McCain presses Obama on pricey helicopters
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/02/23/art.maccopter0223.gi.jpg caption="Sen. McCain mentioned the hefty projected price tag for replacing the President's fleet of helicopters as the White House's fiscal responsibility summit ended Monday evening."]
(CNN) - President Obama said Monday he’s pretty happy with helicopter he has - though the new commander-in-chief joked he's never had one to compare it to.
During a fiscal summit at the White House Monday, Arizona Sen. John McCain - Obama's former rival for the White House - pressed the new president on the Defense Department's plan to overhaul the fleet of 28 Marine One helicopters, a process that began early in the Bush administration.
Watch: 'I've never had a helicopter before,' Obama says
The price tag for the new helicopters has been estimated at over $11 billion, more than the cost of Air Force One - a cost that Obama said appeared unnecessary.
"The helicopter I have now seems perfectly adequate to me," Obama responded to laughter. "Of course, I've never had a helicopter before.
"You know? Maybe - maybe I've been deprived and i didn't know it. But I think it is a - an example of the procurement process gone amok and we're going to have to fix it."
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he needs to give that money to the people. And I don't mean the ghetto people. I mean people who actually earn a paycheck and deserve a break.
"pressed"? what did mccain say?
Please go away old man McCain. Where were your balls to gripe about the $11 billion when your "Daddy" Bush started the overhaul of the helicopters.
Tell McCain to go take a ride on his wife's private jet, and shut the heck up.
The president is the president, his safety is key and whatever transportation he uses for his safety is fine with me.
McCain should have called BUSH out on the issue since it was BUSH that approved the order for the helicopters!
The republicans make the messes and now Obama has to clean them up!
I wonder what McSame wants Obama to say here? I am betting that if he says yes to the new helos McOld Guy will pounce all over him howeer if it were he that got elected it would be okay. McMoron just needs to shut up and go away. Lots more important stuff to be asking the prez about than helicopters....
Okay, will an American company have to produce these helicopters?
Will this company employ American Workers?
Will this helicopter be built with American resources?
Will the Govt tax the workers employed by the company?
Does govt spending stimulate the economy?
McCain! Allow me to serve you a nice tall glass of STFU.
Mmmmm STFU, it's shut your mouth FANTASTIC
McCrypt still trying to score points at Obama's expense.
Did anyone think to point out to McCrypt that the decision to replace the fleet was made before there was a President Obama?
On the other hand the folks that would have built the helicopter(s) may now be out of a job, thanks to McCrypt.
I agree. I think some of our past Presidents were more concerned with the newest, whatever it was, than being responsible. Should an upgrade be needed to the helicopter for electronics, communication gear, or security, that can be retrofitted a whole lot easier than buying a new one.
McCain.. no need. Obama allready understands that he doenst need all that crap. Remember... he is the one who owned one house and you were "that one" that owns 13 or so. Hmm... I wonder if you won.. would you have complained about them??? Especially being military equipment and all?? Hmmm... I wonder. Johnny Boy... why dont you press your Grand Old.. old.. old.. old Party on changing their politics. Wait.. you cant do that... because you were part of the "he's pallin around with terrorists" crowd. I think anybody who ran with or supported that crowd has no business in politics and if they are still in there please vote them out in 2010 and 2012.
And before you nuts claim i'm a far left libbie.. I hate Nancy Pelosi and Harry Ried too. I just love Obama!!!!! The rest of the old heads need to be replaced!!
More sour grapes from McCain...the man and the rest of the Republicans just can't help themselves...weren't these ORDERED under the BUSH administration?????? Nobody heard McCain complaining about it then !!!!!!! For him to throw that out after Obama showed him the utmost respect by letting him speak first at this press meeting showed a complete lack of class on Mccain's part SHAME ON HIM
McCain, why don't you go and sleep in one of your 12 houses if you can remember where they are.
This is classic Obama: say "seems perfectly adequate " so people think you are making a CHANGE but I bet he keeps on with the upgrade anyway.
But be then we are all watching American Idol and forget. And McCain and Obama will have a good laugh.
Start supporting a third party now, locally! Get rid of the RNC/DNC clubhouse.
If McCain had become President, McCain would'nt think twice about not updating the helicopter's, damn hypocrite...
Obama cutting back on the perks??
NEVER!!
He sends out extra food-stamps to impoverished Americans while he and his wife jet into Chicago on Air-Force-One for an upscale Valentine's dinner.
He's as blind as Blago!
The headline should read, "McCain Late on Critique of Plans to Create Expensive Helicopter Fleet". I didn't hear him complain about this expensive plan for new helicopters until he knew he wasn't going to be the one riding it them. George W Bush wanted the fleet of 28 new helicopters and NONE of the Republicans who are now wailing about fiscal responsibility said anything about this while their guy was in the White House.
So what is this article saying? That McCain wanted him to keep the deal and get the overpriced helicopters? Or is it trying to imply that President Obama would not have turned them down if McCain hadn't pointed out the cost? I suspect Obama wasn't going for that price tag anyway, so I am not sure what the point is, except Bush and Cheney were over the top on that 'let them eat cake' thing. All that money while we wait for armored humvee's in Iraq and Afghanistan... gotta love it
If they are working fine... I would make sure there is adequate funding to maintain them.
Of course, new ones may have to be factored in, long term... but making sure that the price is right, is the key... However, if they need to build 28 new helicopter's, then those are also jobs...
11 billion seems like a lot of money... I'm sure Obama will figure out a way to be fiscally responsible with the Defense spending, something the last Administration seemed to forget about...
He's The President!!!!!! He's suppose to have the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! of everything this country has to offer!!! Please don't forget..... The Queen of England has everything.... why is everyone complaining about what ammenities the President have or should he have any at all??????
He's The President!!!!!! He's suppose to have the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! of everything this country has to offer!!! Please don't forget..... The Queen of England has everything.... why is everyone complaining about what ammenities the President have or should he have any at all??????
He's The President!!!!!! He's suppose to have the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! of everything this country has to offer!!! Please don't forget..... The Queen of England has everything.... why is everyone complaining about what ammenities the President have or should he have any at all??????
Why is it that McCain is adamantly against spending money on us... the people.. on putting policies in place to create jobs.. that's not a waste of money.
But when it comes to things like big military machines... even those not used for the military... there's no price to high to spend.
There's a reason why the republicans are being run out of office... and this article right here sums it up perfectly.
THIS IS SO FUNNY....... here is a man, a senator who agreed with EVERYTHING Bush did and he is complaining about Obama's helicopters???????????????????????????????????????
Buying the helicopters, WILL PROVIDE ****JOBS**** FOR AMERICANS! SO hey....... go ahead and buy them, President Obama!
WHERE were all these so-called-fiscal-conservatives when BUSH WAS DOUBLING OUR NATIONAL DEBT??????????????????????????
Hypocrites!
MCCAIN GOT "PUNKED" ON THIS ONE. MCCAIN OWNS A PRIVATE PLANE. MCCAIN DOESN'T THINK BEFORE HE SPEAKS BUT ATTEMPTS TO MAKE OBAMA LOOK BAD. THIS IS ONE OLD MAN WHO IS A SORE LOSER AND A DIRTY OLD MAN. MCCAIN AKA KEATING 5 BACK IN 1980 SCAMMED INVESTORS OF LINCOLN SAVINGS OUT OF BILLIONS AND THE BANKS NOW ARE A REPEAT OF THIS OLD MAN MCCAIN.
Someone sounds jealous that they're not President.