White House aides insisted F-22 be removed from Obama speech venue
When President Obama spoke to troops at Alaska’s Elmendorf Air Force Base last month, the unit there parked a shiny new F-22 fighter plane in the hangar. But according to multiple sources, White House aides demanded the plane be changed to an older F-15 fighter because they didn’t want Obama speaking in front of the F-22, a controversial program he fought hard to end.
“White House aides actually made them remove the F-22-said they would not allow POTUS to be pictured with the F-22 in any way, shape, or form,” one source close to the unit relayed.
Stephen Lee, a public affairs officer at Elmendorf, confirmed to The Cable that the F-22 was parked in the hangar and then was replaced by an F-15 at the White House’s behest.
The airmen there took offense to the Obama aides’ demand, sources told The Cable, seeing it as a slight to the folks who are operating the F-22 proudly every day. They also expressed bewilderment that the White House staff would even care so much as to make an issue out of the fact that the F-22 was placed in the hangar with the president.
A White House official, commenting on background basis, told The Cable that yes, there were discussions about which plane or planes would be in the hangar, but that they were not meant as an insult to the pilots and other personnel who work on the F-22. The official couldn’t elaborate on why the White House aides felt it necessary to get involved in the matter in the first place.
The official pointed to Obama’s speech to the troops that day, where he praised both the 90th Fighter Squadron, known as the “Dicemen,” and the 525th Fighter Squadron, the “Bulldogs,” both of which operate the F-22.
Even so, the Air Force personnel thought it odd the White House wanted to display the older plane rather than the more advanced plane that, in the eyes of its supporters, represents the latest and greatest in American aviation.
The Obama administration fought hard and successfully to cut off production of the F-22 at 187 planes, a number Defense Secretary Robert Gates endorsed but that was hundreds less than originally planned and about half of the 381 planes Air Force leadership lobbied hard for in the years preceding Obama’s inauguration.
“It’s one thing to be against further production; quite another to slight the folks who are flying them in the operational world,” one source said, adding that “the F-15 pictured was put into service roughly around the same period when Obama graduated from college. It’s vintage.”
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Wild Thing’s comment……..
I wish they had told Obama and his people to put his demands where the sun does not shine. This makes me so angry that he did and does things like this.
Obama is a national disgrace!!!!
F-22 at Obama’s Elmendorf AFB Speech Removed by White House
I get the idea that Obama doesn’t care about our troops/airmen.
I get the idea that Obama doesn’t care about the F-22.
I get the idea that Obama doesn’t care about fighting terrorism.
I get the idea that Obama doesn’t care about our national security.
I get the idea that Obama doesn’t care about people’s health.
I get the idea that Obama doesn’t care about the economy.
I get the idea that Obama doesn’t care about ending racism.
I get the idea that Obama doesn’t care about employment.
I get the idea that Obama doesn’t care about the environment.
I get the idea that Obama doesn’t care about meeting our energy needs.
I get the idea that Obama doesn’t care about energy independence.
I get the idea that Obama doesn’t care about the collapsing banks.
I get the idea that Obama doesn’t care about the collapsing dollar.
I get the idea that Obama doesn’t care about our industry.
I get the idea that Obama doesn’t care about the continuing foreclosures.
I get the idea that Obama doesn’t care about the Constitution or Bill of Rights.
I get the idea that Obama doesn’t care about our sovereignty.
I get the idea that Obama doesn’t care about this country.
I get the idea that Obama doesn’t care about God.
……Thank you RAC for sending this to me.
RAC has a website that is awesome. 336th Assault Helicopter Company
13th Combat Aviation Battalion – 1st Aviation Brigade – Soc Trang, Republic of Vietnam
On AOL this morning there was a ‘human interest’ story about a 6 year old from Harlem who is dying of Lukemia who went to the White House to visit obama, made poissible by Make a Wish foundation. certainly not because of any sympathy from obama. He gave her a box of M&M’s and a Yo-yo with the presidential seal on it.(What a cheap bastard)
But the crowning affront came when the child was taken on a tour of the east wing, where She was allowed to make a WISH ON THE “HOLIDAY TREE”.
“I get the idea that obama doesn’t care about the true meaning of CHRISTMAS or respect any of its traditional Christian values.”
🙂
http://townhall.com/cartoons/cartoonist/GlennMcCoy/2009/11/3
obama is all aesthetics, no substance. To him, what a situation looks like is more important than what it is worth. Sadly 52% of the voters fell for this crap.
They should have taken the F102 Delta Dagger from their display and used that for the backdrop. He wouldn’t have known the difference.
Mark, oh wow, your right about all you said.
Eddy, thank you for the link.
Tom, your right, there sure are some stupid
people and the rest that voted for Obama
are people that do not love our country.
Jim, LOL good one.