White House Apologizes for Air Force Flyover

New York Times ^ | April 27, 2009 | A. G. Sulzberger and Matthew L. Wald

[reaganaut1]

An Air Force One lookalike, the backup plane for the one regularly used by the president, flew low over parts of New York and New Jersey on Monday morning, accompanied by two F-16 fighters, so Air Force photographers could take pictures high above the New York harbor.

But the exercise — conducted without any notification to the public — caused momentary panic in some quarters and led to the evacuation of several buildings in Lower Manhattan and Jersey City. By the afternoon, the situation had turned into a political fuse box, with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg saying that he was “furious” that he had not been told in advance about the flyover.

At 4:39 p.m. Monday, the White House issued an apology for the flyover. Louis E. Caldera, director of the White House Military Office, who served in the Clinton administration as secretary of the Army, said in a statement:

Last week, I approved a mission over New York. I take responsibility for that decision. While federal authorities took the proper steps to notify state and local authorities in New York and New Jersey, it’s clear that the mission created confusion and disruption. I apologize and take responsibility for any distress that flight caused.

The mission on Monday, officials said, was set up to create an iconic shot of Air Force One, similar to one that was taken in recent years over the Grand Canyon.

When President Obama learned of the episode on Monday afternoon, aides said, he, too, was furious. Senior administration officials conveyed the president’s anger in a meeting with Mr. Caldera on Monday afternoon.

[joejm65]

Nobie was ‘furious’, huh? Yeah, my a**.

[razorback-bert]

President Obama learned of the episode on Monday afternoon, aides said, he, too, was furious.

BS

[Cementjungle]

When President Obama learned of the episode on Monday afternoon, aides said, he, too, was furious.

Now, whould anyone care to buy a lovely bridge in Brooklyn?

[Redbob]

"Senior administration officials conveyed the president’s anger in a meeting with Mr. Caldera on Monday afternoon."

Also known as an "Extemporaneous Performance Review!"
LOL!

[Ronin]

Those silly New Yorkers...

I can’t for the life of me understand why anyone would be upset at a low flying airliner over the city seemingly being chased by Air Force fighters...

[EGPWS]

...the White House issued an apology...

Obama, copy and save for pasting for it's easier...

[unkus]

Tough if they panicked. They voted for the depraved one. They’ll get used to these little “inconveniences”.

[pillut48]

Like my 8 y/o used to say, “Stupid poopyheads!!!”
>:-(

[Yehuda]

“President Obama learned of the episode on Monday afternoon, aides said, he, too, was furious.”

Furious that Rahm neglected the opportunity to impose martial law...

[dfwgator]

Haven’t they ever heard of Google Maps?

[TexasNative2000]

When President Obama learned of the episode on Monday afternoon, aides said, he, too, was furious.

Do tell......

[Repealthe17thAmendment]

When President Obama learned of the episode on Monday afternoon, aides said, he, too, was furious. Senior administration officials conveyed the president’s anger in a meeting with Mr. Caldera on Monday afternoon.

So the official story is that it was done without his knowledge? I don't believe that. Nice to know that Obama has your back, huh, Caldera?

Military folks beware. Obama will throw anyone under the bus.

[basil]

Oh--they're going to apologize---that will make it just hunky-dory won't it? The people running this nation at the moment are idiots--scary idiots with entirely too much power.

Pray for the USA to survive this nightmare administration.

[Clock King]

These people are pathetic posers. All show, all camera. God, I hope America is learning its lesson about electing “idols”.

[avacado]

" so Air Force photographers could take pictures high above the New York harbor."

Nonsense! They could use a helicopter for pictures... Don't need a jumbo-jet 747, and especially Air Force One. This story stinks!

[Never on my watch]

Mr. Caldera, I would like you to meet Mr. Bus.

[Dallas59]

Screw you Obama.

[dfwgator]

Oh well, if Obama was furious, well hey, then he’s off the hook. /s

[two23]

Wonder if it was first spouse and her entourage of magazine friends?

[OafOfOffice]

what the h*ll is wrong with this administration? is this suppose to scare everyone so obama can form his civilian military? Children aren’t sleeping because of his global warm scam, now employees run for their life because public cannot be notified.

Remember when the military was going to use a town for their training recently? Someone got that stopped when they found out. One of the old air bases just had some military training and nobody was notified but it was not a 9/11 hit site.

[Dallas59]

Second Plane Hits WTC

[ArrogantBustard]

When President Obama learned of the episode on Monday afternoon, aides said, he, too, was furious.

I don't believe that. I think 0bama and his stooges are lying to us.

Again.

As usual.

[jiggyboy]

While federal authorities took the proper steps to notify state and local authorities in New York and New Jersey

If they didn't notify the mayor of New York City, then what "state and local authorities" DID they notify? Just the FAA?

[Nachum]

The List, ping

I guess the buck stops..... somewhere over the rainbow

[bushwon]

Isn’t it reassuring to know that he and his staff are still on the campaign trail (he is never governing) and that the government doesn’t have to buy carbon credits :(

[bushwon]

Isn’t it reassuring to know that he and his staff are still on the campaign trail (he is never governing) and that the government doesn’t have to buy carbon credits :(

[elpadre]

“..with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg saying that he was “furious” that he had not been told in advance about the flyover....”

people need to get used to this sort of thing. Obama and staff really don't believe in State's rights = only the central government matters.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Day 98 for “Team O” is turning out to be a real fuster cluck.

[Joe 6-pack]

"If they didn't notify the mayor of New York City, then what "state and local authorities" DID they notify?"

Curiously, none of the Imams in NYC reported for work today.

[keepitreal]

Louis E. Caldera, director of the White House Military Office, who served in the Clinton administration as secretary of the Army

Well, then, that explains everything. We all know how well the military worked under the Clinton admin (through no fault of the soldiers, sailors, airmen or marines).

[OpeEdMunkey]

Haven’t they ever heard of Google Maps?

Or Paint Shop Pro Photo/Photoshop?

[OafOfOffice]

obama’s planes were busy.

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/04/22/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry4962384.shtml

Obama Earth Day Flights Burned More Than 9,000 Gallons Of Fuel

[jennyjenny]

Bambi should know better than to have a clinton holdover have anything to do with the president’s planes.

[HairOfTheDog]

Nonsense! They could use a helicopter for pictures... Don't need a jumbo-jet 747, and especially Air Force One. This story stinks!

Or your reading comprehension does.

The mission was to take pictures OF the plane over New York Harbor, not FROM the plane.

And I have no doubt Obama was mad when he found out it had caused such a stir. Yet another rookie move.

[BibChr]

It’s “iconic,” all right.

[COUNTrecount]

"If they didn't notify the mayor of New York City, then what "state and local authorities" DID they notify?" Curiously, none of the Imams in NYC reported for work today.

And there was not a cab to be had.

[Nachum]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiGPQVUJqq0&feature=related

[jimbo123]

Obama laughs. Reason weeps.

[Travis McGee]

Louis E. Caldera, director of the White House Military Office, who served in the Clinton administration as secretary of the Army, said in a statement: Last week, I approved a mission over New York. I take responsibility for that decision.

Okay, let's take that at face value. Now, ask the question....

Who ASKED for the mission to fly over NYC?

Not who approved the mission, who ASKED for the mission?

Not this lackey Calder, that's for sure. He's just the fall guy.

[trumandogz]

Caldera needs to be fired.

[Travis McGee]

Bingo. See my last.

[milwguy]

Wonder how much this photo cost the American taxpayers and why the hell they needed to take a pic in the first palce

[JoSixChip]

I want to see the pictures, I'll bet there aren't any.

[VA40]

So it took until the afternoon for him to be "notified" of this?

Caldera has been fired, right?

[Travis McGee]

Caldera has been ordered to fall on his sword.

The real question is the one I posed above.

[bethtopaz]

From a freeper on another thread:

If that was a photo op, where was the plane taking the photos? I assume you want a photo of the Air Force One from the side with the skyline in the background, but the trailing F-16 could not have served in this role, as it was behind the 747. So where is the aircraft that was taking these photos?

27 posted on Monday, April 27, 2009 9:17:50 AM by GreenAccord (Bacon Akbar!)

[ElayneJ]

I apologize and take responsibility for any distress that flight caused.

---

How many people are going to have to fall on their swords for obama? It is disgraceful that he would use the military in this way. It was bad enough with the clintons, because, of course, they LOATHED the military. But this, I think, is even worse.
The White House Military Office? What is that, anyway? I’ve never heard of such a thing. This man is running around unsupervised - he’s going to get us all killed. And then he’ll have someone else step up and take responsibility for it.

[Travis McGee]

Caldera is the patsy. Ask the real question posed at #40.

[Cementjungle]

So it took until the afternoon for him to be "notified" of this?

Obama's first "My Pet Goat" moment.