Anti-science McCain MUST be exposed

[arKansasJHawk]

Tonight, when asked a question about the $200 million in earmarks Palin requested for her state, McCain, instead of answering the question, changed the subject to Obama's spending ... and in the process outed himself as hideously out of touch and anti-science:

""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.""

He's calling planetariums FOOLISH? Planetariums are key pieces of science education. And in case no one's noticed, the U.S. is lagging seriously in that department. So his bona fides on education take a hit as well.

For the record, here's what Obama requested, from the FY08 Funding Request (tip o' the hat to JoAnne Hewitt at the Cosmic Variance blog for digging this up):

Adler Planetarium, to support replacement of its projector and related equipment, $3,000,000 :

One of its most popular attractions and teaching tools at the Adler Planetarium is the Sky Theater. The projection equipment in this theater is 40 years old, and is no longer supported with parts or service by the manufacturer. It has begun to fail, leaving the theater dark and groups of school students and other interested museum-goers without this very valuable and exciting learning experience.

McCain = Jackass

[Starry Messenger]

1. I am also outraged.

In fact, I'm speechless here. I've erased a few starts.

[LunaSea]

2. We'll have to drag these people into the 21st century..

One way or another.

[sfwriter]

3. Next they'll tell us Obama is a witch! EOM

[LunaSea]

5. Too late...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7077993&mesg_id=7077993

[Canuckistanian]

4. Got a link for your quote?

I'd like to pass this on.

[LunaSea]

6. Links

http://cosmicvariance.com/author/joanne/

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080915/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_lipstick

[Canuckistanian]

10. Thanks n/t

[populistdriven]

7. off to the greatest!

[wtmusic]

8. I've been going to Adler for 45 years

It's a tremendous resource, and McCain is a dick. He just lost a few votes in IL (not that it matters).

[central scrutinizer]

9. make up your mind!

$3,000,000 to study bear DNA in Montana is bad science
$3,000,000 to study harbor seal DNA in Alaska is good science
$3,000,000 to repair a planetarium so kids can get excited about science is bad

what's next?

[Canuckistanian]

11. Here's Bad Astronomy blog on McSame's statement

John McCain: literally antiscience

I am not a fan of John McCain. He has degenerated in recent times into a pandering tool of the far right, willing to say and do anything — including outright hypocrisy (he’s against lobbyists? Really?) — to get votes.

I have had my doubts on his support for science, but my fears have been at least in part confirmed. He was asked recently about his VP pick, Sarah Palin. She has secured vast amounts of money in earmarks for Alaska, and McCain has made quite the noise about being against earmarks. When confronted about this, what does he do? He changes the subject (which was about his abject hypocrisy), and attacks Obama. And there was some collateral damage. About Obama, he said:

“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.”



I’m sorry, did he call a planetarium "foolishness"? Did he really say that?

Yeah, he did.

More:
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/09/15/john-mccain-literally-antiscience/

[vanderBeth]

12. Science student here and is stunned.

McCain is such an asshat.

[eridani]

13. Tell the Science Debate people to cut the crap and endorse Obama

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=7062855

[Kablooie]

14. But... but... McCain worked with scientists in the 60's and 70's. He's an expert on science!