McCain just lost the critical astronomer vote. My father, a professional astronomer, passed this along to me. Apparently McCain hates planetariums. They are “foolishness.” From an AP Story:
[McCain] was asked about nearly $200 million in congressional pet projects Palin requested for 2009 for her state, despite her boasts that she opposes such projects and his claim that she didn’t ask for any. McCain responded by criticizing Obama for seeking more than $900 million in these earmarks, by one count.
“That’s nearly a million every day, every working day he’s been in Congress,” McCain said. “And when you look at some of the planetariums and other foolishness that he asked for, he shouldn’t be saying anything about Governor Palin.”
Of course, it’s easy to pick on astronomers. They are a small constituency — numbering fewer than 10,000. They are also easy scared by bright lights, and, when not wielding a slide rule, utterly defenseless.
But still, what does McCain have against supporting science education? After the most anti-science administration in years, do we really need more of the same?
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