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Jake Tapper is ABC News' Senior White House Correspondent based in the network's Washington bureau. He writes about politics and popular culture and covers a range of national stories.
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Flying Nancy
February 07, 2007 10:45 PM
HERE'S THE DOT-COM VERSION of our breaking story about the Pentagon rebuffing the request of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to fly in a larger military plane than the one used by her predecessor -- perhaps even a lavish C-32 -- or what Republicans are calling "Air Pelosi."
-- jt
February 7, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (5)
Pelosi has no regard for taxpayers money as exhibited by the porkbarrel spending for her district. She thinks she is a queen instead of a servant of the people. Hastert shouldn't have had use of a government plane either. Democrats have always felt they know how to spend your money better than you--I am independant..an ex-Dem.
Posted by: Californ | Feb 10, 2007 8:27:30 AM
Since she has "shown" true leadership and the ability to complete items for the American Middle Class..............give her the damn fleet! I have seen more "great accomplishments" COMPLETED by this this House of Congress than the past 6 years run by criminals. And Yes, this speaker should be kept safe.
Can't anyone in this admistration do anything right?
inductive ~deductive
Posted by: inductive ~deductive | Feb 8, 2007 12:13:01 PM
What is has fail to foam to the top is that Nancy Pelosi didn't NOT request an airplane. The House Sergeant at Arms, Wilson Livingood, made the initial requset for use of an aircraft for Speaker Pelosi.
Wilson Livingood, released a statement saying he encouraged Pelosi to use an non-commercial aircraft, since Hastert had been given one for security and communication after 9-11. He also said, "I offered to call the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense to seek clarification of the guidelines [which governed Speaker Hastert’s use of a plane]." Below is the full statement of Sergeant at Arms:
*****************************************
STATEMENT BY SERGEANT AT ARMS
In December 2006, I advised Speaker Pelosi that the US Air Force had made an airplane available to Speaker Hastert for security and communications purposes following September 11, 2001.
I told Speaker Pelosi that Speaker Hastert used the Air Force plane for travel to and from his district, however, I was uncertain of the rules and guidelines governing use of the plane. I offered to call the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense to seek clarification of the guidelines.
Subsequently, several members of the Speaker’s staff and members of the Office of the Sergeant at Arms met with representatives from the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the U.S. Air Force liaison office to discuss the rules and guidelines which governed Speaker Hastert’s use of a plane. Several questions were posed to the Air Force and we are awaiting a response.
****************************
Posted by: Morel | Feb 8, 2007 11:28:45 AM
I think this is silly. She should just ride commercial air, like the rest of us. That way she can go nonstop, not an unreasonable request. I understand the military option in the event of airport closures and exigent circumstances, but aviation has been stable for quite some time. And if security is a concern, bring a security detail.
The spin on this is so excessive. Republicans must be desparate.
Posted by: cordelia525 | Feb 8, 2007 8:19:24 AM
I have to wonder if this would even have been a story if it concerned (1) a Republican Speaker of the House from California (2) who is a man. It seems the House Repub leadership is trying to stir up trouble for the current Speaker by exaggeration, misinterpretation, and outright lies. So much for "bipartisanship," I guess!
Posted by: chuck | Feb 8, 2007 8:15:56 AM
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