Posted on 02/09/2007 7:50:29 AM PST by presidio9
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, and he made it for security reasons.
"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," Livingood, who has been at his post for 11 years, said in a written statement.
"I regret that an issue that is exclusively considered and decided in a security context has evolved into a political issue," the statement said.
Pelosi is striking back against accusations she asked for a plane larger and more expensive than the one used by former House Speaker Dennis Hastert, a claim published last week in The Washington Times.(Watch Pelosi call the GOP charges "a myth" )
The Times article, headlined "Pelosi's Power Trip -- Non-stop Nancy Seeks Flight of Fancy," led the Republican National Committee to send out a research briefing and blast Pelosi on the House floor.
The article said Pelosi asked the Pentagon for "routine access" to a military plane "not only for herself and her staff, but also for relatives and for other members of the California delegation," quoting sources "familiar with the discussions."
"I have never asked for a larger plane," Pelosi said. "This is a myth that they are talking about on the floor."
The White House also stood behind Pelosi.
"As speaker of the House, she is entitled to military transport and ... the proper arrangements are being made between the Sergeant of Arms Office in the House of Representatives and the U.S. Department of Defense," White House spokesman Tony Snow said.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
This is too good....
A lamb to the sacrifice... anyone want to bet?
Plenty of things to pick on Nancy about, but IMHO this is a non-story.
Looks like she's found her scapegoat....
From the White House defending her to this-- can someone tell me what is going on?
Can we get a "-gate" to tack on to this story already? "Luxery Jet-gate," or "Lincoln Bedroom in the Sky-gate" both work for me. Just what the heck is taking so long?
It is my understanding that the aircraft previously used by Speaker Hastert has a range of 4,000 miles. Problem??
That's the only explanation I can come to.
If true, the RNC better get busy going after Pelosi's socialist policies rather than things like this, especially when Anna Nicole and the diaper astronaut dominate the headlines...
It would be, but the Democrats just can't stay out of their own way on this one. Tony Snowe tried to put it to bed yesterday, but Pelosinians keep trying to explain how it all happened, and they just end up making things worse.
The truth can be spoken immediately. It takes a few days to craft a semi-believable lie.
Falling on a sword for plastic face!
Agreed. Non-story. Livingood wouldn't put his butt on the line in a written statement if he wasn't telling the truth.
There are power dynamics on Capitol Hill, and longtime staffers aren't "sacrificed".
Yep! If this was true, the Sargeant would have come out days ago to dispell the "MYTH"! And Murtha along with Pelosi wouldn't have threatened the Pentagon with punitive acttions. This was a powerplay that went south, and they are trying to sugarcoat it.
I'd suggest Travelgate, but that's taken.
Pelosi to security cheif: Ask for the plane.
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