Influence but no Debate
Some might ask why this year’s candidates didn’t
In December 2007, Science Debate 2008 was
accept the Science Debate 2008 invite. Is it because
launched with the goal of hosting a campaign debate
scientists and those for whom science is a key issue
on issues relating to science. While a science debate
make up too small a voting bloc? According to Joe
wasn’t realized, Science Debate 2008 was successful
Trippi, the prominent campaign manager for Gov.
in raising the profile of science in the campaigns.
Howard Dean, the answer is “no.” Rather, he con-
With the support of tens of thousands of scientists;
tends there would be too much at risk in a debate
citizens; leaders from industry, academia, and gov-
on science issues and tendered that questions on
ernment; and scientific institutions, including the
stem cell research or when life begins would be a
ASA, they received detailed answers from Obama
no-win situation.
and McCain to 14 questions on topics ranging from
For those asking if there will ever be a presi-
climate change and stem cells to innovation and
dential campaign debate on science issues, Trippi’s
scientific integrity. Science Debate 2008 organiz-
advice would be to limit the scope of the debate to
ers reported 800 million media impressions to the
climate change, energy independence, and health
Science Debate 2008 initiative.
care. Others contend that pursuing a science debate
The influence of science in the 2008 presidential
is not the most prudent approach. David Goldston,
campaign was a vast improvement over the 2004 cam-
chief of staff for former House Science Committee
paign, when a group of science societies and universi-
Chair Sherwood Boehlert, suggested in an early
ties invited Sen. John Kerry and Bush to participate in
2008 Nature column that such a debate could back-
a virtual town hall meeting on science and technology
fire and listed many considerations, including the
using teleconferencing capabilities. With a noncom-
“politicization” of science.
mittal reply from the Kerry campaign and no reply
Science Debate 2008 wasn’t alone in promot-
from Bush, the virtual town hall meeting vaporized.
ing science in the presidential campaigns. While
There is no question that former Vice President Al
I won’t catalog all the interactions of science with
Gore was a strong science and technology supporter,
the campaigns, I’ll highlight a few. Inspired by a
most notably for climate change and promoting the
2006 Nature article by Thomas Kalil—a science
spread of the Internet, but he did not promote those
and technology official for President Bill Clinton
positions in his 2000 campaign as much as the 2008
and a member of Obama’s transition team—urging
candidates promoted theirs. [As a historical aside, we
that scientists start organizing “[t]o maximize the
shouldn’t forget that as a senator, Gore reached out
resources allocated to science and technology dur-
to the ASA in 2000 for input on global warming,
ing the next U.S. administration,” AAAS and AAU
met with six ASA members, and addressed the 1991
teamed to coordinate activities and disseminate
ASA Winter Conference in New Orleans.]
information. They came closest to a science debate,
Many factors account for the elevated influence
hosting representatives of the Clinton and Obama
of science in the 2008 campaign, including the per-
campaigns at their annual meeting in Boston.
ception of America’s slipping science and technolo-
Scientists and Engineers for America (SEA) also
gy edge; the growing concerns over climate change,
played an important role in promoting science, not
energy, and health; Bush’s position on stem cells and
just in the presidential campaign, but for all can-
other science policy issues; and the emerging activ-
didates who took the time to respond to the SEA
ism and sophistication of scientists. It will be inter-
questionnaire. Illustrating the access of the science
esting to see if this is the apex of science’s influence
advocacy community to the campaigns, representa-
or just the beginning.
tives of the Task Force on the Future of American
Innovation— a coalition that advocates the funding
of basic research in physical sciences and engineer-
ASA Science Policy Actions
ing—met with the campaigns of Clinton, Obama,
and McCain, and senior representatives of Obama
AsA Board endorses H.R. 7069, a bill to make the U.s. Census and McCain sat down with the task force this sum-
Bureau independent (see accompanying story on p. 5) mer and early fall.
AsA signs letters urging quick appointment of
President Obama
census director in new administration
According to a New York Times analysis, the annual
AsA signs letter in support of Decennial Census budget
cost of Obama’s publicly stated science, technology,
and innovation proposals is $85.6 billion, including
AsA nominates members for Census Advisory
$28 billion for the cost of doubling basic research
Committee on the Hispanic Population
funding. This is a sizable fraction (approaching
16 AMsTAT NeWs JANUARy 2009
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