Grants for Political Science Are a "Waterboarding" of American Children, Senator Claims

On Tuesday, the Senate debated an amendment [6] put forth by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK). Coburn's Amendement proposed a cut-off of funding for the National Science Foundation's political-science program. While no conclusion was reached in the debate (it may resurface again next week), the bill did yield the odd metaphor in the headline above.

Coburn explained his amendment by dismissing the benefits of political-science research. He claimed that with its funding yielding little in the way of benefit, it would only be to the financial detriment of the young.

"I have five grandchildren," Coburn said, "I look in their eyes, and I see the potential of their lives and all the other children who are out there ... you know what--we are going to waterboard them ... we are going to flood them with debt."

His proposed funding cut is focused entirely on the poltiical science program of the NSF. He suggested during the debate that he would like to see the Foundation's overall budget increase by 12-15% this year.

Its curious that he is equating research funding for political science with a form of torture. Seems an overkill of "waterboard" as a term, as well.