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."
As usual, his answer was intellegent, caring, well thought out and had even a little humor tossed in.
I would have expected nothing less...
Way to go O
They should give some to fema for disaster recovery.
I guess no one spoke up when Bush aproved the purchase of these helo's nor how much each one costs? Also, I guess the price is out of control due to the contractor because they do not specialize in building helo's (who made that decision?)
America, don't worry President Obama will salvage what he can from this horrible deal President Bush made.
President Obama, if the HELO's have reached their maximum flight time, get the new HELO's but get them cheaper from a different contractor if its not too late.
McCain is such a bitter old man, I guess he really represents the GOPs better now. Bitter, old and white and of course obstructionist to each and everything that the POTUS says.
BUSH was the President when the contract was given for new helicopters not President Obama.
McCain looked like an old deer in the head lights asking President Obama that question ! McCain should have asked the price of having an aircraft task force and armada in the Persian Gulf compared to land based air support !
COSTLY $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ !
28 Heli's does seem just a tad bit much for one man. He is the President so he should have the best, but 28 of them?
Ordered by Bush they were. Did you expect any different? What I did expect is the "CHANGE" that Obama ran on. Sounds like the same to me.
Citi....That has been brought up in the news. How dare anyone take tax payers money to fly private jet and heli's around. That goes for bailed out companies as well as congress. They can fly commercial like the rest of us. This isnt practical for the President however. (he just doesnt need 28 of them)
Also, I always like the argument, 'the last guy did it so why cant Obama'. Thats great! That will fix it all.
And if this makes him in any way less safe... ?? Then WHAT??? At least build OUR President ONE new Chopper, i mean not 11 but which ever one he uses the most. The safety of our leader is paramount, or at least it used to be.... funny how that seems to have changed??
Obama handled it just right.
McCain threw a fat one right across the plate and Obama parked it in the cheap seats.
Nothing more to see here....move along.
So let me get this straight the last guy ordered 28 ad they are blaming the new guy for living at the address of the old guy?
SHUT UP McCAIN.... your former President Bush approved (with your 99% support) spending $11 Billion on these helicopters!!!! So shouldn't YOU have busted your chops back then when the GOP was in control of this spending? YOU didn't raise your voice back then when Bushman started this foolish spending. Exactly.
Once again the RETHUGS constantly run off at the mouth when THEY themselves starting the re-hauling of these helicopters BEFORE President Bush become President. Are we that stupid to believe John McCain about ANYTHING? This OLD man is delusional beyond words.
hey why don't you Obamanites just send your pay checks to him – that is where we are headed!!! He is on a spending spree and you guys don't even give a s--. WAKE UP!!!
Well that backfired on you McLame, way to diss your own party. Is it me or are you simply complaining for the sake of complaining, stop playing politics you are not helping.
The new copters were going to be made after 9/11 to assure the safety of the President.
The specifications of the new craft remain largely secret, but some details have leaked into trade publications or have been disclosed in congressional briefings. The 64-foot-long helicopters must carry 14 passengers and thousands of pounds of additional equipment while being able to fly farther without refueling than existing Marine One choppers can. They must be able to jam seeking devices, fend off incoming missiles and resist some of the electromagnetic effects of a nuclear blast.
They also must have videoconferencing and encrypted communications gear to allow the president to instantly reach advisers, military officers and foreign leaders. Although the president typically spends only short periods of time aboard the White House helicopters, at times the president can be onboard for longer distances. In a crisis, the White House says, minutes can make a difference, so a president should have the full capacity to act no matter where he or she is. In theory, a commander in chief should even be able to order a nuclear strike from the helicopter.
So many helicopters are needed because the president typically travels with two or more when he flies, with the extras ferrying staff and Secret Service, serving as backups and playing decoy. When a president makes multiple stops, additional sets of helicopters must be airlifted to his next destinations.
The new copters were going to be made after 9/11 to assure the safety of the President.
The specifications of the new craft remain largely secret, but some details have leaked into trade publications or have been disclosed in congressional briefings. The 64-foot-long helicopters must carry 14 pasengers and thousands of pounds of additional equipment while being able to fly farther without refueling than existing Marine One choppers can. They must be able to jam seeking devices, fend off incoming missiles and resist some of the electromagnetic effects of a nuclear blast.
They also must have videoconferencing and encrypted communications gear to allow the president to instantly reach advisers, military officers and foreign leaders. Although the president typically spends only short periods of time aboard the White House helicopters, at times the president can be onboard for longer distances. In a crisis, the White House says, minutes can make a difference, so a president should have the full capacity to act no matter where he or she is. In theory, a commander in chief should even be able to order a nuclear strike from the helicopter.
So many helicopters are needed because the president typically travels with two or more when he flies, with the extras ferrying staff and Secret Service, serving as backups and playing decoy. When a president makes multiple stops, additional sets of helicopters must be airlifted to his next destinations.
~John Mccain is a dumba5#!
He is a sore loser, and this questioning just proved it!
Who the hell was it that bought a 747 for a president? Now the same idiots want to complain about a helicopter that is supposed to keep the Prez safe from repuklicant terrorists who want to shoot him down. Ladies and gentlemen, please read some of the posts on the "ticker" for proof. Obama admires Lincoln out of all presidents the most, he DOES NOT WANT TO END UP LIKE HIM OR KENNEDY! Idiot bloggers. First Neocons, second RACISTS! Get over yourselves
This is ridiculous and unnecessary to report. Pres. Obama needs to be able to travel like everyone else, in order to fulfill the tasks and responsibilities of his position.
Go UNITED States of America
If the helicopters need retrofitting, then it should be done. In my mind, it is probably a matter of national security. Every time the President flies there are 2 birds in the air; the one he is on and the other as a decoy, with the black market thriving for all types of WMD, including shoulder mounted RPG's, it is essential that no one knows which bird has the President on it. I cannot imagine what would happen to this wounded country if our President were shot out of the sky or worse killed in a copter accident while flying on a sub standard,poorly maintained vehicle. I am all for frugality, however, there are some areas where pinching pennies doesnt make sense, this is one of them. I have to wonder if McCain would feel the same way had he won the election, my gut tells me the answer would be a resounding no.
Good! You can't stimulate the economy if everybody stop buying. What is wrong with everybody. We are going to need to buy cars over the next 4 years. I know I can't continue to drive what I have so the Lord will bless me with another. We are putting too much power in what man got to say. Buying things help others. We can't stop living because the rich is scared and taking their money out of the bank. The biggest Hypocrit is not McCain, it is Lou Dobbs. He is terrible. Somebody need to cut his budget with the quickness and take him off the air.
of course they are unneceesary who needs 12 helicopters? he only needs one. unles michelle and the girls want one and the mother in law and the brother and....
Read the article a little more closely before your knees start jerking. Obama didn't purchase 28 helicopters: he INHERITED them from the previous administration: George W. Bush. Bush had already started the ball rolling on the $392 million per helicopter "overhaul" early in his presidency. So.... where were McCain and the rest of the vocal republicans back then?
Obama urges fiscal restraint while pledging to slash deficit
I read this and I'm like is this a joke.
The man just signed a 700 billion dollar bill and another 275 dollar bill for ACORN and he is calling for fiscal restraint.
The next bill is his budget request for the year.
I think he stands before the peole and says these morons will believe anything that comes out of my mouth.
The morons in the MSM believe anything that comes out of my mouth.
I wonder if McCain's concerns arose and were voiced during the begining of the the process to replace these helicopters, ..you know around the time the process begun. while Bush was in office..or is this a newly discovered concern of his specically designed to help the republicans posture for 2010 as the party who has a "renewed" opposition to wasteful spending? Eventhough they sat idly by as the deficits grew over the last eight years.
"The Man of the Moment", was never Barack Obama. The Black Ameica are so desperate. But you will fail.... You chose, the wrong one. Do as you may. But Barack Obama is too-stupid to be real.
You could have done it: the slow way... But you shouted Race! You talked about "The First Black CIC"... But you lost the Game...There i9s no such thing as a "African American". Just Aliens, of Africa. If they went back to Africa: Whatever part they came from. They would be shot for Treason....
He should take delivery and then lease them out to Sara to shoot wolves, caribou, whales, mice, whatever her little heart desires.
Now are you not to bright Republicans convinced that McBush would have been the WRONG choice. Come on folks there is little doubt that the reason Air Force one and The Marine helicopters have NOT had a severe accident (possibly killing our President – NO matter whom he is). Now this dummy wants us to STOP keeping them in the best shape possible. What so the Republicans want next. Perhaps we should eliminate the Secret Service that would save a lot of money. Come McBush how about you and the other Congressman and women give up your Retireman and health care that is Way beyond what the American people have.
I am not a Democrat....