Truth Tellers should be embraced, not shunned.<br /><br />Any short term pain from this unusual honesty will be more than offset by long term gains.<br /><br />I don't know the media like you do, Chris, but I have a perspective to offer that might ease your anxiety.<br /><br />Yes, Marcia Dunn will try to exploit this. So will others. But as Lt. Worf would say "They have no honor; that is their greatest weakness." They'll write their articles, and they will influence public opinion somewhat, but to what effect? It's not like they have the technical expertise to make a solid case. All they do is make noise in a sea of noise.<br /><br />I think that public opinion means much less to NASA's budget than most people suppose. If the press mattered much, space flight would already be dead. NASA is a laughing stock already for most people, simply because the press milks the failures and dismisses the successes.<br /><br />We live in a *representative* democracy. This means that lawmakers are charged with the responsibility to *represent* the interests of their constituents. They are not required to vote as the mob would - they are required to exercise their best judgment.<br /><br />There are some issues which a Congresscritter will take as too important and/or too complicated to worry too much about public opinion. Space flight is one of those issues - any of the folks back home calling for NASA's demise, etc. are easily dismissed or otherwise dealt with. This is an issue where they can exercise their leadership muscles, and it feels good.<br /><br />When it comes to budgets, first of all most politicos have already made up their mind. Secondly, "popular opinion" deals with issues, not money. So bad press has little to no impact.<br /><br />But more importantly, I'd like folks to look at this from the perspective of a Congresscritter who has been in office for a while. The fact is, given the history, this is not bad press, it is good news!<br /><br />Ever since Psycho Dan came in, Congress <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>