children. Is it parents or is it the government? I believe it’s parents. And we should do nothing in government that undermines that relationship.

“And there are parents that passionately believe in this and they should be given the opportunity to teach that to their children without someone undoing it,” Rubio said.