The Republican presidential field sent a clear message to NASA workers in America: They don’t see a federal role in funding human space flight, [video clip at 6:50 to 9:28].
Debate moderator John King of CNN asked the other six candidates in attendance whether they would continue federal funding for human space flight. Not a single candidate - Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former Godfather’s Pizza CEO Herman Cain — raised their hand.
Video
Spaceport
The odious Newt went on a tirade about how bad NASA was - that it has produced nothing of value since Apollo (hello - Hubble? Mars rovers?).
The other candidates had little to say.
spacepolitics
T-Paw:
In the context of our budget challenges it can be refocused and reprioritized, but I don’t think we should be eliminating the space program. We can partner with private providers to get more economies of scale, and scale it back, but I don’t think we should eliminate the space program.
Mittens:
I think fundamentally there are some people—and most of them are Democrats, but not all—who really believe that the government knows how to do things better than the private sector.
And there you have it. No more human space flight because government is bad. If the private sector doesn't want to do it, then don't do it.
"NASA is inefficient" is just part and parcel of the broad brushed attack on government. Social security should be privatized, Medicare is going bankrupt, we need mercenaries not soldiers, etc., etc..
Now I've dealt with NASA and yes, they are imperfect. They also bring a lot of institutional memory that can save your bacon if you don't know it. As usual, Republicans place no value on knowledge of people who are not hedge fund managers.
And just like the economy, these candidates have no plan other than letting the free market fix it. Invisible free market fairies will swoop down and carry Americans to the moon, to asteroids, and to Mars. Wheeeeee!
9:43 AM PT: The DNC agrees with me.
At the end they show Newt slamming NASA.