NPR: Boeing Supporters Target McCain Over Contract

Boeing Supporters Target McCain Over Contract

The recent decision by the Pentagon to award the contract for the new Air Force refueling tankers to an American-European group, rather than the Chicago-based Boeing, is still generating heat.

The Associated Press reports that angry Boeing supporters in Congress are targeting Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain for the role he played in taking the contract away from the American company. McCain helped scuttle an earlier deal. (A top Air Force official and a senior Boeing executive ended up in jail over the conduct of the first contract.) He bragged during a GOP debate this election cycle that he had saved the country $6 billion by helping to kill the deal.

But if Boeing had won the contract it says it would have supported 44,000 new and existing jobs at the company and suppliers in 40 states.

"I hope the voters of this state remember what John McCain has done to them and their jobs," said Rep. Norm Dicks, D-Wash., whose state would have been home to the tanker program and gained about 9,000 jobs.

"Having made sure that Iraq gets new schools, roads, bridges and dams that we deny America, now we are making sure that France gets the jobs that Americans used to have," said Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill. "We are sending the jobs overseas, all because John McCain demanded it."

Republican supporters weren't happy either.

"John McCain will be the nominee and I will support him, but if John McCain believes that Airbus or EADS is the company for our Air Force tanker program he's flat-out wrong," and I'll tell him that to his face," said Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Wash.

And Rep. Todd Tiahrt, a Kansas Republican whose district includes a Boeing plant that could have gained hundreds of new jobs from the tanker program, said McCain role in the awarding of the contract will definitely become an election issue in Kansas.

But David Freddoso, writing at National Review Online defends McCain, arguing that Democrats [and as we saw above, some Republicans too] are basically complaining that "he didn't let Boeing rip off the taxpayers."

11:10 AM ET | 03-10-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Savings! Savings!Savings! This is the battle cry of Sen McCain, hence Boeing
losing the contract with European company for the super tanker plan. But the 6 billion that he save, did not go back to the american people, but to Irag's add on expenses and he needs more savings against perks for his view to maintain the American presence in Iraq even up to 100 years.

What did Barack do to this deal? What did he say in the Senate floor? Present?

Sent by FMagno | 11:51 AM ET | 03-10-2008

As a resident of Washington whose significant other is a Boeing employee, I have to say that McCain killed the original deal for all the right reasons. The problems with the original deal is a TOTALLY separate issue from Boeing losing the contract to Airbus.

If they would have done the deal legally and by the rules the first time, this would not be an issue.

Time and contract award review, will determine if the loss to Airbus was legit or not.

Sent by shayhurs | 12:03 PM ET | 03-10-2008

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