Will Rubio hold grudge on NASA post?
I have proudly been a Floridian for more than seven years.
Before relocating here, I spent over 20 years in the Washington, D.C., area working both for the federal government and in the private sector. With regard to the government, I had the honor to work for two presidents in the White House, as well as in a joint command at the Pentagon. In both places, part of my duties intersected with our nation’s space program and its future.
While in the private sector, I had the chance to consult for both NASA and the United Space Alliance — the company that had day-to-day control of the Space Shuttle.
It is my status as a relatively new Floridian and a long-time advocate on the need for the United States to have and maintain the pre-eminent manned space program that brings me to write today.
With the nomination of Oklahoma Congressman James Bridenstine to be the next NASA administrator, I believe President Trump has picked an exceptional candidate. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio may not quite share my opinion. To put it mildly. As someone who now deeply cares about the welfare of Florida and hopefully has at least a passing understanding of how our government works, I have become more and more impressed by Rubio during my time in the state.
I say that as a now-political independent. While in Washington and working in the White House for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, I was indeed a Republican. Over the past decade or so, I have come to believe that neither political party much cares about us.
For most in politics, their priorities come down to their re-election first, their loyalty to their particular political party second, and the needs of their constituents a distant third.
That said, I also believe that any honest and nonpartisan evaluation of Rubio would show that he has real gifts, is an “adult in the room,” and a growing asset to the state of Florida and our nation.
I say that as someone who has never met, talked with or worked for the senator in any way. He wouldn’t know me if he tripped over me.
Now, with regard to his stated doubts about Bridenstine’s becoming the next NASA administrator, Rubio is human and has feelings. Human nature dictates that none of us like to be criticized. Especially unfairly and for political reasons.
During the Republican primary campaign for president in 2016, Bridenstine was not only campaigning for Sen. Ted Cruz from Texas at the time, but also took a partisan political shot at Rubio with regard to terrorism and immigration.
The criticism was out of context and inaccurate and was meant to carry political water for Cruz. I have no doubt that if he had the chance to do it over, Bridenstine would have skipped criticizing Rubio.
Much better — especially in a primary season where you may have to work with the eventual nominee — to sing only the praises of your candidate.
Did Bridenstine’s politically inspired criticism of Rubio bother the senator? To be sure.
In past interviews, Rubio admitted as much when speaking to his doubts regarding Bridenstine’s qualifications to be the next NASA administrator. He not only pointed out the “political baggage” he thought Bridenstine carried, but joked about the criticism by saying in part: “There are a couple of people in the executive branch who didn’t always say nice things about me in a political campaign. That is largely a secondary issue. I don’t think it speaks to a person’s ability to work at NASA.”
While “secondary,” the Bridenstine criticism still is an issue. An issue — as Rubio himself stresses — that should not speak to Bridenstine’s ability to be the next administrator of NASA.
One of the many gifts Rubio does have is that he is exceptional in the area of foreign policy. Most especially when it comes understanding the growing threat the People’s Republic of China poses to our nation — both on Earth and in space.
Precisely because of his background as a decorated F-18 Naval aviator, and then his positions as a congressman on the House Armed Services Committee and the Science, Space and Technology Committee, Bridenstine shares many of the same concerns with regard to the threat posed by China.
In the national-security interests of our nation, America must once again be the pre-eminent space power. Bridenstine will help get us there. Hopefully, as Rubio sits down with Bridenstine in person, he will realize they share the same vision for our nation when it comes to space, and then vote to confirm him.