Political Punch

Mr. Tapper,
I just read Mike Stark blog saying your blog about Nancy Pelosi, aka Air Pelosi, was misleading. I know, I'm way late on this story, but I wanted to check to see if what Mikes said was true, and I thought no way was ABC going to go all Faux News on us. I mean I thought ABC would not hesitate to fire a mere blogger for misstating facts and then not apologize for or correct said misleading statements.
But then, it turns out, you are no mere blogger,. No sir. You also served as ABC News' senior political correspondent during the 2006 elections and will do so again in 2008. Wow, a real Journalist. Now I was sure you would address your misleading statements because after all a reputation for integrity and honesty is vital to a real Journalist.
But then I went to your blog, and there it wasn't, in black and white, the truth about who requested the airplane was missing from you words.
You wrote: "..about the request by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif... is attributable to:.... the fact that Pelosi and her aides don't know anything about military aircraft, otherwise they would have simply requested the C-37-A,..."
You said "request" and "requested" in regard to Pelosi and her staff when in fact you knew, or at least an honest to god Journalist should have known, that it was in fact the Sergeant at Arms who made the request.
The Sergeant at Arms said quote: "The fact that Speaker Pelosi lives in California compelled me to request an aircraft that is capable of making non-stop flights for security purposes, unless such an aircraft is unavailable... I regret that an issue that is exclusively considered and decided in a security context has evolved into a political issue."
Given that the facts were known - or at least knowable to an actual Journalist - at the time, why didn't you know the facts at the time? I mean I'm no Journalist, but then again maybe neither are you.

The Speaker has said she would fly commercial. The Sargeant at Arms of the House requested the aircraft in question. So it DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE RANGE OF A G5 IS. It doesn't matter because Madam Speaker DID NOT MAKE THE REQUEST FOR A LARGER AIRCRAFT. ABC snooze and the rest of the "media" are merely trying to smear Ms Pelosi.

Aoy!! Enough already!!

Why do you continue to push this tripe about Pelosi? The House Sergeant at arms put out a PRESS RELEASE stating that HE, not Pelosi, required the plane in order to ensure her security.

Yes, bravo to Jake and ABC for presenting "the facts." Except for the part where the sergeant-at-arms distributes a press release claiming the he, not Pelosi, made the request.

I've pored over the post and can find no allusion to the one piece of documentary evidence that proves the charges against Pelosi are a calumnious lie.

To the question: Whatever happened to the journalists in this country? The answer is that the companies they work for have been purchased by mega wealthy people - and we all know that mega wealthy people control things - not the government and not the journalists working in the media. The so-called journalists and talking heads making their living by ignoring facts. The spread of misinformation would come to a grinding halt if their paychecks were to disappear. As Deep Throat said: follow the money. Who signs Rush Limbaugh's pay check? Who signs Matt Drudge's paychech? Who signs Bill O'Reilly's pay check? That - and there apparently are no people working in the media who possess the quality of courage. Rent the movie "The Insider" and you will understand what motivates news organizations. Hint: it is not ethics.

Boy, I hope there's enough outrage remaining after this bogus story to address the Pentagon's manipulation of evidence, which has resulted directly in the murder of tens of thousands of people, including thousands of Americans.

To those still knocking Pelosi over this: are you people even paying attention?

SHE DID NOT MAKE THIS REQUEST. PERIOD.
What part of this do you people not understand.

You see, here's what happens when people speak without regard to facts. We now know, based on today's news:

"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not request a larger plane for personal use to travel cross-country without stopping, Bill Livingood, the House sergeant at arms, said Thursday. Livingood said the request was his."

So this was, literally, a non-issue. What a joke that this was treated as "news" in the first place and that people actually offered an opinion without knowing the facts. WHEN WILL WE LEARN OUR LESSON?

"Hey, JJ Reed She already has EXACTLY what Hastert had, but that's not good enough for her! Get a clue, Nancy."

Yes, but Haster lived in Illinois, she lives in California. A bigger plane is needed to guarantee they can get there non-stop. But don't trust me, read the statement by the House Sgt At Arms, he ordered the plane for that reason. Jake, why don't you print that?

What happened to all the journalists in thi country?

Why does everyone keep repeating the same falsehood? SHE DID NOT REQUEST THIS PLANE, THE HOUSE SRGT AT ARMS REQUESTED IT. End of story. This is so ridiculous and so obviously biased.

Get a grip, It's a military PLANE. IE it's going to refuel at a MILITARY BASE!!! What no confidence in the security at American military bases.

Folks, the Speaker of the House has gotten a plane since 9/11 due to the fact that he or she is second in line in presiential succession. Hastert had a plane too.

The bottom line is that this is a total non-story that has been ginned up by the right wing noise machine. Apparently we're going to have one of these every week -- Obama's "madrassa" education, Hillary's alleged sliming of Obama, Edward's house sale, etc.

As for the "faux" populist outrage about these liberal big spenders with their own planes, most politicians in fact fly commercial -- I live in DC and have been on flights many times with congressmen and senators. Always in coach too if I recall correctly.

Get a grip. She needs a bigger plane. The other guy, whatever his name is lived in Illinois. Pelosi lives in California. This is all because she is a women who operates like a man, therefore she is the bitch. Pelosi, please stand your ground.

This is a great way to avoid talking about the wisdom of the troop surge. Between the size of the speaker's plane and the passing of Anna Nicole Smith, the media will be so preoccupied GW may avoid notice when he invades another country.

the majority of Americans probably did not even know that the Speaker received this perk ~ not until a Democrat who happens to be a women was supposed to be afforded this. Republicans! Waa Waa Waa boys! Give her the damn plane!

Do we need to tax the people, so politicians get more pork... I don't think so... Shame on her.

Nancy doesn't need anything more than what she's got. Period. All this "3rd in line needs more security" crap is just that. Crap. Repub/Dem I don't care. We don't need to spend 10's of thousands of dollars flying the Speaker of the house around. When was the last time a Speakers life was in danger? Been any assasinated lately?

And what Drudge reports? It's articles from all over the web. Is he lying? Doubt it. Liberals/Democrats love to bring down Republicans when they say or do something trivial.

Pay back is hell.

What is wrong with these people complaining about the Speaker needing a larger plane? I do believe the voters said enough is enough of these conseravtive attacks. I personally think she needs a plane to get her back to Washington should there be an emergency facing the Country. Her safety is important to this Country just as the Safety of the President and Vice President. Stop the attacks people the Country is tired of the partisian attacks this country has far more important issues to deal with like health care, immigration so get on with your life and do something worthwhile than cry about some larger plane for the Speaker Of The House. She was not the one who requested the plane in the first place so get your facts straight before going off half cocked. STOP THE MADNESS!