[Peace-discuss] Adler Planetarium responds to McCain

[Karen Medina]

YES!. Thanks for sharing the article.

But I'm pretty sure the quote in the article is wrong; When McCain mentioned 
that Obama had approved the expensive projector in Chicago, McCain 
intentionally left out that it had anything to do with a planetarium. I'd have to 
look for a transcript.

-karen medina

---- Original message ----
>Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 07:47:43 -0500
>From: "Robert Naiman" <naiman.uiuc at gmail.com>  
>Subject: [Peace-discuss] Adler Planetarium responds to McCain  
>To: "peace discuss" <peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net>
>
>http://www.adlerplanetarium.org/pressroom/pr/2008_10_08_AdlerStatement
_aboutdebate.pdf
>
>    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.
>    October 8, 2008
>
>
>-- 
>Robert Naiman
>Just Foreign Policy
>www.justforeignpolicy.org
>naiman at justforeignpolicy.org
>
>Ambassador Pickering on Iran Talks and Multinational Enrichment
>http://youtube.com/watch?v=kGZFrFxVg8A
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