[barbino]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

According to my boyfriend, this planetarium and museum is supposed to be the largest of its kind in the country or something. It's a big deal to science. He says there was all kinds of chatter online after the first debate in which it was mentioned...scientists all over were pissed.

ETA: Adler is the oldest planetarium in the country.

here's some more on the so-called "overhead projector"
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/222859.php
http://cbs13.com/campaign08/obama.mc....2.836336.html
http://gizmodo.com/5060946/barack-ob...ly-pretty-cool
http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archi...8/1518907.aspx (has links to a bunch of other sites that think McCain's statement sucks, too)

ETA some more: for those of you who don't think this museum and research institution benefits our country, and therefore doesn't deserve federal funding, I'd like to hear why you think the federal govt. should keep supplying nearly $40 billion of our tax money to YOUR schools every year. We do these things because an educated society is a strong society.

I live in Chicago, and I grew up with the Adler Planetarium "in my backyard." When you live in a big city, you take things for granted. It is one of my favorite places. I was under the impression that the Zeiss projector is very old and has needed to be replaced for awhile (10+ years, perhaps). Coming up with the funds has never been easy. The money should come from somewhere within Chicago or private contributors. I believe that passing the replacement cost onto a federal government that is already in the midst of a federal mortgage bailout, a possible stock market crash, and on the verge of a recession is irresponsible. I love science. I love education. But let the big guys that have the money pay for this. The United States government should not be held responsible for having to spend federal funds for such a private purpose. Sure Obama wants it. It will keep everybody in Chicago happy. But I have to agree with McCain on this one.