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."
From CNN Politics
- 'Wrong things can be changed': Justice Sotomayor speaks on disillusionment
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- Untitled
- Trump appeals court ruling lifting executive privilege shield for former aides
- Credit Suisse's efforts to resolve DOJ probe complicated by bank's fall
- Kentucky GOP overrides governor's veto of youth gender-affirming care ban
Ok, McCain you lost. Move on. Get with the program which is getting America out of all this economic mess. I just wish everybody would stop complaining about everything Pres. Obama is doing and try to make things work. At least Pres. Obama is doing something. Everybody seems to be working so hard at being "right" and proving that Pres. Obama wrong. Put your energy where it should be, which should be trying to HELP get America back where it should be. Thank you.
why does anyone let Mccain speak , he speaks as stupid as he flew. His aviation record speaks for itself. I notice he neglected to say that this helicopter fiasco was another GW Bush payoff to some GOP Stooge. GO HOME JOHN your days in the sunshine have past. Learn how to spell BINGO in the event the old folks will let you play.
For someone who has been treated pretty well by Obama after his loss he sure acts like he has an axe to grind. Too bad, McCain used to be a pretty classy guy and now he just seems bitter.
Wow... I'm starting to like this guy.... Even tho I didn't vote for him.... but, he's got a long way to go before I "really like him".... Well said Mr. President...
"the Defense Department's plan to overhaul the fleet of 28 Marine One helicopters, a PROCESS THAT BEGAN EARLY IN THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION.
more than the cost of Air Force One — A COST THAT OBAMA SAID APPEARED UNNECESSARY."
Learn to read before you bash, people.
Still the IDIOT!
Here we have an economic summit and the cranky old loser just can't resist another cheap shot at "That One". In his senility he forgot that the DOD under Bush ordered the new choppers.
McCain has 7 or eight houses. How many has he given up? Why doesn't he go back to one or two, or better yet leave the Senate and retire to Sedona.
What great other great new ideas do you have "old cranky loser?"
Why didn't McCain have a problem with this when George Bush initiated this program??? Partisan sour grapes, McCain!!
Is this Senator John McCain's pitiful attempt to remain relevant? Wow, what a shame.
HYPOCRITE.
Great, while we taxpayers foot the bill. More excess by the One who offered "change".
Yea, and i have sand in my shoes,waaaaaaaaa.
Millions of us would rather find out exactly how much we paid for Mr. Bush's extensive vacation trips, whether by heli or AF1. Since he spent more than 24% of his presidency 'on vacation' why don't you pick on that?
.......mc noshame, never gives it a rest.........what a sore loser. If he had became President. I'm quite sure he would not , have an issue with those twenty-eight helicopters. since it would go nicely with his eight homes, 18+ cars, and that fleet of Air Force One aircraft.........
What the heck is everyone down on the aircraft industries for, no private planes , no helicopters , just go shop at Walmart ,and buy everything made in China , Support your American industries and buy American , it's the only way out of this hole , support your local economies , buy at the local markets , and don't stop flying , The recession where in won't be over until we start spendin and , buy American, including aircraft.
President Obama has only been here for a month people. He did not order the helicopters before he was voted into office.
Doesn't anybody realize that these new helicopters were ordered by Bush?
Anybody?
Anybody?
Does John McCain sit around looking for things to complain about? Hey John, please tell me is there anything you like about the Obama Administration.
Silly John
Well, I didn't hear McCain griping about it when one of HIS OWN was in the oval office. After all, it was Obama's predecessor – G.W. Bush – McCain's favorite person – who started the program. But not a peep out of the feisty leprachaun until now. Just goes to show what a shamefully political animal he is.
There's a reason that John McCain is not currently in the oval office: most of the american electorate (between 50 and 60 percent) actually have a brain and don't believe the snake-oil remedy that McCain and other republicans have for fixing our problems. Indeed MOST of the general public believe that it is McCain and his ilk that got us into this mess in the first place!
You've got to do better John. You're getting much older, but running out of options for getting you THE PRIZE!
I've got a tip for you John for obtaining the office that is oval in shape – BECOME A DEMOCRAT!
I wonder if that question ever came up for Bush... Clintoin... Bush... Or is that just that white folks can only have 28 copters?
How many years was it that John stayed silent about this Marine One fleet modernization? Why, what a coincidence– exactly the same number of years until his party was no longer flying in Marine One. Now he's suddenly concerned about the money.
Five helicopters fly at one time, 4 are decoys. Plus they have to go through a rotation for periodic maintenance. A number of them have to be at the ready. Can't really do that with a small fleet.
I'm so glad our president said he's fine with what he has.Why didn't McCain press Bush on the same issue? He's a has been, and should really get over it.Our nation needs to unite and work together to get out of this mess the GOP left us.
a contract given (read no bid) to Italy – most likely as a reward for sending troops to Iraq –
– do we really need them?
– if we do there should be a bidding process
– since it is our tax $$$'s the majority of the $$$'s should go to an American company (jobs?????))
– no way we need 28
Like the President said, everyone needs to share the pain, even him. From the sound of it he does not want them anyway, but the current ones do need updating; however 11 billion u gotta be kidding me!
"a process that began early in the Bush administration." and McCain didn't talk about this when it began because?????
Who's John McCain?