One way the airlines, like most industries, have attempted to influence federal oversight through the years has been through contributions to political candidates in both major parties, say Schiavo and other industry experts. The diluted recommendations of the Gore Commission -- formed in 1996 after the explosion that tore apart TWA Flight 800 off Long Island and headed by then-Vice President Al Gore -- are an example of this effort, say critics of the system.
The commission initially favored measures that included baggage matching, which would have required that no checked bag, even on a connecting flight, could be loaded unless the ticket holder boarded the flight. The airlines argued that it would prove too costly and enrage passengers.
The commission delayed immediate implementation of the plan.
In all, the airlines gave the Democratic Party $585,000 in the closing weeks of the 1996 election, twice what was given the Republican Party, according to an analysis of contributions by the Center for Responsive Politics.
Elaine Kamarck, senior policy adviser to Gore, said neither she nor the vice president was even aware of the contributions at the time, and disputed that the commission's final report went easy on the airlines.
"Why they contributed that money at that point in time is very simple -- we were winning,'' Kamarck said. "And every corporation in America, whether there was a commission on them or not, was contributing lots and lots of money to the Clinton-Gore campaign in October of '96 because it was a good bet. That is what happens in presidential campaigns.''
If the airlines appreciated Gore in 1996, they soured during his 2000 presidential run. They gave him $57,000, which was a third of the airlines' contribution to the campaign of Republican presidential nominee George W. Bush, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
From this article: Punch here (and it's CNN!)
They knew about hijackers in Europe that tried to take down the Eiffel Tower but failed in '94. They chose to ignore it as far from here.
They knew that the Phillipines held links to the first WTC bombing and alleged plots to move again. They chose to ignore it as far from here.
They knew of Al Queda backing the Taliban in establishing a dictatorship. They chose to ignore it as far from here.
They knew of the fundementalists gaining power in the Arab world. They chose to ignore it as far from here.
They knew of the terror cells building in Europe. They chose to ignore it as far from here.
They knew of the Cole attack and the Embassy attacks. They chose to ignore it as far from here.
Guess what? Its here.