Duncan Hunter takes $36K from the President of the company building this plane, but says continued support6 for thius piece of junk has nothing to do with him supporting the company of the man investing $36k for his campaign! And the Navy doesn't want it!

don't we already have an airplane like this: Harrier?

As a past operational test engineer for the Air Force - this is not the first or last "doomed-to-fail" pork-barrel project I've seen hawked by a senator or congressmen to strictly benefit some local industry. Congressman Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. you should apologize and then resign. You are not a patroit but instead a greedy enemy of the state.

No we dont, the harrier is a british plane

Your headline is very misleading. This was a GOP controlled congressional pork/kickback/boondoggle, championed by Republican congressmen. Don't indict the whole current branch of congress for past GOP crimes.

The Harrier is British - but I believe the Marines utilize it in their operations

Gene

Hmmmm...
There is a "-R" behind the Congressman name. I think that means he is a Republican. And also, aren't most of the Congressmen incumbents.
Conclusion: They are watching videos of what they got for $63 million.

It was never meant to fly. It's a cover for a black project. This is how they do it. You will never see your money again.

Why don't we just pay the congressman $36,000 and no one says anything and then he doesn't screw us out of $6 million. It might be the best money the US ever spent.

We tend to blame our senators and representatives for these types of projects. But who keeps electing them.....

A Republican behind it all... why am I not surprised? And speaking of fiscal irresponsibility.... this congressman lobbied for the company to build this plane for 63 million....and all he got was 36k??? Honestly, I think we could take up a collection, raise 50k, get someone elected who would work for us, and save 63 million....

A US manufacturer has the license to manufacture the Harrier.

This thing looks like a pig that can't fly. Those thick wings couldn't go more than 400 knots.

Yes, the United States Marine Corps uses the AV8-B Harrier, perhaps this project is about a transport "heliplane", not a combat like the Harrier. The nearest aircraft to that description would be the V-22 and variants, which is pretty efficient. Just slower than the "expected" speed of that thing but -hey, the V-22 Osprey flies!

Just think the money wasted on this plane might have been used to get our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan the equipment they truly need. Shame on
Congressman Hunter. Now can you claim to support our troops when you waste money like this on something the military tells you they don't want? Explain that to my son and his fellow soldiers.

This cracks me up. I work for a legitimate Disabled Veteran Owned Business and wrote Mr. Hunter about the inequities in government contracting (the company I work for is a small company)and for some helpt/guidance for him to take to Capitol Hill. Needless to say I never received a response. I guess the fact I have not provided at least $36,000 in money to his campaign says that until I do, there is no fair representation. If I had that much marketing money to spend on one person I doubt we would be a small business. Thanks politicians for showing your true side!

ABC has politicized the issue but this is not limited to the Republican or Democrat party! Earmarks are an institutionalized "right" that our "leaders" utilize to bilk us out of billions every year. Look it up!

The President (yes, an "evil Republican") called for either the elimination of earmarks or transparency into the process. However, this has been resisted by almost ALL members of Congress (both sides) because they have never been held accountable for their actions.

A previous post indicated this as cover for a "Black Ops" project - good call they must be overstocked on $400 toilet seats.

As an aeronautical engineer I can look at this "project" just for a few minutes - configuration and a few other details - to
identify it as a hoax. Tax payer have been
taken on a ride with the assistance of a
congressman! Is this not this Hunter guy
who wants to run for president?

$63 million over 20 years is nothing compared to Hunter's other boondoggles.

What about that "60 mph boat" he is so proud of or the Affordable Weapon that just got canceled for not meeting cost and performance objectives? Both are managed by Titan (now L3), a company that pleaded guilty to three felony international bribery charges and agreed to pay a record $28.5 million in 2005. Google Titan and Abu Ghraib for a nice character reference. HUNDREDS of millions have been earmarked for those programs.

I hold you SoCal residents accountable for continuing to elect these crooks (Cunningham, Hunter, Cox, Rohrabacher, Feinstein, etc.)! Quit bitching about Dupont and start voting the REAL problems out of office!

Political pork goes across party lines and we pick up the tab. There are no bounds to the greed and incompetence of congress in nearly all areas. Public financing of campaigns and term limits are the only answer out of this horrible situation.