The Discovery Institute aggressively promotes its “Teach the Controversy” campaign and “Intelligent Design” to the public, education officials and public policymakers. Its efforts are largely aimed at conservative Christian policymakers, where it is cast as a counterbalance to the liberal influences of “atheistic scientists” and “Dogmatic Darwinists.” As a measure of their success, on 1 August 2005, during interview, President Bush said that he believes schools should discuss Intelligent Design alongside evolution when teaching students about the origin of life.
In some state battles, the ties of “Teach the Controversy” and Intelligent Design proponents to the Discovery Institute’s political and social activities have been made public. The Discovery Institute takes the view that all publicity is good and that no defeat is real.