McCain Camp Flubs NASA Press Release

The McCain campaign sent out a press release last night with McCain's statement on the 50th anniversary of NASA. Actually, they sent out two press releases. The first contained a passage that seemed to feature McCain channeling a Soviet cosmonaut:

As President, I will act to make ensure our astronauts will continue to explore space...

"Please act to make ensure you are voting for me!!"

A minor gaffe like this, on its own, is not a big deal. True, a 5th grader could have proofread the release and corrected it, but the Democrats have regulated 5th graders right out of the labor market.

In context, however, it is magically delicious. First, it is emblematic of the ineptitude of the twice-remodeled McCain campaign. Second, it is magnified by the dickishness of the entire statement. Third, the negativity of the statement bespeaks a breathtaking desperation. Finally, it points out the central flaw in McCain's, and by extension the GOP's, governing philosophy. Or did I miss Ike's $300 million "Moon Prize?"

Here's the full text of the release:

ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain issued the following statement on the 50th anniversary of NASA:

"Fifty years ago today, President Eisenhower signed the bill that launched the United States on the magnificent journey to space discovery and exploration. In doing so, he sent a powerful message to the world that the United State would harness its creativity, inventiveness and drive to lead all others into this most distant frontier. Since that time, Presidents of both parties have remained steadfast in guaranteeing U.S. leadership in space. Under current plans, the United States will retire the space shuttle in 2010 after its final mission to the international space station, and thus lose the capability to send on our own, an American to space. While my opponent seems content to retreat from American exploration of Space for a decade, I am not. As President, I will act to make ensure our astronauts will continue to explore space, and not just by hitching a ride with someone else. I intend to make sure that the NASA constellation program has the resources it needs so that we can begin a new era of human space exploration. A country that sent a man to the moon should expect no less."

Anyone in our comments section will tell you, if you're going to be an a-hole, you'd better have your sh** together. Especially if you're being gratuitously ass-ish.

The McCain campaign is drawing attention for turning so relentlessly negative, and this press release is a comical example of that. Really? NASA is a political football now? Is it a wedge issue between Star Trek fans and the Amish?

I can't wait to see the next press release.

Senator McCain's Statement on 20th Anniversary of Ice Cream

"It is with great pleasure that I congratulate Ice Cream on its success to date. My opponent hates ice cream, and he smells like ass."

With the economy in the shape it is now, too, it seems to be curious ground for McCain to attack. Is space travel important to people who can barely manage traveling to and from work?

That is not to say that space travel is unimportant, so just calm down, Poindexter. Take a deep breath. It's just that for those of us who have moved out of our parents' basements, there are loads more pressing problems than discovering dilithium crystals. (We haven't yet, right?) I just don't think it's an effective political cudgel.