Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee would be happy to see Sen. Hillary Clinton go into space.
(CNN) - Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee outlined one special plan he'd consider for NASA's exploration of space.
"Maybe Hillary can be on the first rocket to Mars," he said, referring to the Democratic presidential frontrunner.
The Republican presidential candidate responded to a question asking if more money would be put into space exploration. His witty response about Clinton generated cheers from the St. Petersburg audience and followed his description of the earthly benefits of NASA's programs.
"Whether it's the medical technologies that saved many of our lives and the lives of our families, it's the direct result from the space program," he said. "We need to put more money into space and technology exploration."
The question, posed by Steve Nielson of Denver, Colorado, asked if the candidates would commit to sending Americans to Mars by the year 2020.
Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado disagreed with Huckabee's promise and would not commit to sending anyone to Mars because, "We can't afford some things, and going to Mars is one of them."
- CNN's Adam P. Levy
Cheap shot at Senator Clinton from another insecure candidate. This serves no useful purpose, and merely lowers the level of discourse.
John F. Kennedy had a sense of humor. Mike Huckabee, you're no John F. Kennedy.
There will never be another JFK again.
I am no fan of Hilary, can't stand to look at her or hear the trash she speaks, but Politicians attempt at humor is embarrassing. It feels awkward when a Politician tries to make a Joke about another Politician. The laughter response seems forced. The jokes usually are preschoolish in thought. Just weird.
EBW, when someone's done you harm, being afraid isn't paranoia. Fearing someone who's never harmed you is paranoid. Um, Hillary's under your bed.
Hey CNN, very funny but can't The Daily Show handle crap like this?
Just because one of those Republican jokers says something on your network doesn't automatically make it news.
Let's act more like a news organization - instead of just another business center of Time Warner - and cover some stuff that actually matters, like the variety of ways the present Republican administration has disgraced our country's Constitution and broken or ignored our nation's laws?
Not going to happen, is it?
if he could make it happen, I would vote for him! especially if Bill went with.
President Huckabee? I don't think so.
Reverend Huckabee? I don't think so.
Christian Huckabee? I don't think so.
Charitable Huckabee? I don't think so.
Comedian Huckabee? ABSOLUTELY NOT!
Imature amateur.
Finally a job Mrs. Clinton is qualified for !!!
Reading some of these comments, I thing many in this country have forgot what party got America into the Vietnam war and who can forget how incompetent was President Carter. And by the way what is the defination of IS?
By all means, lets put Huckabee in office and when he doesn't have the first idea what to do for a world in crisis he'll joke us all to death. You would have to be really blind to vote for this guy. He has a very witty personality, and he's very charismatic and that's about it. Since when is wit a qualification for office?
Huckabee for President!!!
Why is a member of the Christian Right
running as a Presidential Candidate
under the Republican Party instead of the Democratic Party. Seems strange.
Was he a Republican Governor in Arkansas?
Now he is making some good sense send her to the moon and shut nasa down afterwards
I would like to say that the issue of space exploration is a huge one depending on where you are from or what you plan on going into. Believe it or not, some kids could care less about the educational process if not for the high and lofty goals of someday exploring Mars and beyond. I was a counselor for Space Camp here in Huntsville, AL for two years and I go to school here for Aerospace Engineering. I couldn't begin to comprehend majoring in anything else as far as I'm concerned. We talk about trying to stay focused on the important issues at hand, but try and inspire a 6-year old to become good at math so that someday he can "lower the deficit". It just ain't happening. Given my experience I can tell you that for every dollar spent on space exploration it becomes $7 back into improved technology.
Case in point: School buses have been manufactured much stronger for the last two decades as a result of structural engineering techniques originally applied to the Space Shuttle. You may remember a horrific bus crash here in Huntsville last year when a bus full of students fell forty feet off an overpass. It killed 4 students. Fortunately, it didn't kill any more than that.
I think anybody up there on that stage realized there are more immediate concerns in our country, and that the majority of anyone's time as president is going to be spent on those concerns. But given the fact that President Bush's announced plans for the Vision for Space Exploration almost four years ago caused NASA to get its head out of its rear, close up unneeded programs, and shuffle around alot of its personnel and infrastructure, which basically changed the entire career landscape of engineering communites like Huntsville, it was a pretty darn important question. Please think about that before you make yet another uneducated post about what the "important" issues are. Oh, and enjoy riding the bus.
For more on each candidates take on the issue of space exploration pleas see this article that outlines them with helpful links.