What Do McCain’s eBay Sale and Overhead Projector Claims Have in Common?

One thing you have to grant McCain is that he is persistent. Whether he is persistently truthful, is another matter.

He was persistent about claiming outright that Palin sold the Alaska government’s jet on eBay, and at a profit.

Even after it had been proven to be a lie, McCain continued the farce. At a campaign stop in Wisconsin, with a cheering and applauding Palin standing behind him, McCain said:

You know what I enjoyed the most? She took the luxury jet that was acquired by her predecessor and sold it on eBay — and made a profit!

During the second presidential debate, McCain claimed with a big smirk:

While we were working to eliminate these pork barrel earmarks he (Senator Obama) voted for nearly $1 billion in pork barrel earmark projects. Including $3 million for an overhead projector at a planetarium in Chicago, Illinois. My friends, do we need to spend that kind of money?

With an even bigger smirk, McCain repeated the same claim last night during the final presidential debate.

Well, here are the facts—no matter how persistent McCain is:

In the first place, the “overhead projector” is not an overhead projector. It is the Adler’s Zeiss Mark VI projector, a sophisticated system that re-creates the night sky in a dome theater, the quintessential planetarium experience, at the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum in Chicago, Illinois.

The Adler planetarium is America’s first planetarium and the oldest in existence today. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987 and is a recognized leader in science education, with a focus on inspiring young people, particularly women and minorities, to pursue careers in science.

Now to the “pork barrel earmark” claim.

The following are excerpts from a statement by the Adler Planetarium on McCain’s little overhead projector claim:

To clarify, the Adler Planetarium requested federal support – which was not funded – to replace the projector in its historic Sky Theater, the first planetarium theater in the Western Hemisphere. The Adler’s Zeiss Mark VI projector – not an overhead projector – is the instrument that re-creates the night sky in a dome theater… The Adler’s projector is nearly 40 years old and is no longer supported with parts or service by the manufacturer. It is only the second planetarium projector in the Adler’s 78 years of operation.

Senator McCain’s statements about the Adler Planetarium’s request for federal support do not accurately reflect the museum’s legislative history or relationship with Senator Obama.

The Adler has approached the Illinois Congressional delegation the last few years for federal assistance with various initiatives. These have included museum exhibitions, equipment and educational programs we offer to area schools, including the Chicago Public Schools.

We have made requests to Senators Durbin and Obama, as well as to 6 area Congressmen from both political parties. We are grateful that all of the Members we have approached, including Senator Obama, have deemed our activities worthy of their support, and have made appropriations requests on our behalf, as they have for many worthy Illinois nonprofit organizations.

As a result of the hard work of our bipartisan congressional delegation, the Adler has been fortunate to receive a few federal appropriations the past couple of years. However, the Adler has never received an earmark as a result of Senator Obama’s efforts.This is clearly evidenced by recent transparency laws implemented by the Congress, which have resulted in the names of all requesting Members being listed next to every earmark in the reports that accompany appropriations bills.

There you have it. But facts will not keep McCain from using the eBay and the $3 million overhead projector lies and misrepresentations ad infinitum and ad nauseam.