Those people on the Kansas State B.o.E. hold those beliefs independently of their party affiliation.

On the other hand, I won't disagree that the GOP panders to people like that.

I'm not ready to believe that the entire Republican Party thinks "intelligent design" has merit, or should be taught in parallel with (or as a replacement for) evolution. Their alleged leader, the incumbent President, has come out in favor of teaching both in the same classroom...

... but does he really speak for the party?

We'll see, if it appears as a plank in the GOP platform in 2008.

In the meantime, the source of the problem is not the Republican Party, but radical Christianists. To relieve the problem, attack its true source.