Government Action, Hot News, News, President Obama
That NY Low Flying Air Force One Incident
May 9, 2009 by David Feldman · Leave a Comment
John McCain called it the “Air Farce 1 photo op.” It cost over $350,000 of taxpayer money. It scared the bejesus (sp?) out of a bunch of folks walking around Lower Manhattan still, these years later, a little jittery. Obama was furious when he found out. NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg was angry that his own NYPD didn’t tell him because the White House basically told them to keep it to themselves. The FAA approved it even though they acknowledged in doing so that it might rattle some people. They claim they were also doing other things, such as instrument checking. Hah? They had to do that in NY Harbor?
Yes it was the Air Force’s presidential airlift group’s idea, approved by the White House liaison, to send one of the Air Force Ones (there are several) on a low flyover the Statue of Liberty to take cool pictures, presumably to sell as postcards in the White House. That liaison, Louis Caldera, technically the head of the White House Military Office, resigned the other day, and Obama accepted it. He didn’t say he made a mistake, apparently all he said, according to Reuters, was that the controversy made it impossible for him to lead the Military Office.
White House spokesman Gibbs said that Caldera did not have a good explanation for why he didn’t tell the White House about this. Defense Secretary Gates had to issue an apology, saying “we deeply regret the anxiety and alarm that resulted from this mission.” I love that he called it a mission.
Various questions. Couldn’t they have just deftly photoshopped a groovy pic of the jet against another pic of Lady Liberty? Is Obama sending mixed messages to his government? One of humble determination to grow the economy and run a tight government, and another of brash entitlement to boast of all the trappings of power wherever possible? What led this guy to think no one would care about this? I can guarantee one thing: we will never know. It is clear Obama was not aware, so he should not be blamed for this. But he should be responsible for the tone he is setting and I hope the humble determination tight government thing catches on more.
