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Diplomacy: Nothing new about NASA outreach, editorial, Houston Chronicle
"Bolden's comments are a reminder of what we could do, what we could be and how we could continue to help create a better world. He could make it happen if he had the political backing of national will. That his comments ring hollow and make him appear nearly foolish to many shows the tragedy of having an American president who thinks we are unexceptional, arrogant to assume we can lead and too poor to tell our children there is more to see, to do and to learn. What he said was, "Yes, we can!" What he did was, no, we can't. So, it makes me sad for my friend Charlie. And, it makes me sad for my country."
Based on the claim that an outsider can sometimes see things more clearly than other's who are too close, I would say that the explanation for this whole sad episode is only too obvious.
1. Obama said to Bolden exactly what Bolden said on Al Jazeera.
2. It was all of what the Houston Chronicle said - "a reminder of what we could do, what we could be and how we could continue to help create a better world"
3. It caused a political storm - verging on v. damaging allegations of being un-patriotic, anti-American, treasonous, secretly Islamist, etc.
4. There were some more rational voices saying "this is not what NASA is for" but the rational question was not a powerful one, and certainly not decisive.
5. The Obama camp beat a hasty retreat, preferring to fight on other fronts.