Gephardt to Bush: Don't Shortchange Earth

[papau]

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/politics/politics-campaign-gephardt.html

Gephardt to Bush: Don't Shortchange Earth
By REUTERS

CONCORD, N.H. (Reuters) - Democratic presidential hopeful Richard Gephardt urged President Bush on Friday not to forget the realities back home on planet Earth in pursuit of lofty aspirations in outer space.

Reacting to reports the president will announce a plan next week to put humans back on the moon and ultimately send NASA on a manned mission to Mars, the Missouri congressman said Bush must keep his eye on priorities like energy research at home.

``I have nothing against NASA programs. I've been a supporter of them because I think you need that vision out there, especially for young people,'' Gephardt said in response to a question from an audience member at a campaign event in New Hampshire, home to the first primary of the 2004 White House campaign.

``But you can't shortchange the research that we need for things that need to happen here on Earth,'' he said, ``That's why energy research is so vital.''
<snip>

Any plans to send manned missions to the moon and Mars would face budgetary constraints, including a budget deficit expected to top $500 billion this year alone. Experts say a moon mission could be done without a significant increase in the budget by spreading the cost over seven to 10 years.<snip>

``He only has one idea for jobs, and that's tax cuts for the wealthiest,'' Gephardt said. ``It does not work, it has not worked, it will not work.''

[The Backlash Cometh]

1. What's pathetic about this moon and mars mission is that it's just

a probe, at government expense, for resources which the Bush cronies will privatize for profit at a later date.

For Bush to ignore the present human plight on earth for something that is really out there, means that he's sociopathic at some level.

[Birthmark]

2. The neo-cons are just...

...scouting out real estate opportunities. After all, the Earth won't last long under the attack these clowns are perpetrating on it.

[TexasSissy]

3. I wish Gep would've thought of earth by voting pro-environmental.

Unfortunately, he chose NOT to vote on environmental issues more often than he bothered to vote. Including not voting on the Arctic National Wildlife drilling bill.

Actually, Gep has more often than not NOT voted on ANY bill. Other candidates should point this out. How much does Gephardt really care about this country and this earth, when he doesn't even do the job he's being paid to do?