Category Archives: mcain

mcain, overhead projector, Planetarium, Planetarium-related, politics, politics and science

Planetariums: Another “Third Rail”

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Who Knew?!

Wow… it’s amazing just how much of a charlie-foxtrot John McCain created with his ill-timed and inaccurate attack against Senator Obama over the Adler Planetarium.  Ever since he lobbed that attack from completely out in left field in last night’s debate, all of us planetarium supporters, workers, vendors, and friends have been rallying to the cause of some of the most under-funded yet FUN places to go in the world! (Alan Boyle of MSNBC has a good listing of blog entries you might find interesting, including mine!)

Of course you’ve read MY entries (some 700 of you in less than 24 hours), and loads of other people have leapt on the bandwagon. Which is great — planetariums have now become another “third rail” in this political race. I’m not saying that they are more important than things like the housing issues and social security and the financial crises and getting over the war in Iraq and other causes.

But, perhaps the attention paid to the Adler and other planetariums in the world will help people focus on the fact that science education — all education — is a bridge to the future. Planetariums are certainly doing their part to hold up that bridge.  So, we should be supporting them and the educators who teach us about the cosmos. It’s way better than deriding planetariums and science education (by inference).  Doing that is like… building a bridge to nowhere.

Update: Well, gosh darn it, the planetarium intrigues just keep growing.  At CBS2Chicago, there’s more info about the planetarium funding shows up:

And despite McCain’s attack, records suggest the GOP nominee has voted for millions of dollars worth of similar earmarks himself, including a $200,000 education grant to the Adler Planetarium.

McCain’s vote came as part of a vote on appropriations for the FY06 Commerce/State/Justice appropriations bill.

Again I have to ask: why didn’t McCain’s aides know this?  Or if they did, did they think it didn’t matter? That people are too stupid to look things up (Mark found that news as part of a Google search) and find out about his voting record as well as his opponent’s?  If his campaign is getting this wrong, what else is it flubbing up?

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(Note: U.S. citizens — have you registered to vote?)

astronomy, mcain, overhead projector, Planetarium, Planetarium-related, politics, politics and science

An Interesting Use of Facts

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The Planetarium Projector Funds Never Got Out of Committee

As reported on Politifact, the funding that Mr. McCain says Mr. Obama voted for to help Adler to get a 40-year-old projection system replaced (NOT an overhead projector) was never allowed past the Senate Appropriations Committee. Mr. Obama did request the earmark, as was his right as a Senator (and Mr. McCain has requested quite a bit of money over the years, too).

So, Mr. McCain’s question, “do we need to spend that kind of money” is more rhetorical and just kinda glosses over the fact that the money was asked for but that appropriation request didn’t pass.  Kinda disingenuous of Mr. McCain to overlook that last part, you betcha. By golly.

The sad thing is that these facts could have been gleaned by Mr. McCain’s prep team if they’d bother to read the Congressional Record (paid for and made available by taxpayer dollars).  But they didn’t. So, the debate tactic of calling his opponent out on funding for a planetarium system that will benefit millions is an interesting one-sided use of facts and inferences, ignores an important point, and really just is a foul shot.

Once again it’s fair to ask: if Mr. McCain’s handlers got this one wrong, what else are they getting wrong?

Thanks to Mark for digging up the Politifact link.

UPDATE:

Here’s a statement from Adler Planetarium

STATEMENT ABOUT SENATOR JOHN McCAIN’S

COMMENTS AT THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

Last night, during the presidential debate in Nashville, Tennessee, Senator John McCain made the following statement:

McCain: “While we were working to eliminate these pork barrel earmarks he (Senator Obama) voted for nearly $1 billion in pork barrel earmark projects. Including $3 million for an overhead projector at a planetarium in Chicago, Illinois. My friends, do we need to spend that kind of money?”

To clarify, the Adler Planetarium requested federal support – which was not funded – to replace the projector in its historic Sky Theater, the first planetarium theater in the Western Hemisphere. The Adler’s Zeiss Mark VI projector – not an overhead projector – is the instrument that re-creates the night sky in a dome theater, the quintessential planetarium experience. The Adler’s projector is nearly 40 years old and is no longer supported with parts or service by the manufacturer. It is only the second planetarium projector in the Adler’s 78 years of operation.

Science literacy is an urgent issue in the United States. To remain competitive and ensure national security, it is vital that we educate and inspire the next generation of explorers to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

Senator McCain’s statements about the Adler Planetarium’s request for federal support do not accurately reflect the museum’s legislative history or relationship with Senator Obama. The Adler has approached the Illinois Congressional delegation the last few years for federal assistance with various initiatives. These have included museum exhibitions, equipment and educational programs we offer to area schools, including the Chicago Public Schools. We have made requests to Senators Durbin and Obama, as well as to 6 area Congressmen from both political parties. We are grateful that all of the Members we have approached, including Senator Obama, have deemed our activities worthy of their support, and have made appropriations requests on our behalf, as they have for many worthy Illinois nonprofit organizations.

As a result of the hard work of our bipartisan congressional delegation, the Adler has been fortunate to receive a few federal appropriations the past couple of years. However, the Adler has never received an earmark as a result of Senator Obama’s efforts. This is clearly evidenced by recent transparency laws implemented by the Congress, which have resulted in the names of all requesting Members being listed next to every earmark in the reports that accompany appropriations bills.

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Update 2: Here’s a link to a great article by my friend Jim Sweitzer — he writes about the Adler from his POV as someone who spent a long time working at Adler as an astrophysicist and now advises other facilities. Welcome to the fray, Jim!

Update 3:  A friend just pointed me to this great discussion at DailyKos (some comments are a bit salty).

(CCP here again —  U.S. citizens — have you registered to vote?)