I guess that delegation from Iowa can cancel their trip.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says it’s “none of your business” whether he believes in evolution, creationism or intelligent design…

On Thursday morning, at a press conference in Jersey City recognizing the St. Anthony’s High School basketball team, ranked no. 1 in the country, Christie again said it should be a “local decision” whether to teach creationism along with the state-approved curriculum. He said there was no consensus on teaching creationism, whereas evolution is part of the curriculum because there is a consensus.

When I posted this item in Headlines, there was a shocking number of right-ons in the comments from readers who are, I surmise, tired of the Darwin wars. Or maybe they’re impressed with Christie’s boldness in avoiding a trap that all prominent Republicans seem to fall into eventually? In that case, some context about his alleged “boldness”:

For a politician who has built a national reputation for straight talk and not shying from a fight, Christie’s demurral on creationism stands out. In the past, he has said people need not wonder where he stands on an issue.

“When you guys ask me questions, I’m going to answer them directly, straightly, bluntly, and nobody in New Jersey is going to have to wonder where I am on an issue,” he said a year ago, adding: “I think they’ve had enough of politicians who make them wonder … They make them wonder so they got an escape hatch. So they have an escape hatch. And I’m not interested in an escape hatch.”

Turns out he is interested in an escape hatch, at least so long as his name is being kicked around in presidential discussions and he remains a strong contender for VP. Is everyone copacetic with this kicking-of-the-can, then? I’m fine with it only because debates on evolution are the most pointless in America’s political battlescape. Eventually he’ll be a national candidate who’s forced to answer this question in a straightfoward way, and the answer’s bound to irritate many people no matter what it is, but until then, why not be coy? Strike a blow for MYOB!