REBUKE FOR NASA CHIEF – AT 7:58 P.M. ET:  But not from the White House.  Unbelievably, the White House today gave a statement of support to embattled NASA head Charles Bolden, whose comment that his main mission is Muslim outreach has created an uproar.

The White House could have "clarified" the remark, made to the vastly corrupt Arab news outlet, Al Jazeera, but chose not to.  As one American commentator remarked, once the groveling comment is out there, it's awfully hard to take it back. 

But a former NASA administrator has issued an appropriate public rebuke:

The former head of NASA on Tuesday described as "deeply flawed" the idea that the space exploration agency's priority should be outreach to Muslim countries, after current Administrator Charles Bolden made that assertion in an interview last month.

"NASA ... represents the best of America. Its purpose is not to inspire Muslims or any other cultural entity," Michael Griffin, who served as NASA administrator during the latter half of the Bush administration, told FoxNews.com.

Well said.

"If by doing great things, people are inspired, well then that's wonderful," Griffin said. "If you get it in the wrong order ... it becomes an empty shell."

Griffin added: "That is exactly what is in danger of happening."

He also said that while welcome, Muslim-nation cooperation is not vital for U.S. advancements in space exploration.

"There is no technology they have that we need," Griffin said.

NASA did seek to soften Bolden's comments somewhat, but the man came off as a clown, and we'd be better off without him.

Once again, another administration appointee, largely unvetted by the media, fails us.

July 6, 2010