Dueling rallies: Who supports NASA more?

The Galveston Daily News ^ | May 14, 2010 | T. J. Aulds

[i_dont_chat]

There are two pro-NASA rallies scheduled for tonight in League City.

The county Democratic Party and labor union groups host one, while the other is put together by a coalition of conservative groups including members of the local Tea Party groups and Glenn Beck 912 Project members.

The subject is a hot button issue because of President Barack Obama’s proposed budget that includes the dismantling of the Constellation program and its return to the moon before trips to Mars missions.

At first blush you would think it’s great that two groups with differing political views would come together for a common cause such as manned space flight and NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

Think again.

While both groups agree on the need for a robust manned space flight program and the jobs it brings for this region, they are very much in disagreement about the subject of today’s rallies.

Lloyd Criss, chairman of the Galveston County Democrats, insists his party’s rally is a pure support program for the Johnson Space Center and its thousands of employees and contractors.

“The reason for the rally is to show the president and Congress that this community strongly supports the continuation and the extension of this critical economic program,” Criss said.

That rally starts at 7 p.m. at the sportsplex in League City. Fifteen minutes before that, a rally co-organized by Galveston County Commissioner Ken Clark will be held at the sportsplex as well.

That rally hosted by conservative groups is dubbed the Save NASA Stop Obama. Clark says the Democrats’ rally isn’t as much about saving NASA as it is to bash former President George W. Bush, who envisioned the Constellation program.

[i_dont_chat]

“Make no mistake, the chickens have come home to roost, and this is an attempt for (the Democrats) to save face,” said Clark, who added that the counter rally, “is about exposing the truth about Obama and the Democrats trying to cover up for him and blame Bush.

“They are trying to cover up that their guy is taking jobs from our area.”

Save NASA, Stop Obama rally

WHEN: 6:45 p.m. today

WHERE: League City Sportsplex near flagpole at pavilion

[Wolfie]

Ah yes. Cut something, just not mine.

[oh8eleven]

90% of NASA =

[WOBBLY BOB]

answer= who ever gets the most pork for their congressional district.

[anymouse]

http://www.SaveNASAstopObama.com

Scored Channel 13 and Channel 26 news interviews while holding sign out in front of NASA JSC sign. Hope we get lots of people out to the Republican/TEA Party rally.