GOP Candidates and Why a Moon Base and Space Exploration Such a Hot Topic

As a conservative and a space geek I find this subject very interesting: Just why are Mitt and Newt at arms about returning to the Moon and financing further explorations of our solar system?

If a GOP presidential candidate finds it important enough to have an opinion on the subject, then it must an important thing to their supporters and constituency.

This is as much a symbol of the Unite States as Old Glory itself

CNN's John Zarrella shares his insights into what's going on with politics and the space program:

Newt Gingrich got a lot of mileage out of his comments on building a moon colony by 2020. Whether you think that should get him a one-way ticket to the moon on the first flight or you believe his vision is an inspiration, he did accomplish one big thing.
Gingrich got the conversation started.
GOP and Space

Personally I think their is a simple explaination; we belong in space and the American people know this and resent Obama for ignoring this fact. I don't think he has the right.
Obama ignores NASA's mandate
"First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth. No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish."—President John F. Kennedy, Joint Session of Congress, May 25, 1961.

Kennedy was a Democrat, Obama is a Democrat. The GOP didn't start it, but once commited to it they entend to follow through with Kennedy's legacy.

This is the only flag flown on more than one celestrial body, it should be flying all over the Solar System.