Obama's Planetarium Projector Earmark Explained

John McCain accused Barack Obama of a seemingly outlandish request for Chicago's planetarium during the second presidential debate Tuesday, saying that the Democratic candidate backed a "$3 million [earmark] for an overhead projector at a planetarium in Chicago, Ill. My friends, do we need to spend that kind of money?"

The AP fact-checked the claim:

McCain's phrase suggests Obama spent $3 million on an old-fashioned piece of office equipment that projects charts and text on a wall screen. In fact, the money was for an overhaul of the theater system that projects images of stars and planets for educational shows at Chicago's Adler Planetarium. When he announced the $3 million earmark last year, Obama said the planetarium's 40-year-old projection system "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."

But McCain's remark was enough to make Adler Planetarium officials issue a statement defending the scientific validity of the request:

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.

Sen. Dick Durbin and six Chicago-area Congressman, three of whom are Republicans, also agreed to sponsor the unsuccessful $3 million earmark.

Planetariums in New York and Los Angeles recently replaced their Zeiss projection systems with federal funding, the Tribune reports.

Comments

[RhinoCrossing]

McCain chooses to twist facts and distort truth because he wants to be President first. He is not a principled, honorable man. He has done nothing in his career to spark true reform. He is not a maverick. He is simply the epitome of a "I'll be whatever you need me to be" marketing campaign led by the "you'll do everything I ask of you" fan club that is the republican lobby pool. It's fallen apart. He has become the gumby of politics. He's stretched himself beyond repair. He stands now for nothing.

[blt53]

The majore error with the discussions on Earmarks is that Earmarks are not even what the concern actually is. McCain is actually disturbed by "riders"..­buget items attached to unrelated bills "in the dark of night" out of the view of the general public. Look at the "bailout" bill...the­re are lots of riders on that one. Earmarking is how federal money is allocated to agencies, cities, etc. for specific use and are to be used for those projects/programs only. Is it be better to be giving money out just because someone just "wants" it or to actually know how this money is to be used? Personally, I want to know where the money is to be spent.

Jules1...t­he mating habits of crab and bear DNA projects are not "foolish"? Knowledge of the mating habits of crabs is necessary for understanding the life history of animals that we have major commercial fisheries on so that we can mange the resource with better information. The bear DNA project has actually been used to keep bears OFF of the endangered species list. Listing would cost the taxpayer and private parties a heckofa lot more money than the project itself. There are alot of goofy projects earmarked by powerful politicians that have been funded that I definitely disagree with. However, at least, in they are done upfront, and if you disagree with the title...th­en you really ought to find out exactly what the project is.

[susierr]

Some people out there are actually supporting McCain! We must really band together even MORE. Keep sending donations, keep volunteering and help canvass or make phone calls. We can't let our guard down, no matter how obvious it looks that we are going to win. They are tricky, dishonest and will stop at nothing to win. It's apparent by how they run their campaign that they are capable of saying and doing anything.

OBAMA MUST WIN

When are spell checkers going to add Obama to their list of new words?

[cdub1991]

The second McCain mentioned a 3 million dollar projector, I pretty much instantly guessed to what he was referring. What sort of person wouldn't even bother to investigate the expenditure before condemning it? Fact is, it's exactly the sort of thing for which I'd like to see my federal dollars spent. The reversal of the US disdain for science should be a high national priority.

[naschkatze]

The Adler Planetarium's response says it best.

[Eric8869]

He thinks that it's an overhead projector?

McCain probably got in his "electric buggy" (one of 13) to go down to the "magic box" station for the debate. Then asked the moderator to "wave his arms" because he is not that familiar with electric lights especially having to tell the difference between red and green ones. And why for goodness sake is that "that one" getting so uppity and not knowing his place?

Since he doesn't use the computer I know he's not reading this.

[roninroshi]

McCain's living in the "Dark Ages"....h­e needs to pack it in go home and sit in his rocker and tell "War Stories" to the neighbors.­..

[PineyWoods]

You know when you walk into a spider web, and you can't see the spider but you think it's on you? What do you do? You just flail away. You're not even sure what you're flailing at, you're just scared and you're doing a little dance. That's McCain. He's just flailing away. Trying to brush Obama away and can't find him.

[PCRX]

Old man yells at stars!!!!

[Rog49Thomas]

Well, clearly this is a question of priorities.

Should the government be wasting money on education when it could be giving the already too wealthy another unneeded tax cut? How are we going to fund no bid billion dollar contracts for Halliburton if we provide health care for citizens?

[LetMeUnderstandThis]

Who cares Muffy needs a new chateau, why do THOSE people need a big camera for anyway!


Obama/Biden 08

[studioh!]

johnny doesn't know an overhead projector from a shooting star!

this maverick is the original space cadet!

when you think earmarks, just remember not to burn your bridge to nowhere...

[PineyWoods]

"Ground control to John McCain ... ground control to John McCain ... take your protein pills and put your helmet on."

[Nikola Tesla]

Is McCain lost in Space....t­he space between his ears?

[Jules1]

Obama is not running his camapign railing against eramarks, McCain/Palin are, the one about studying the DNA of bears that McCain screams about, oh gee! I guess he forgot, that was his!! as reported by Olbermann. And the mating habits of crabs was Palins, now those are foolish. Not all earmarks are bad and onlt represent a small portion of the US budget ( if you can call billions small) but it is a small amount by standards of spending. Now some pay for new bridges, roads, educational equipment etc, swimming pools, safety equipment etc

[Nikola Tesla]

"But Sience and Reeding are dum!"

[KiwisCanFly]

Obama supports reforming earmark allocation.

Obama says “We can no longer accept a process that doles out earmarks based on a member of Congress' seniority, rather than the merit of the project,"

and

"The entire earmark process needs to be re-examined and reformed. For that reason, I will be supporting Sen. DeMint's amendment and will not be requesting earmarks this year for Illinois,"

McCain, the GOP and Gov Palin are however touting Palin as a champion anti-earmark person. This hypocrisy has been exposed during the national vetting of Palin.

From the nonpartisan watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense, Obama has asked for nearly $1 billion in earmarks during his Senate term.
But the group gives him credit for disclosing his requests, which most members of Congress don't do.
Obama has not made any requests for the next fiscal year, and even when he was asking for earmarks, he was far from the worst offender.

[VeroucaSalt]

I'm surprised McCain even knew what an overhead projector was, considering how he stopped learning ANYTHING years ago. He's intellectually stagnant. Which may be why he thought a planetarium projector was the same thing as an overhead projector.

[ItsNotBlackPeoplesFault]

I didn't need an explanation. My child is heavy into Astronomy and he is dying to go to Chicago to that Planetarium every since he read about it in science class. Thanks Mr. Obama. My child will have a wonderful learning experience when we do go this year. Think we'll check out Legoland to :D

[LetMeUnderstandThis]

And your child will grow to love Astronomy to the point of perhaps discovering a new planet!

Educating our children NOW will insure our futures!!


Obama/Biden

[John R]

Unfortunately, the article says the request was unsuccessful, although it had bipartisan sponsors. It seems your son will have to wait a little longer until the planetarium gets funds for a new projector.

[naschkatze]

It is a wonderful, enlightening experience. All the children in the Chicago area get to go there on school field trips, and I as a mother/chaperon enjoyed it as much as the kids.

[Nikola Tesla]

According to McCain, ANYONE from Chicago must be corrupt.

[enlighteninglad]

Country first, but cities are a different story.

[BluebirdofUnhappiness]

While there's some silliness in earmarks (I seem to remember some million dollar outhouse, perhaps long enough ago to be a Repub project) the vast majority are not: roads, bridges, municipal water/sewage systems, education, research, and so on. The system is goofy (jamming them in unrelated bills) but the results are typically constructive. And if the $$$ don't come from the federal level, they'd be coming from the state. And then Alaska couldn't give everyone in the state a rebate.