Obama says “No” to Suped Up Presidential Chopper
EmailABC News' Rachel Martin and Sunlen Miller report: Just in case you were staying up late at night worried that if the U.S. is targeted in a nuclear attack, that maybe the President of the Free World would be flying around in a fancy helicopter making a grilled cheese sandwich…rest assured. Apparently, that's not going to happen.
President Obama took a break from stumping for his health care reform plan and delivered an address to the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention in Phoenix, Arizona. And he devoted the bulk of his speech talking about the need to modernize the military and eliminate waste. He cited what he perceives to be the most egregious examples of financial waste in the military, citing nearly two billion dollars allocated to buy more F-22 fighter jets “when we can move ahead with a fleet of newer, more affordable aircraft. Tens of billions of dollars to put an anti-missile laser on a fleet of vulnerable 747s.”
And then there's that plan for a suped-up presidential helicopter, decked out with kitchen facilities that Obama said would “let me cook a meal while under nuclear attack. I’ll tell you something. If the United States of America is under nuclear attack, the last thing on my mind will be whipping up a snack.” White House officials say the President has nixed plans for the fancy chopper.
“It’s a simple fact. Every dollar wasted in our defense budget is a dollar we can’t spend to care for our troops, protect America or prepare for the future," Obama told the VFW. He went on to say that the US military is “better suited to fight the Soviets on the plains of Europe than insurgents in the rugged terrain of Afghanistan…Twenty years after the Cold War ended,” he said, “This is not simply unacceptable. It is irresponsible. And our troops and taxpayers deserve better.” He said a newer, more streamlined military needs to be able to fight pirates and cyberterrorists with equal vigor and effectiveness.
But it modernizing will mean making tough economic choices to eliminate waste.
“This waste would be unacceptable at any time. But at a time when we’re fighting two wars and facing a serious deficit, it’s inexcusable. It’s an affront to the American people and to our troops. And it’s time for it to stop.”
By far the biggest applause came when President Obama talked about his commitment to protect veterans’ benefits. And he referenced the misinformation promulgated in the public debate over health care. “Since there's been so much misinformation out there about health insurance reform, let me say this. One thing that reform won't change is veterans’ health care. No one is going to take away your benefits. That's the plain and simple truth.”
That raucous public debate was taking place right outside the convention center where Obama made his address. Hundreds of people lined the streets carrying signs and chanting with megaphones. They were mostly supporters but there were at least a hundred protesters rallying against Obama’s health care reform plan. The exchange was loud and emotional. Many supporters we talked with said they are in full support of a public option but they’d consider an alternative if that’s the only way to get reform through. Others said anything that resembles a government managed health care option would be unacceptable….evidence that the public debate over health care remains hot and divisive.
Obama: 'Now Is the Time For Common Sense Action' 
Romney Takes Aim at Conservatives
Keep up the good work President Obama! God Bless you and your family! Finally a president who cares for the disenfranchised!
Posted by: Andrea | August 17, 2009, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm
Right you are Andrea. God bless American and God Bless President Obama.
Posted by: Herb Gray | August 17, 2009, 4:26 pm 4:26 pm
streamlined military needs to be able to fight pirates and cyberterrorists with equal vigor and effectiveness.
He sounds am awful lot like Rumsfield
Posted by: LEE | August 17, 2009, 4:30 pm 4:30 pm
i would say it is an afront to American people taking vacations and flying all over the world with a wife wearing $500 tennis shoes while there are so many people out of work. How much does one small plane trip cost US tax payers.
It is not cheap.
oh well, he can just print some more play money
Posted by: mel | August 17, 2009, 4:47 pm 4:47 pm
Obama uses political calculations in saving a billion by cutting F-22, only to spend trillions on Government Run Healthcare and Cap & Trade.
America will pay a high price for Obama’s games–in the skies over Iran, when we have to cut through their advanced Russian-made radar to knock out nuclear weapons sites and missiles. Obama has ensured we won’t have enough of the best tools to guarantee success….the F-22.
Once Iran has the bomb, they will send their terror squads into Israel, Europe, and America–while hiding behind a nuclear wall. They will threaten to unleash “The Fire of Allah” on anyone who would attempt to end their attacks. Obama just made sure that we can’t prevent Iran’s escalation of terror.
Posted by: carl | August 17, 2009, 4:50 pm 4:50 pm
jpt quotes Der CHANGEling:
“newer, more affordable aircraft”
–> What the fey soldier-cultist MEANS is unmanned, remote-controlled, robo-war machines. Sooo sporting and manly.
jpt quotes Der CHANGEling:
“at a time when we’re fighting two wars”
Maintaining two illegal occupations of who lack an air force, He means … not to mention Pakistan, and, coming soon, Colombia . . .
But hey: wherever He can trade favors for unearned acclaim, that’s where He’ll be.
Posted by: Bet Noir | August 17, 2009, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
I am happy with Obama on the helicopter. The right move if you ask me.
Posted by: Huh | August 17, 2009, 4:54 pm 4:54 pm
“America will pay a high price for Obama’s games–in the skies over Iran, when we have to cut through their advanced Russian-made radar to knock out nuclear weapons sites and missiles. Obama has ensured we won’t have enough of the best tools to guarantee success….the F-22.”
Why would we send a fighter plane when we can send a cruise missile?
“Once Iran has the bomb, they will send their terror squads into Israel, Europe, and America–while hiding behind a nuclear wall. They will threaten to unleash “The Fire of Allah” on anyone who would attempt to end their attacks. Obama just made sure that we can’t prevent Iran’s escalation of terror.”
Why are right wingers so petrified over unlikely scenarios?
Is their right wing belligerence in fact a mask for their cowardice?
Posted by: Ryan C | August 17, 2009, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
Enough of the cheap shots against Obama for occasionally taking family trips. We should want a President who sees the world and we should want the world to see him and his wife, especially because he is a hardworking, serious person who is doing his best to resolve longstanding problems.
Posted by: Peter | August 17, 2009, 4:55 pm 4:55 pm
“taking vacations and flying all over the world with a wife wearing $500 tennis shoes while there are so many people out of work.”
Just think … Marcos.
Feet are uncommonly expensive, it seems, in ObamaLand — costs $50,000 to amputate ONE, He claims …
Posted by: Bet Noir | August 17, 2009, 4:58 pm 4:58 pm
“occasionally taking family trips”
These people go on vacation to rest up FOR vacation: next week, Martha’s Vineyard, where Cindy Sheehan will be to remind Der Won about Afghanistan, etc.
And to think BUSH used to be mocked for his vacation time! By how many days, so far, have the Oblablas bested Bush’s early record?
Posted by: Bet Noir | August 17, 2009, 5:04 pm 5:04 pm
“And to think BUSH used to be mocked for his vacation time! By how many days, so far, have the Oblablas bested Bush’s early record?”
Bush left for Crawford on Aug 3rd and did not return to DC for 30 days.
Posted by: Ryan C | August 17, 2009, 5:10 pm 5:10 pm
“taking vacations and flying all over the world with a wife wearing $500 tennis shoes while there are so many people out of work.”
Just think … Marcos.
Feet are uncommonly expensive, it seems, in ObamaLand — costs $50,000 to amputate ONE, He claims …
Stimulus spending!
Posted by: Bailout Brigade | August 17, 2009, 5:17 pm 5:17 pm
Bet Noir: Please get your facts straight. Obama hasn’t even come close to the amount of time Bush had taken off. If this is all you can find to complain about, Obama must be doing a great job. Thank you.
Posted by: unshrub | August 17, 2009, 5:17 pm 5:17 pm
Mel “i would say it is an afront to American people taking vacations and flying all over the world with a wife wearing $500 tennis shoes while there are so many people out of work. How much does one small plane trip cost US tax payers.
It is not cheap.
oh well, he can just print some more play money”
I know it has been a while since there has been a President who practiced international diplomacy that didn’t involve threatening to attack, but traveling to other countries and having the family spend time seeing local sites is part of the deal. Other heads of states do the same thing when they come here. It is just part of diplomacy.
And who cares how much Michelle’s shoes cost? The first family pay for their cloths and groceries while living in the White House. If she wants to pay $500 on shoes, that is up to her. It is not coming out of the tax payers’ money.
Posted by: Mack | August 17, 2009, 5:22 pm 5:22 pm
Obama got himself into a mess of his own making, topped with a giant dose of his own arrogance.
His sales pitch for his own brand of health-care – centered on the so called “disenfranchised” first, with complete disregard for the 200 million people, who are the heart of this country, economically and politically.
This group has been labeled – mob, plants, and all the other names of late.
We all thought this guy had political savey! After shoving the stimulas bill through, he figured the sky was the limit on whatever he desired, not what the people who elected him reflected.
He suceeded in uniting the republican and independents – and the obama beat goes on.
Posted by: DK | August 17, 2009, 5:26 pm 5:26 pm
carl:”America will pay a high price for Obama’s games–in the skies over Iran, when we have to cut through their advanced Russian-made radar to knock out nuclear weapons sites and missiles. Obama has ensured we won’t have enough of the best tools to guarantee success….the F-22.”
Since the F-22 is damaged by water, like some sort of bad sci-fi aliens, perhaps Iran is the only place it would be useful.
Why do you think we don’t have enough F-22s now? And why do we need over 180 fifth generation FIGHTER JETS for an engagement with Iran (TOTAL airforce of 240 or so planes)? Sure the F-22 can do other missions, but it’s designed as a fighter and shouldn’t be procured for it’s second best roles.
Posted by: jhw539 | August 17, 2009, 5:29 pm 5:29 pm
“Since the F-22 is damaged by water, like some sort of bad sci-fi aliens, perhaps Iran is the only place it would be useful.”
Actually that sounds a bit like the plot to Deal of the Century, the comedic send up of arms trafficking and defense companies.
It has Chevy Chase when he was still funny.
Posted by: Ryan C | August 17, 2009, 5:37 pm 5:37 pm
Do not count out public option. A lot of you republicans are too stupid to know that you are being manipulated by the insurance and drug companies against your own interest.
1. I have insurance but the premium are rediculously expensive. For the so call 200 million that are insured, this reform is also met to help us by forcing the insurance compnay to compet.
2. Your insurance company cannot drop you due to preexisting condition if the reform passes. Right now, they can drop you like a hot potato if you get sick.
3. Contrary to the republican party’s lies that the 46 million uninsured that will be covered are all going to get free insurance. That is not correct. The goal of the reform is to lower the premium enough that most of the 46 million will be able to afford it. I thought we are a Christian nation? Where is our compassion for the least among us.
I hope the president stick with the public option- He can not let the republican party and the misinform and misguided town hall clan deprive our country of these much neede reform. The time is now.
Posted by: Ben | August 17, 2009, 6:09 pm 6:09 pm
“He suceeded in uniting the republican and independents”
–> Exactly what Democratic saboteur John Kerry had in mind when he foisted mob-friendly, principle-free Obama on the Democratic Party …
Trouble IS (for the Obama organization’s perpetual campaign), Obama’s also gonna succeed in getting Howard Dean drafted for the Democratic nomination in 2012.
Posted by: Bet Noir | August 17, 2009, 6:32 pm 6:32 pm
“Trouble IS (for the Obama organization’s perpetual campaign), Obama’s also gonna succeed in getting Howard Dean drafted for the Democratic nomination in 2012.”
Ralph Nader is more likely to make an impact in the Democratic primary.
Posted by: Ryan C | August 17, 2009, 6:45 pm 6:45 pm
I personally was really impressed (not) with Michelle Obama’s $6000 hand bag and Kyobi beef incidents. $6000 could pay several mortgage payments.
Posted by: PotatoeGater22 | August 17, 2009, 6:53 pm 6:53 pm
If Obama would have authorized this helicopter…Fox news would have fried him for it. He had no choice, besides helicopters aren’t in vague as those presidential jets with far more room.
Posted by: PotatoeGater22 | August 17, 2009, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm
“I personally was really impressed (not) with Michelle Obama’s $6000 hand bag and Kyobi beef incidents.”
You mean when the NY Post made up a tale about Michele and room service than had to issue and embarrassed retraction the next day when it was reported that Michele had not even stayed at the hotel in question?
Posted by: Ryan C | August 17, 2009, 6:56 pm 6:56 pm
we go to war with what we have? Anyone remember that when our troops had unarmored Humvees and bad flak jackets. While Obama might have an ulterior agenda to weaken the USA, the point is that politicians don’t seem to realize that we are spending/training/planning for possible FUTURE wars! That way we won’t be surprised or caught. And a future threat might not be backward Muslims in caves but a technological superpower like Russia or China! We should be planning our military budget on those threats since Russia and China are doing it that way!
Posted by: Ed | August 17, 2009, 7:00 pm 7:00 pm
jhw539: You don’t even know what you are talking about. This is the least likely spendthrift. He has turned down a better plane and helicopter. He has not taken the money to redecorate the White House that all previous presidents have taken. Michelle has used her own money to buy the china for the white house and they pay the way for their children whereever they go. If Michelle has an expensive bag or dress, she has paid for it and it did not come out of tax dollars. Can’t you find anything else you don’t like? These are good people, so good they really don’t believe the trash that is going around about them. They are sincere which is more than I can say for many people.
Posted by: talmag | August 17, 2009, 8:52 pm 8:52 pm
“And why do we need over 180 fifth generation FIGHTER JETS for an engagement with Iran (TOTAL airforce of 240 or so planes)?”
You don’t build the composition of your military around the most likely next scenario, you build it to take on the worst case scenario. In the cold war, it was built around an invasion of Europe by the Soviets. Though the Soviets may be gone, China still has designes on Taiwan and Russia is reconstituting. Superpower status isn’t that you can beat up Iran, its that you can go toe to toe with other super powers such as Russia and China.
Posted by: KR | August 17, 2009, 8:59 pm 8:59 pm
So let me get this straight. Forcing people to pay for health care insurance against their will is a good thing? Spending a trillion dollars or more on another big government mandate like Medicare and Medicaid that are going bankrupt is a good thing? Fining Small business if they don’t provide health care insurance (which will further hurt the bottom line of small business and cause even higher unemployment) is a good thing? Telling lies to the public by assuring them that if they like their Doctor and health care insurance they can keep them (under President Obama’s health care plan) is a good thing? What I do not understand is why the left is so in love with the concept of an authoritarian centralized government who has power over how to spend most of the wealth of the people. The history of this type of model does not have a very good track record. As the saying goes, “Absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Even the Left has to admit that the US does not have the most honest and principled politicians in power at this time. The left needs to be honest about their goal of using the “public option” as a trojan horse with the ultimate goal of a single payer system where the government has complete control over the health care dollar with the power to make life and death decisions. So stop the lies of “more choice” and “lower costs” and “higher quality of care” because once the government is in control of everything just the opposite will happen.
Posted by: gary | August 17, 2009, 9:09 pm 9:09 pm
“Even the Left has to admit that the US does not have the most honest and principled politicians in power at this time.”
Far more principled and honest than the last Republican administrations who lied to the public systematically about Iraq, secret detention camps across the world, torture, Nicaraugua (cocaine and contra), secret arms deals with Iran … the list goes on and on.
Posted by: davedillon | August 17, 2009, 9:57 pm 9:57 pm
I believe the adjective is “souped up,” not suped up. Who is writing this stuff?
Posted by: Betty Boop | August 18, 2009, 7:16 am 7:16 am
To clear up the F-22 and Copter issues. The copters were a product of Robert Gates. The US government piled on requirements after the contract was signed. This caused the price to skyrocket. Mr. Gates then cancelled the program (his own program) after spending over $3 billion…brilliant isn’t he? The F-22 was initially set up to have 750 in the inventory. After the contractor set up the supply base, Robert Gates dropped it to 381. This caused the obvious price increase for obvious reasons. Mr. Gates then dropped it to 183 while the USAF insisted on at least 260. Mr. Gates then fired 2 USAF generals because of their insistance. New USAF leadership agreed and then protested, but Gates cancelled the F-22. Mr. Gates military experience consists of 2 years conscripted enlistment. The F-22 is the most advanced fighter known to man and it will be detrimental in any war to own the skies. Moral: Our government needs to listen to our military commanders on what they need to do their jobs.
Posted by: lfrichar | August 18, 2009, 9:02 am 9:02 am
I am glad that Obama can see through the hype and political favors that determined some of the unnecessary military purchases in the past.
On the subject of healthcare Ben, Aug 17, 6:09 said it very concisely:
’3. Contrary to the republican party’s lies that the 46 million uninsured that will be covered are all going to get free insurance. That is not correct. The goal of the reform is to lower the premium enough that most of the 46 million will be able to afford it. I thought we are a Christian nation? Where is our compassion for the least among us.
I hope the president stick with the public option- He can not let the republican party and the misinform and misguided town hall clan deprive our country of these much needed reform. The time is now.’
The public insurance option will not only give affordable insurance to the uninsured but will lower prices for those who are paying too much today. Without true competition, the health insurance companies have been free to charge us too much, to make crazy profits and compensate the execs too much. Just like the oil companies, left to their own devices they will charge as much as possible, rather than what is reasonable, no matter the negative consequences for families or the economy.
Posted by: Lydia | August 18, 2009, 2:36 pm 2:36 pm
what obama is doing is a bad idea we need 750 or 1000 more f-22 to replace the f-15 eagles the f-35 is to replace the f-16 millions of people will loose jobs becuase of his fault so we need to impeach obama and his administration they taking people rights away and hurting the economic worse
Posted by: blaze | August 20, 2009, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm