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Spaceman-Turned-Politician Can Call Himself 'Astronaut' On Ballot

Posted by timothy on from the well-would-you-call-yourself-a-politician? dept.

New submitter si622test1 writes "A judge has determined that the ex-astronaut-turned-politician who was sued by California Republicans for putting 'astronaut' as his occupation while running for Congress will be allowed to do so, saying that Hernandez is an astronaut for 'more than the time spent riding a rocket.'"

12 of 181 comments (clear)

  1. Astronaut Jose Hernandez congressional candidate by voidmstr · · Score: 4, Funny

    We wrote him a song (music video) http://pocho.com/this-is-ground-control-to-major-juan-song-for-a-latino-astronaut/

    --
    we come in peace for all online
  2. I think of astronaut as a formal title by sandytaru · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's more than just an occupation. You can say "I used to be an accountant" but, like being a Senator or a Congressman or the President, you've earned that title for the rest of your life.

    --
    Occasionally living proof of the Ballmer peak.
    1. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by SJHillman · · Score: 4, Funny

      In that case, I want to be Paper Delivery Guy Clerk's Assistant Dishwasher Warehouse Delivery Guy Resident Assistant Network Intern Network Consultant Steve!

      I think I earned it. I was a damned good dishwasher.

    2. Re:I think of astronaut as a formal title by fermion · · Score: 4, Interesting
      Put this in context. Most people choose what they call themselves. As long as they did so professionally, it seems to be ok. For instance, Reagan was considered an actor, although his his profession prior to politics was to organize acting labor against the studios.

      Romney has been a politician for nearly 15 years but he still calls himself a job creator and businessman. Maybe the best business to be in politics.

      Carly Fiorina has not been the CEO of anything in years, yet she is still considered an business executive more than a politician. Sarah Palin did not even complete one term as Governor before quitting, and she is called Governor.

      This is a guy who has been into space, something that only maybe 500 people have done. He is an astronaut. Saying he isn't is sign of desperation.

      --
      "She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
  3. Isn't that just nitpicking??? by mark-t · · Score: 4, Informative

    I mean, if I do job X, oh... say, teaching, as a career and then resign to take up other interests, that doesn't mean I suddenly can't say that I'm a teacher when people ask me what I do for a living. My past careers are almost as much a part of who I am today as the one I'm in now.

    Okay... maybe technically, it really should say "former austronaut", but like I said... I think that's just nitpicking at a detail that's entirely irrelevant.

    --
    File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
    1. Re:Isn't that just nitpicking??? by pympdaddyc · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I think that's just nitpicking at a detail that's entirely irrelevant.

      Welcome to politics!

  4. Re:the astronaut party and the space-cadet party by sycodon · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Yeah!

    Next thing ya know, they will be spilling the court sealed details of their opponents divorce records or something.

    --
    When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
  5. On the ballot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    What the Republicans really wanted to put on the ballot was, "Uppity Brown Guy who will date your daughter and raise your taxes".

  6. Inadvertent Steisand Effect by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Congrats, California GOP. If voters didn't know the Democratic candidate was a former astronaut, they certainly do now.

  7. Re:By the same logic by fredrated · · Score: 4, Insightful

    By the same logic I can call myself a toddler.

    If that was your profession, go for it.

  8. Re:Pretty Simple by UnknowingFool · · Score: 4, Informative

    According to NASA, he last flew in 2009 and left NASA in January 2011 which is fairly recent. Incidentally, what does NASA call people who went through training but had not yet been in space? I think NASA called then astronauts as well. I don't see why the Republicans or anyone should care that much about it. We still call Neil Armstrong an astronaut and he hasn't been to space in the last several decades.

    --
    Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
  9. Re:Hmmm by luis_a_espinal · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Shows how both parties are aware just how ignorant the voters can be sometimes, "oh I'll just vote for the astronaut". I have no issue with using the title after leaving NASA though, however if he'd been gone for decades 'former' or 'retired' might be in order but it's not worth the attention and a court battle in view, sounds like it was indeed where his last paychecks were coming from.

    Funny though the guy wants to go from one of the most respected jobs in the US to running for one of the least respected jobs.

    Maybe because he cares and wants to make a difference? We need more like them, and us not having enough of them is really not funny at all. The lack of scientists, engineers and technocrats in our ruling halls of power is a sad indictment of not only our government institutions, but of society as a whole.