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Senator Barack Obama No Longer Favors Slashing NASA's Budget

orlandosentinel.com — "The Illinois senator promised he would work to add one more space-shuttle flight beyond 2010, the shuttle program's scheduled end. He said he wanted to ensure thousands of contract workers didn't lose their jobs. 'We cannot afford to lose their expertise,' he said."

Who dugg this? Made popular Aug 7, 2008

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  • vroom101, on 08/07/2008, -0/+17Excerpt from the "Remarks of Senator Barack Obama" at the "Town Hall on the Economy" as prepared for delivery in Titusville, Florida, USA on Saturday, August 2, 2008 via http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/aman ... ("Barack's Town Hall in Titusville, Florida" by Amanda Scott - August 2, 2008 at 11:21 am EDT, my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/amandascott/gG5kBP):

    . . . One of the areas where we are in danger of losing our competitive edge is our space program. When I was growing up, NASA inspired the world with achievements we are still proud of. Today, we have an administration that has set ambitious goals for NASA without giving NASA the support it needs to reach them. As a result, they've had to cut back on research, and trim their programs, which means that after the Space Shuttle shuts down in 2010, we're going to have to rely on Russian spacecraft to keep us in orbit.

    We cannot cede our leadership in space. That's why I will help close the gap and ensure that our space program doesn't suffer when the Shuttle goes out of service by working with Senator Bill Nelson to add at least one additional Space Shuttle flight beyond 2010; by supporting continued funding for NASA; by speeding the development of the Shuttle's successor; and by making sure that all those who work in the space industry in Florida do not lose their jobs when the Shuttle is retired -- because we cannot afford to lose their expertise.

    More broadly, we need a real vision for space exploration. To help formulate this vision, I'll reestablish the National Aeronautics and Space Council so that we can develop a plan to explore the solar system -- a plan that involves both human and robotic missions, and enlists both international partners and the private sector. And as America leads the world to long-term exploration of the moon, Mars, and beyond, let's also tap NASA's ingenuity to build the airplanes of tomorrow and to study our own planet so we can combat global climate change. Under my watch, NASA will inspire the world, make America stronger, and help grow the economy here in Florida. . . .
  • Veni_Vidi_Vici, on 08/07/2008, -7/+22As a student majoring in aerospace engineering. I no longer have a big reason to dislike him. Glad he came to his senses. At least he's not going to freeze the budget like Bush has and McCain has advocated.
  • tim04, on 08/07/2008, -0/+11I definitely respect a politician who is willing to change his mind when given the right reason to, without trying to look like a non "flip-flopping" politician. To support the idea that politicians shouldn't flip flop on issues is the same as saying that ignorance is a trait we want in a leader.
  • GrodyChamp, on 08/07/2008, -1/+12lol. Obama said this while in a FLORIDA town hall meeting where they depend on NASA. Get ready for him to flip back to regular position later on.

    Typical politics as usual. Nothing to see here people. Move along.
  • nxtwrld, on 08/07/2008, -1/+11Politics is quite weird to see on Digg for an outsider. While "McCain flips his opinion" - negative. "Obama is no longer in favor" - positive. But I guess being social does not mean being at all objective.....
  • paidhima, on 08/07/2008, -1/+9NASA is about more than just space exploration. Quite a lot of the innovation that has come from NASA has trickled down to the general population. NASA innovations include:

    MRI technology.
    Advanced small lasers, like those used for laser eye surgery.
    Ergonomics
    Running shoe cushioning technology.
    Satellite television.
    Popular purified water filtration systems.
    Memory foam for mattresses.
    Bar coding
    Advanced fire resistant materials.
    Heat-retaining materials.

    Each of those innovations were within the NASA program but were adapted in some way for commercial use.

    While I am a proponent of affordable public health care, the idea that diverting money from NASA will make this a reality is a stretch. In 2007 the NASA budget was $16.2 billion, 3.5% less than they requested and the same as 2006. Let's see how that compares to other agencies:

    The national budget for 2007 was $2.784 trillion, according to GPO documents. This is federal only.
    The national budget for social programs in 2007, including HHS, VA, Social Security, The Dep of Agriculture, Labor and Housing was $1.581 trillion.
    The Department of Defense, including Homeland Security, accounted for $653 billion.
    Interest payments on the national debt of almost $9 trillion was $400 billion.

    NASA's budget accounted for 0.58% of all federal spending.
    The Department of Defense budget was more than 40 times more than NASA.
    Federal social programs received 98 times more than NASA. That's federal only, and does not include state and local government programs.
    Eliminating the NASA budget would add just over 1% to the federal budget for social programs.

    $16.2 billion seems like an awful lot to us, but it's a very small amount relative to the federal budget. Additionally, consider that as of 2006 NASA had about 17k employees. And consider the contractors, independent research groups, manufacturers and vendors that do business with NASA - or each other, on behalf of NASA.

    The fact is NASA is an integral part of our society, and the research they're doing is extremely important. It's not just about theory and "let's see if we can." There are real world applications to the work that NASA does.
  • Synova, on 08/07/2008, -0/+4A politician that listens to the country and actually realizes when he has a plan that they don't agree with? *GASP*
  • inactive, on 08/07/2008, -0/+4Once president will he change his mind again?
  • roamzero, on 08/07/2008, -0/+3It seems like pandering to me.
  • Origin415, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2@dezholling
    He was speaking in Florida, in an area whose economy benefits from NASA's presence.
  • inactive, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2It is the nature of a thinking mind to change.
  • LunaticFringe, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2Barack Obama is obviously pandering to the diverse and expansive astronaut demographic.
  • SailingAlien, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2Obama is like the weather in Florida. If you don't like it, just wait 5 minutes and it will completely change.
  • morninglorii, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2You must not have been here when Obama voted yes on FISA.
  • inactive, on 08/07/2008, -1/+3I cant believe i am doing this i hate how so much political stuff gets run through digg. Even though some of it is good a lot is just posting every flip and flop ,but i relay want NASA to succeed so here is my digg.
  • vroom101, on 08/07/2008, -1/+3Spectacular, high-resolution photos of America's operational Space Shuttle Fleet

    #1. Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-108) protected by a Florida Air National Guard F-15C Eagle Fighter Jet, Assigned to the 125th Fighter Wing on 29 November 2001: http://chamorrobible.org/images/photos/gpw-2005112 ... via 2 at http://chamorrobible.org/gpw/gpw-20051129.htm
    #2. Space Shuttle Atlantis . . .

    (a) STS-45 mission -- Liftoff at 8:13:40 a.m. EST on 24 March 1992: http://img300.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gpn200000 ... via http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2000-000736. ... (grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2000-000736.html

    (b) STS-71 mission -- Docked to Russia's Mir Space Station: http://img292.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gpn200000 ... via http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2000-001315. ... (grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2000-001315.html)

    (c) STS-71 mission -- Departing from Russia's Mir Space Station: http://img123.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gpn200000 ... via http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2000-001071. ... (grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2000-001071.html)

    (d) STS-79 mission -- Destacking inside the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB): http://img152.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gpn200000 ... via http://grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2000-000782. ... (grin.hq.nasa.gov/ABSTRACTS/GPN-2000-000782.html)

    (e) STS-106 mission -- Liftoff on 8 September 2000: http://chamorrobible.org/images/photos/gpw-2004081 ... via 11 at http://chamorrobible.org/gpw/gpw-20040817.htm

    #3. Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-120) approaching the International Space Station on 25 October 2007: http://chamorrobible.org/images/photos/gpw-2005012 ... via 13 at http://chamorrobible.org/gpw/gpw-20050129.htm
  • skipdog172, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2I just love how his supporters agree with him no matter how much he flip flops. I'm not one of those people who believes that all politicians should be incapable of changing their stance on an issue. I just find it so hilarious that whatever he chooses, he just gets praised by his supporters. Not even that, but when John McCain changes his stance, digg screams at him that he is a flip-flopper. When Obama changes his stance on digg, he gets praised for being "smart enough to educate himself and change his mind, thus I am even more proud to support him!". I still find it hilarious how many folks believe Obama is the answer and will somehow fix our economic problems or our budget issues. All I know is that I refuse to put my vote towards either of these 2 candidates. It is politics as usual and I am still baffled by how many of you fall for it, even after your constant claims of "LOL LOOK AT THOSE SHEEP". You are the sheep. Stop it.
  • deathsythe, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2In other news, Obama flip flopped again.
  • inactive, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2"Obama is a centrists, with typical African American ideals"

    Huh?
  • AbsurdParadox, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2Thanks for stealing my money so you can do research. Jerk.

    (On a side note, if my money is going to be stolen, it might as well to go something like that instead of the military-industrial complex)
  • inactive, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2AT LAST, THE SEEK FOR ALIEN LIFE FORMS RESEMBLING MY SUBSTITUTION FOR A FEMALE COMPANION WILL CONTINUE.
  • jamesalfaro, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2Barack in Titusville, Florida Aug. 2nd NASA/space speech
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdvAVSNRni4
  • oldgal, on 08/07/2008, -0/+2In the 70's when Nixon tore apart NASA, brilliant Phd scientists could not buy jobs as dishwashers (over qualified) and there were no scientific jobs to be had. Most folks ended up in the business world which is much more stable than R&D - even corporate shuts down R&D when times are tough. There is no point in pushing math and science programs if there are no jobs at the end of the day.
  • roddack, on 08/07/2008, -1/+2That is funny oh hey he is going to give me money, well I no longer have a reason to dislike him.

    No wonder we are a dying country. People don't care about anything but how the government is going to rob one person and give the money to someone else and as long as you are that someone else it is all good it seems.
  • Zcaithaca, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1Do you really think McCain has a better grasp on the issues?


    I realize many people will vote independant or whatever, but since there is absolutely no chance barr or anyone else like that will win, I would pick the lesser of two evils and vote Obama
  • nihil, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1So a flip flop you agree in is a good thing?

    Of course this guarantees Obama won't flip back to his original position later, right?

    Welcome to the candidate with no foundation, willing to say anything, do anything, change any opinion to get elected.
  • starmanjones, on 08/14/2008, -0/+1i guess the difference is that i knew bush was a disaster before he was appointed president. saying bush and bold vision in the same sentence is enough to make you laugh/cry.
  • Eyaluth, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1The cuts would of gone to education.
  • jgtg32a, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1Its called bias
  • phrenzy, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1Am I the only one that ALWAYS read that as "Titsville"?
  • Blankcheque, on 08/07/2008, -1/+2That's not entirely accurate arcooke, he's had some HUGE initiatives passed through the Senate by working across the aisle, working to make government not only more transparent. But also more accessible.

    He's initiated an offensive stance against terrorism in Afghanistan, that has been widely heralded as a success.

    His short time in the Senate has shown he's got the capability. I just haven't seen it since he's taken the nomination. I've seen him do nothing but bend over backwards.

    Pelosi's giving him a big stick to hit the home run with. And keep linking McCain to Bush's continuously failed policies, and anything you can do to make that 28% approval rating, become branded on the side of McCain's bus.
  • bunk, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1But by putting money into the NASA program, you are putting money into education. Education for mankind.

  • frankzeg, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1I am a big Obama supporter and I work in the launch industry. The path NASA is following is a total disaster and will NEVER get anyone to the moon. If you do the math it is WHOLLY INCAPABLE of doing so. Every single element is sucking wind so bad it is a joke in the industry. A bad joke. I pray daily that Obama wins and pushes the big reset button on NASA.

    There are a lot of hard working and smart NASA engineers but they are barking up the wrong tree- and the ones that aren't blinded by personal ambition know it. Obama needs to put NASA out of its misery and halt the whole lunar exploration initiative. We can't support a space station a few hundred miles away much less any significant lunar presence worth investing in. You are not going to discover anything worthwhile if you only plan on staying a few days.

    The Shuttle has done nothing but delay the evolution of more modern launchers for two decades. Killing it should be a top priority. The replacements already exist- the US taxpayer paid for them- they are called the Atlas and Delta and they cut the cost to orbit by 50%. Too bad they are so underutilized that their unit cost has shot through the roof. This is what NASA has done- essentially banned Atlas and Delta from competing in the crewed mission arena so they can build their own crummy rockets at 20 times the cost.

    The only serious science being done by NASA is via the unmanned satellites and landers- they should be hugely accelerated at the expense of a manned space program that can only do ant-farm science. Right now men can contribute almost nothing to exploration of space. Machines can do the job better and pave the way for future human visitation- which should be permanent when it occurs. We can scarcely make a toilet that can last for a few years in orbit- not acceptable when you must stay on the moon for years.
  • inactive, on 08/08/2008, -0/+1Please read the Constitution. Show me where the government is authorized to spend money on this. Please show me where. I want to be educated. This is a frivolous expenditure and you know it. Just show me where it is authorized.
  • arcooke, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1Thank you for a civil reply Blankcheque. Not that it really matters, but I dugg you up for at least bringing up points of interest unlike most others here.

    However, I'm going to have to disagree with most of what you said.

    "he's had some HUGE initiatives passed through the Senate by working across the aisle, working to make government not only more transparent. But also more accessible."

    That's just colorful, sugary frosting. I want the cake. What I mean is that can apply to anyone. There's a million ways to skim off the top and come out smelling like roses (did I rip that off Shawshank? I think so). As for an offensive stance against terrorism in Afghanistan.. we shouldn't be on the offensive in the first place. Success or not, it's not our place to be offensive about anything over there. We just need to keep a sharp eye on our own borders, nothing more. As Dennis Leary put it, "we’ve got the bombs, that’s why; two words, nuclear *****’ weapons, OK?". Nobody in their right mind is going to try screwing with the US, and if they do, we've got a 99.9% chance of intercepting whatever they throw at us (that statistic spent quite a while up my ass by the way, but it sounds good).

    Anyway, I'm far too drunk to be doing this right now.. need to stop. bye

  • Sicarius, on 08/07/2008, -1/+2You're excited about him putting outdated tech on extended life support? The future and the money of space belongs to agile and innovative private companies. Not a monolithic government department.
  • lamiaconfitor, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. R.W. Emmerson
  • Blankcheque, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1Will the Senator please make his ***** mind about SOMETHING?!
  • flink405, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1I think we could just have a regular fill in the blank with Obama:
    "Senator Barack Obama No Longer .........."

    1. ....thinks he should be the Democratic party choice for President and but now supports Hillary Clinton.
    2. ....thinks the military surge in Iraq was a failure, but now thinks it is a total success.
    3.
    ------------
    And you have to watch this new video by Obama. The guy should not be allowed to talk without a teleprompter.
    Obama to 7-Year-Old: ‘America Is No Longer What It Could Be, What It Once Was’
    http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=147553
  • BabyWookie, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1Happy, Trekkie fags? I was like you once, all excited about the space exploration and *****. Then, something weird happened - I grew up and realized that this world has far more immediate concerns to spend resource on.
  • inactive, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1yeah what does reading comprehension have to do you the ability to vote against something you dont want?
  • silveravnt, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1It's considered a "flip flop" if someone conveniently changes their mind just as they are addressing an audience who will benefit from their new position. Such as support for NASA in oh... say Florida.
  • zacharytelschow, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1@ thespiff:

    If he didn't understand what space exploration meant and accomplished, why would he have a strong opinion about it in the first place?
  • lamiaconfitor, on 08/08/2008, -0/+1@silveravant... you know what he meant...
  • Brownds, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1No only republicans "flip flop" Democrats have a change of heart...
  • silveravnt, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1Thats what bothers me about Barr. But he has changed his stance years ago. Obama is just doing it for this election.
    I really want to believe Barr is legit but at any rate he is more in line with my ideals than the other two. Anyone who thinks Obama or McCain will be any different than Bush is kidding themselves.
  • A2007HokieAlumn, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1Thats a flip flop I can believe in!
  • NarrativeCarpet, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1This was one of my biggest issues with Obama, as I believe that science and technology funding will keep the US at the top. Space is the final frontier; the first to get out there is going to be making a ridiculous amount of money and power.
  • starmanjones, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1lets don't let people define things in false choices. both are a necessity. lets bill the bush family for the war and have both... plus a civilized safety net. free education through college. give incentives for science related to energy. these are good for everyone.
  • JekJob, on 08/07/2008, -0/+1He first said that he would cut NASA's budget to pay for education. So it's entirely possible that he found money in his budget plan to fund NASA as well.
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