Lots of shortsighted ignorance on this thread. For starters: modern communications, or satellite communications came out of the space program, as well as satellite TV and GPS systems and many technologies used by our military.
Does anyone believe those innovations and new industries would have come into being for the Western nations without the US space program? And that’s just a partial list.
From Obama’s point-of-view, he probably can’t stand for the US to lead the world in any endeavor other than apologizing for what he considers her sins against the Third World.
People can sing Kumbaya and hold hands and pretend that working with the Russians is a viable way to stay in manned space exploration, but just observing the Russians behavior around the world might not convince the more objection observers.
The new world provided tremendous benefits to the old, but they weren't lying on the beach for Columbus to pick up.
Until we are out there is a meaningful way, we won't be finding them. Unfortunately, NASA has been more of a hindrance to space commercialization than a help. They have kept a stranglehold on manned launch capabilities that has stagnated the entire industry for forty years.