Posted on 02/11/2007 4:22:42 PM PST by John Jorsett
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the subject of Republican criticism for her mode of air travel, flew home nonstop Thursday night aboard a 12-seat military aircraft set aside for use by lawmakers.
Republican House members, aided by friendly radio and television talk show hosts, created a political tempest this week, claiming Pelosi was pressuring the Pentagon for the use of an "Air Force Three" and a "flying Lincoln Bedroom." Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, however, the administration has required the speaker -- then Republican Dennis Hastert of Illinois -- to travel home and on official business using military planes for security reasons.
House Sergeant at Arms Bill Livingood said he had asked the Pentagon to provide a plane large enough to fly Pelosi nonstop to San Francisco, citing the security concerns.
Even the White House defended the Democratic speaker. The president's spokesman, Tony Snow, on Thursday called the criticism "unfair" and the flap "a silly story."
Pelosi flew nonstop from the nation's capital to San Francisco to attend the funeral services of the late Lt. Gov. Leo McCarthy aboard a C-37A, the military's version of a Gulfstream V that can travel 6,300 miles. It is one of the planes used regularly by Hastert, Pelosi's office and the Pentagon said.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
I don't care what plane she uses to go home -- as long as she doesn't come back.
Um, ya, right.
Anyone remember the conflagration caused by the MSM, an airplane and a Republican leaving said airplane by the back door?
That went on for months!
Why? Why would he do such a stupid thing?
Can you imagine the fallout if Hastert made the same request?
"The BIG Rich Elitist Republicans show their consern for the common man!!
Exactly and ad nauseum.
I AM really disappointed in Tony Snow, however.
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