Unfortunately, those higher ups, as most in similar positions, don’t want to hear the bad news as if it would go away if they merely ignore it. Will we never learn?

Griffin is saying that there was no NASA policy or direction from NASA to Deutsch to do what he did thus he was acting “alone” in that sense. i don’t think he is implying there is nobody else doing this, else why would he ask people to report it?

So why can Griffin say Deutsch was a “lone gunman”?

However, we need to publicize the Deutsch affair (most people I know, including academics, are still completely unaware of it), and make Republicans face up to what their beloved leader has tried to do here, so that we can honestly say, “If you vote Republican next time, you are voting for government-imposed young-Earth fundamentalism, which is as near treason to the United States Constitution as makes no nevermind.”

And I’m keeping my passport up-to-date, just in case.

As we have a Republican president you would expect that his appointees
would probably be Republican to.

I think Dr. Griffin is showing his true Republican Colors here.

Sounds to me like Griffin is trying to address people’s concerns while minimizing the impact to NASA’s reputation. I wouldn’t characterize that as “brushing it under the rug” – he has already implemented efforts to clarify the public affairs policies to preclude future occurrences, and he’s asked employees to voice their concerns to help bring them to light. I think it fair that he point out this was not a NASA policy to stifle any scientific conclusions, nor the scientists’ opinions. I think it fair that he lay blame on the individual acting beyond his bounds. Of course, there is a larger issue of Administration policy and political appointees in general overstepping their bounds. I don’t think that’s Griffin’s job to address, except to address the policies. I would hope if Griffin were aware of an administration policy to affect scientific presentations he would speak up about it. It doesn’t sound like he has any direct knowledge of it. It also seems he is shaping NASA policies to prevent future occurrences.