Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Opinion

Obama's View From On High

August 12, 2008 08:53 AM ET | Bonnie Erbe | Permanent Link | Print

More evidence of a candidate faux pas. "O-Force One" as CBS' Allison O'Keefe describes Obama's campaign plane, contains a luxurious section for the candidate more reminiscent of an airborne corporate executive suite than a presidential candidate who has to appeal to working class American voters.

Check out this description of his personal quarters on O-Force One: “Obama’s section of the plane rivals that of any first class. Recently the front cabin of the Boeing 757 was retrofitted to install four individual chairs that resemble La-Z-Boys. They are free-standing and made of plush leather with pockets on the sides. There is also a booth which seats four for a meeting or a meal.”

Sen. McCain, no slouch he when it comes to campaign trail luxury, sits in his smaller plane's first class section. But it is not outfitted with individual La-Z-Boy seats: "CBS News’ John Bentley, who's covering the John McCain campaign, reports that McCain flies in a slightly smaller Boeing 737, which has four compartments: the first class area, where he sits; the “straight talk” area for interviews; a business class section for staffers; and the back of the plane, where the press and secret service sit."

Moral of the story: When you're seeking working class votes, fly Greyhound.

Tags: Barack Obama

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Reader Comments

A woman scorned?

Sounds like maybe Bonnie's invitation to accompany John in first class on his campaign tour got lost in the mail?

Disgraceful

I've long considered U.S. News & WP to be a respectable and reliable publication of high journalistic standards, but this nonsense isn't even worthy of the National Enquirer. Obviously there's no editorial oversight for blog entries.

Bonnie, did you sleep with someone to get this job? Because you couldn't possibly have got it to due to your credibility as a journalist.

You should be ashamed and US News & WP should fire you.

Campaign Planes

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/airplane.asp

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About Bonnie Erbe

Bonnie Erbe is a contributing editor at U.S. News & World Report and hosts PBS's weekly news analysis program, To the Contrary with Bonnie Erbe. She also writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column for Scripps Howard News Service.

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