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 ...
Just call her QUEEN NANCY!
God how I detest hypocrites and double standards!
Twelve seats vs. 42. Same non-stop capability.
"It is one of the planes used regularly by Hastert, Pelosi's office and the Pentagon said."
So I guess the plane CAN make it coast to coast without refueling after all, despite Pelosi's claims to the contrary, when she used it as a reason to try to get a bigger plane.
Of course she can fly nonstop, Pelosi is so full of gas she could make it round trip.
The socialist "mainstream" newsrooms didn't want you to notice that.
It is one of the planes used regularly by Hastert
Does the plane have ejection seats for the crew?
Here's the C-37A:
http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=91
The Gulfstream V is a very nice aircraft.
I think the whole thing has been ridiculous from the beginning. There should never have been passed a law stating that the Speaker should have military transport for security reasons. The President deserves it. The Vice President deserves it. Nobody else in the line of succession needs it. They don't get Secret Security protection, why the need for a miltiary plane? And if the second in line of succession needs a plane for security reasons then why not the third in line? And the fouth? And the 10th? Congress should repeal this stupid idea.
Maybe they mid-air refueled. /sarc
People on the left think that military folks are thugs, rapists and murderers. Yet they seem happy to travel on military planes with military crews. It's odd.
"Tony Snow, on Thursday called the criticism "unfair" and the flap "a silly story."
And just what is 300,000 bucks cost one way is so unfair or silly, Tony??
Did you notice in the story how the House Sergeant at Arms took the rap for the request for the larger plane and how they said Tony Snow was all for nancy getting her plane.?
They also blamed the whole affair on Republican House members.
When the Dem machine gets rolling truth is long gone.
Remember the press Newt Gingrich got when he complained about sitting in the back of Air Force One back in 1995?
Whose air force?
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