McCain's planetarium problem

Posted: Wednesday, October 08, 2008 8:20 PM by Alan Boyle

Adler Planetarium

The Adler Planetarium's Zeiss Mark VI projector was installed in 1970.

As if scientists weren't having enough problems due to federal budget freezes, now they're facing flak from Republican presidential candidate John McCain because of a $3 million planetarium projector. Which was never funded.

McCain has repeatedly taken his presidential rival (and Senate colleague) Barack Obama to task for seeking the $3 million earmark for Chicago's Adler Planetarium. The 40-year-old projector currently being used by the world-class planetarium is failing, and it's so obsolete that spare parts aren't available anymore. Obama and other members of the Illinois congressional delegation sought federal funds for a replacement.

That request fell by the wayside, and the funds never came through. But McCain is still trying to beat Obama over the head with the non-existent earmark, complaining about the "overhead projector" during Tuesday night's debate.

Anyone who's been to a planetarium knows that a planetarium projector is an incredibly complex and expensive device, and not your garden-variety overhead projector. Two years ago, the Los Angeles Times reported that the Griffith Observatory's new projector cost more than $3 million. Total cost of the Griffith's renovation: $93 million.

In response to McCain's comments, the Adler Planetarium issued a truth-squad statement today. Adler President Paul Knappenberger noted that the Griffith Observatory as well as New York's Hayden Planetarium received federal funding to replace their projection systems, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Legions of science fans are leaping to Adler's defense. Here's a selection, mostly cribbed from Phil Plait's Bad Astronomy blog. I'll be glad to add more if you send them along as a comment:

As I noted on Tuesday (and this morning), McCain's shares are hitting new lows on the political prediction markets. Maybe his planetarium problem was a factor.

Update for 12:50 p.m. ET Oct. 9: Tracey from Atlanta makes a good point in the comments below: All the publicity about this should help the Adler Planetarium raise the $3 million without the federal earmark. In fact, I'll be doing my part. I'm sending the planetarium a check for $140 today. This is in lieu of the political contributions that I never give because I'm a journalist. If everyone who has clicked onto this Web page so far sent in that amount as an average contribution, the planetarium would have more than $3 million in new money for their capital fund campaign. I'm going to write on my check that this is for "planetarium earmark avoidance," and you're free to do the same.

Update for 3:30 p.m. ET Oct. 9: After talking with the planetarium folks, I found that the best way to mark the check is to say it's for "Sky Theater renovation." (I'm adding the "earmark avoidance" part as well, just for fun.)

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Comments

A drop in the bucket? So if EVERY senator asked for 3 Million dollars from every special interest group to fund ever little project from the Federal Government, it would amount to HUGE debt! Its time that individual states start funding their own projects in their own budgets- not from other tax payers in other states.

K, Louisville Kentucky (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 8:43 AM)

IF this country had a equitable and fair tax system, IF this country wasn't wasting millions and billions for war and rebuilding a country that doesn't want us there, IF this country didn't use billions to get us out of a financial hole that a very elite greedy few dug us into (only to go out and spend that money on more frivolous pursuits), then this country would have the money to spend on the education of our youth of this country.

It is true that one of the reasons we elect federal officials is to make sure that we get federal assistance at the local level. They are our VOICE in Washington. The representitives of Illinois (not only Obama) did their JOB when they voiced this proposal to their collegues. The only shame of this is that they didn't get the funding. Just one more victim of the overall incredibly shrinking federal funding of the education of America and her children. Just remember that when the scientists and engineers of China and India take over the world.

Rhonda, Portage, MI (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 8:51 AM)

its a wast of taxpayer money either way

Obamanist (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 8:58 AM)

McCain has been fact checked on several negative accusations against Obama. McCain is good at construing information to be used to his advantage. The 3 mil earmarked for this project was only a small part of the total amount needed. There have been other avenues of funding requests, but you can’t get that type of funding solely from selling cookies and putting a Pepsi logo on the front of the building. McCain is misleading the public intentionally to his advantage.

Seth Eugene Or (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 9:17 AM)

Is everyone skipping over the part that states that other states have gotten FEDERAL FUNDS for their planetarium projectors? With everything else taxpayers will be paying for, do you really think most are going to be OK with an additional tax for a projector? Probably not, why not let the Federal Governemnt pay for it, it's not like they are super excited to pay for any other educational programs, may as well let them pay for at least ONE!

Stacey Northern NJ (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 9:17 AM)

3 Million into the observatory to attract lots of people and al-Qaida walks in and blows the place up just because we wanted to see the stars instead of protecting our lives. Priorities seem to have been the point McCain was making. In the scale of things that little and very expensive projector is not much more than a common overhead projector when compared to keeping nuclear weapons from being carried into our ports and cities or the $37,000 each one of us now owe in government debt on top of our personal debt. If half the people complaining had any intelligence at all they could have understood what was said. But it must have gone over their heads.

Mike Williams, Altus, OK (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 9:25 AM)

A desperate attemp on Sen. McCain's part to make Sen. Obama look bad - he has nothing so must grasp at straws. The earmark system is abused and loaded with pork in the billions- but is also used for good, legitimate projects such as highway infrastructure repairs and restoration of historic buildings. Sen. Obama and the other Illinois reps used it appropriately. Sen. Obama discusses the funding request openly on his website.

Jill Lynn, Sacramento CA (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 9:36 AM)

No one should receive any tax money to do anything, right? And if your state gets more tax dollars than it gives, the country should own your state. No taxes, no pork, no funds, no spending! I'm right, everyone else is wrong and I'm not gonna budge until everyone agrees with me! We don't need al Quieda, we are our own worst enemy. Blockheads, morons, liars.
**SHEESH**

john linstrom, Polson, MT (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 9:39 AM)

McCain calling the this device an OP is lunacy
Obama asking taxpayers to foot the bill is lunacy
AB saying that we've done it before so we should do it again is lunacy
Giving loans to people without credit history or means is lunacy
Giving 3 MM, just because its small compared to 700 B, is lunacy
Rewarding CEO's for failed companies is lunacy
There is a lot of lunacy being practiced on a daily basis - it needs to stop. It will be painful, but it has to be ended.

At some point we need to start passing legislation without added sweeteners. BOTH F'in PARTIES need to stop this lunacy

Ed E, Greenfield, MA (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 9:43 AM)

"...the planetarium is part of the National Park Service's National Historic Landmarks Program"

Thanks Alan for this information...I was wondering myself why this facility should receive federal dollars, but you've provided a perfectly acceptable reason. Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent each year (wisely and for the present and future of our nation) on over 300 national parks, monuments and historical sites that frankly, most of us will never see, however, we and those with national foresight understand that these properties must be maintained and protected for each generation. This is a fine earmark and now that I know of it's existence, if I and my family are ever able to visit Chicago, I will make a point of visiting!

James Chapman, Tallahassee, Florida (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 9:45 AM)

I don't think some of you actually read the article. First off, both LA's and NYC's planetariums received federally funded projectors. The legislation in context for the Adler projector didn't even pass!!

If you do the math, including the assumed lifespan of the projector being 40 years, it works out to about $0.00025 per person ($3million over 40 years). You don't think you can afford 25 millionths of a cent? That sounds a lot less then the average $400 per person ($10BILLION a MONTH) we are sending off to Iraq each year.

One more time for all of you McCain supporters who decided not to read the full article, the legislation did not pass and the $3mil was not spent!!!

Ryan, Chicago (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 9:53 AM)

Let me get this straight: a $3 million investment in science that could conceivably be used for another 40 years and inspire tens of millions of young people is now considered pork? What's wrong with us? Sounds like an enormous bargain. Instead of spending Billions each month in Iraq, we should be spending Millions each month helping to educate our youth (and not charging them an admission fee). It's not only money well spent, it should be our top priority.

Mark, Chicago, Ill. (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 10:01 AM)

Adler Planetarium charges Admission Prices from $14-$23, where does that go? Paul Knappenberger pocket?
They have had 40 years to plan for a new projector. Space education is a good thing, but FEDERAL Earmarks are not.
If this was for the Smithsonian Institution, a FEDERAL Institution, that would be a different story.

Eric, Va (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 10:02 AM)

Such a pity that "Science Hater" McCain would single out a science project like a planetarium projector for Chicago to exhibit his christian hatred for real science. The repugnant ones have been at war with science ever since Ronny Raygunz. The only science the repugnant ones like is the science of killing people faster.

Thanks Alan for showing us real science lovers that the science community will not lay down and surrender to the small minded crowd who hates real science.

Only Obama/Biden will bring real science back to the White House.

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 10:05 AM)

I'm in the top 5% and I will never visit Arizona, nor use their roads and hospitals, so why doesn't the federal govt. stop funding all of McCain's pork in Arizona. I believe the roads and hospitals in Arizona and especially Alaska (king of all states in per capita pork spending) should get private citizens and local govt to fund their roads, hospitals, schools and everything else they have. Vote for ignorant Repugnites.

George, Chicago, IL (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 10:12 AM)

I am from Chicagoland, and I enjoy and value the planetarium, but this should NOT be federally funded. I don't care if it's $3 million or $300 million this should be absorbed by the planetarium through donations and local taxes. Unless of course Cook County can't afford it with the highest sales tax in the country.

Tim, Schaumburg, IL (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 10:14 AM)

I would rather buy a million "overhead projectors" than have had Bush waste 3 trillion on Iraq.

Howard Paris (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 10:23 AM)

Alan Boyle, may we depend on you to forward comments so that they actually reach their targets (McCain, Obama, Chicago, and even a few still-existing private benefactors such as our Gates, Pickens and leftover banks...)?

JoAnne, Phoenix, AZ (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 10:35 AM)

I have read The Constitution, and there is nothing in there about funding Planetarium upgrades. If you want to take money from the entire nation to fund local issues, then amend the Constitution to allow it. We are allowing Washington to exceed their mandate, and nowhere is this more evident, than the pork barrel spending, on local concerns. The Congress has become a bunch of greedy little pigs all fighting to spend our money, before someone else gets it first. When you promote that attitude, you hasten the failure of trust, in our economic system.

Russ R. , Naperville, IL (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 10:45 AM)

You'all know about the earmark for studying bears in Montana that MCShame keeps bringing up?????...........
well, guess what?? HE VOTED FOR IT!!!! DUHHHHHHHH!!!

KJ, GULFPORT, FL (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 10:58 AM)

Let's face it, McCane is a Luddite and a borderline illiterate as well. Just exactly what we don't need in a 21st century White House.

Allen R (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 11:02 AM)

Use of federal tax dollars for any project should be considered carefully for its merit. When anybody selectively uses only one such project for propaganda purpose during election season is not how you tackle this issue. Also all such projects that request funding should be made public at the time so public can voice their concerns on the merit.

JDP (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 11:04 AM)

I've often heard about earmarks that Obama has requested f/ Ill and The planetarium in Chicago as a particular case in point.

Has any one ever checked to see if McCain has gone his whole career w/o asking f/ any earmarks f/ any organization in AZ?

He is certainly 'talking the talk' against earmarks but has he always 'walked the walk' against them?

How much, if any earmarks have been requested by McCain over time and adjusted for inflation has it been more or less than Obama’s?

How much did Palin request that the congressional delegation from Alaska have inserted into the federal budget? (Why should Alaska be getting ANY earmarks for ANYTHING as long as they have so much money in their state budget that they can afford to give most of the state’s citizens be getting a handout? Or is that a separate question that we in the ‘lower 48’ be asking?)

Jeff D, Bel Air, MD (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 11:07 AM)

We spend 10bil. on Iraq in one month. We can't find 3mil to help out a planetarium in Chicago? Lets get our priorities in order.

Isn't that exactly what elected officials are supposed to do for their constituents when in Congress? Work to better their lives through monies they've paid to the Federal Gov?

Matt, NJ (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 11:07 AM)

I believe that the federal government has no place in paying for any pork barrel. I would prefer the government let me keep more of my money which then allows me decide what projects to support. If I had more of my tax dollars I may be able to buy better health care or pay my morgage payment or donate to buying a projector to further education.

wayne dieckhaus owensville mo (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 11:18 AM)

No surprise McCain is not interested in teaching young people about science and technology.

This isn't something he's personally interested in - since he can't even operate a computer.

If he had some intellectual curiosity he might be better able to relate to Americans - and be a better candidate.

McCain is lost in space!

John Doe, Seattle, Wash (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 11:22 AM)

H.G Wells said it best --- "Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe."

Phil O (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 11:24 AM)

The best news is that it was not funded. Why should tax payers all over the country fund a projector for Chicago? All earmarks should be eliminated and the only funding be made by stand alone bills.

Fred - Denver CO (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 11:25 AM)

It may not be the best for our individual pocketbooks, but public investment in science and science education at the federal level passes the test of cost-benefit analysis, and ultimately means more Amercians have the opportunity to experience science in a meanignful way that doesn't involve reading academic journals, which most folks can't comprehend anyway. Just becasue you don't plan to visit the planetarium doesn't mean it won't benefit you. If we don't fund our national resources federally, they will degrade. The federal government does and should fund planetariums, and they will eventually appropriate some funds for this projector, though it might not end up being the full $3 million that was requested.

Dave, OK (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 11:31 AM)

It was a stupid example of an earmark by McCain, nobody will get riled up about a planetarium getting a new projector.

But that doesn't mean McCain is wrong about earmarks. The problem isn't necessarily the government is helping cities with money, but that earmarks are silently slipped into bills whose title has nothing to do with the allocated funds. So Congressmen end up having to approve countless earmarks if they want the bills to pass, and don't know all of what they're signing for.

ALL earmarks are bad.

If Obama wanted to fund a projector, the best thing he could have done is wrote a bill on allocating funds to scientific institutions.

Brian, Encino, CA (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 11:31 AM)

The federal government should support the renovation of planetariums in whatever city they happen to exist. Further the federal government should assist in building new planetariums in any large city in the US that wants one and doesn't have one. Science education should be a national priority. McCain has a problem thinking about long term strategy and this is just another example of it. He's out of touch with our future.

Tim, San Diego, California (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 11:33 AM)

When Sarah Palin goes back to being the Alaska governor, will she live up to her rhetoric and refuse all earmarks aimed for her state? I doubt it. I heard McCain does not request earmarks for Arizona so at least he's consistent.

Dave K. Seattle Wa (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 11:34 AM)

When a loosing candidate knows he won't win he usually revert to crap flicking. 3 Million that would benefit and inspire people to do something useful for the whole country can't even compare to the ridiculous amount of money being thrown away in Iraq.

John D (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 11:47 AM)

330 million plus people in the US....
$3 million for a new one....
LESS THAN a penny a person...

stop being such a scrooge....

Sad (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 11:47 AM)

lets nsee, if i got this right. MC CAIN voted 200 mill for the bridge to nowere in alasca!!! but 3mill. for the projector, wich edjucates mill. of shoolchildrenis tooooooooo much i chaged my party affiliation from REPUBLICAN to DEMOCRAT yesterday. mc cain your way of thinking is fundamentily wrong

uwe fruendt san felipe baja mex. (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 11:54 AM)

Greetings, greetings fellow Star Gazers!

If McCain wants any chance of winning this election, he needs to fire his advisers today. McCain is much smarter than his recent appearances and campaign tactics reflect, and it is apparent his GOP handlers are grasping at straws instead of playing to McCain's strengths. Consequently, McCain is losing the independent voters, big time. Going after Obama on the planetarium projector (which I am sure some junior GOP researcher thought would be great) was just plain stupid because: (a) its hard to argue against educational and cultural outlays (as opposed to boondogles like the bridge to nowhere) and not look like a neanderthal; and (b) Palin, McCain's supposedly "tough on earmarks" veep candidate, took in or accepted as much or more pork than Obama ever did, only rejecting it when it had unpleasant strings attached. I used to be a big McCain supporter (back when he really was a maverick), but as the GOP front-runner, it is apparent the hard righters have put their stamp on him, not vice-versa (they obviously scuttled his preference to have Joe Lieberman be his veep candidate (a long time friend) because Lieberman is pro choice; McCain should have stuck to his principles instead of caving in and acquiescing to Palin (someone he had never even met before)). If anything, it is a shame a federal grant could not be arranged for the projector in Chicago, because those projectors are unbelievably complicated and expensive pieces of equipment. If you've never been to a planetarium show, you owe it to yourself. Sure, more local and private money should be raised (I am quite certain the museum is trying it's darndest to get it), but if the feds support educational and cultural stuff like this, its hard to argue against it. $500 hammers and $2,000 toilet seats, sure. Cost overruns in the Pentagon. Go after them! But not this. A planetarium projector is not waste, pork, or anything else: its educational. Shouldn't goverments support that? I mean, isn't this still a civilized nation? So, McCain, you need to fire your GOP minders and be the McCain of old if you want to win this thing, and leave the projector alone. And as the Star Hustler says: "Keep looking up."

Chris, long-time supporter of the Miami Space Transit Planetarium (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 11:58 AM)

I wonder how much if any federal funds went to the observatory on MT. Graham, AZ and if the Honorable Senator from the Grand Canyon had any part in requesting those funds?

score keeper (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 12:04 PM)

New York's Bob Dineo:
"We need to stop ourselves. Just because others waist money, we don't need to encourage more waist."

Living in an increasingly obese America, these typos are funny on so many levels...

PaulE, Louisville, KY (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 12:06 PM)

JDP, Jersy City, NJ (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 12:23 PM)

What people fail to realize is that federal grants provide money for jobs (namely those working at my husband's company which provides services to museums). If the Red Cross and healthcare institutions can't get enough private funding to pay for their projects, I think it's naive to think that Education and the Arts will get enough private money to pay for theirs. In the 21st century we will need more scientist to take on the numerous energy and environmental projects on our planet. Fostering an interest in science through a visit to a museum is a first step in the careers of our future scientists. One person's "pork" is another's investment in the future. Anyway I'm sure this planetarium would have a lot more local and visiting users than any of Alaska's bridges to nowhere.

Another Mama for Obama Barrington, RI (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 12:32 PM)

I have been to the Adler Planetarium several times in my life, and I cannot wait to take my young children there. However the educational benefit of the dome projector is minimal at best. The type of information learned can be gathered from research in a book...and this type of research is memorable because of the effort involved. The Adler dome is nothing more than a "movie theatre" for astronomical textbooks. And we all should know how movies tend to abbreviate story books to the point of missing many details.

The pork needs to go - everywhere.

Joe Mama, Chicago, IL (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 12:35 PM)

Excuse me but why should the federal govt be paying $3,000,000 for a projector in Chicago? Thank you for opposing this Mr. McCain!

Nobama, Nobama, IL (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 12:37 PM)

And if we could balance the budget and pay off the national debt, we could use the money we spend on interest each year to fund these wonderful small projects that enhance our lives. This isn't about whether it was good to spend the money or not, it's about whether we can afford it.

How many of you have rolling debt each month. How many of you buy kewl things on your credit cards knowing you won't have the money for them. the issue isn't the size of the Federal pork or if it was to be spent on something worthy, it's about irresponsible children in a toy store and We The People have given them a blank check!

OneVoice, Frederick MD (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 12:46 PM)

All this while supporting the $10 billion a month spent in Iraq. In a 31 day month that is over $13 million an hour. Less than 15 minutes of Iraq funding for science and education. I don't believe we need 4 more years of this level of non-support for what is truely meaningful to the future of this country.

Mike Oakley, Charlotte NC (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 12:56 PM)

That is the whole problem..everybody wants a little that adds up to alot. This country is in serious trouble so everyone needs to put up and shut up. If you have the money and want the projector, do the right thing and send them a donation. Don't force everone to pay. We all need to help each other by helping ourselves.

Give poor people a choice Delta Co (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 1:01 PM)

Part of the reason we are in the current financial mess is that we have been spending beyond our means. Our elected friends in Washington are a large part of this current crisis. As a nation we need to prioritize our spending, just as the financial market's bill that recently passed has earmarks for wooden arrows, our representatives in both the Senate and Congress need to be more responsible with OUR MONEY!!!

Mike, Newport, KY (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 1:03 PM)

I visited the Adler as a child and enjoyed it, as did my children. However, this it is not appropriate to expend federal tax dollars on something like this. This needs to be supported by donations are user fees. If these are not sufficient, then the market is not willing to pay for it, and neither am I.

Rob Corelli, Concord, MA (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 1:07 PM)

McCain is just loath to the idea that planetariums put forth..the whole "earth is round" thing never sat well with him. Neither does "earth is getting warmer."

He's trying to distract. His whole campaign has been about how much he can distract people from the issues. He's good at it.

Faith, Tampa (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 1:07 PM)

While I think the planetarium projector was a very bad example for McCain, the issue of earmarks or pork is still a valid one. The only way to kill it off is to pass a single subject amendment to the U.S. Constitution, thereby prohibiting Congress from passing these huge omnibus bills that cover so many different subjects that no one legislator really knows what is in them (or, to get one thing you really want, you have to vote for something you don't want - i.e., "logrolling"). Each act of Congress, or appropriation, should be accepted or rejected without reference to unrelated matters. Consider this, my proposed 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:

"Congress shall pass no law embracing more than one subject and matters properly connected therewith. The budget for each department of the federal goverment shall be passed independently of every other department, and all other federal appropriations shall be passed independently of any other appropriations. The use of the omnibus budget procedure is hereby abolished."

I am sure Congress would cringe at the prospect of actually having to work for a living, but until you get the quid-pro-quo out of the process, you'll never get rid of the pork.

Chris, Miami (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 1:10 PM)

I live in Chicago and have been to the Adler Planetarium many times and paid an entry fee every time. So what's that money being used for?

Jim, Chicago, Illinois (Sent Thursday, October 09, 2008 1:14 PM)

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