Barack Obama Unveils New Campaign Plane As World Tour Kicks Off

In a newly painted 757--with the Obama sunrise logo on the tail and "Change we can believe in" painted on the sides--the Middle East and Europe bound Obama campaign press plane was poised to lift off Sunday evening from Midway Airport to meet up with presumptive presidential Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) after he finishes visits to Afghanistan, Kuwait and Iraq.

Obama's newly reconfigured plane is divided into first class for the candidate and his closest advisors--such as strategist David Axelrod, who is on the flight; business class seats, occupied Sunday by foreign affairs advisors such as Denis McDonough and coach, where 41 journalists who are part of the traveling Obama press corps are seated.

In the days ahead I hope to report on the substance of the Obama visit as well as the media circus aspects of the highly choreographed trip.

Obama already has booked interviews with network anchors and has a date to do "Meet the Press" from London next Sunday. The campaign announced at 4 a.m. on Sunday morning--but mid-day in Europe that Obama will deliver a speech on trans-Atlantic relations in Berlin on Thursday outdoors in a park near the Brandenburg Gate.

Fruit and cheese platters greeted the reporters on board the very pricey charter.

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[Pdubya]

only 10 steps.....we're almost there.

that plane is scary.

maybe naomi wolf should write an epilogue.

[mindlessmissy]

For those feline coalitions and O. haters who are willing to start a new smear about O. painting over the American flag for whatever reason know this, He STILL has the American flag Prominently painted on the side of the Plane in Plain View. Look and confirm before you accuse ...

http://img214.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=05092_img_3380_122_216lo.jpg

[ObamaLover]

As part of a month-long aircraft makeover, a painted American flag was removed from the tail of Sen. Barack Obama's official campaign airplane and was replaced with the presidential candidate's trademark "O" symbol.

[txbyrd]

Yet another story by Klein of WorldNetDaily buzzing around the internet.

I thought even conservatives had tossed him under the bus by now.

Guess not. Desperate times, desperate measures....

[SouthFloridaDem]

You appear to have logged in under the wrong user name.

[ObamaLover]

He painted his logo over an American flag??????

HMMMMM>>>?????

[mindlessmissy]

He still has the American flag on the side of the plane, close to the tail ... Stop saying stuff that are just NOT true ...

[ObamaLover]

that doesn't look like a hybrid.

[ohiomark]

Yeah, I'll bet it uses WAY more fuel than the MD-80 he was flying in.

Imagine what his carbon footprint is now!!!!

[gevan]

Sunrise? I thought it was a blue O-bow signifying the end of the storm of the last eight years.

[Peteyman]

Might as well have put a bullseye on the tail, and whoever hit it with a missile could get McCain points.

[indypete]

Too true to be funny!

[MojoMeredith]

I love Obama's sunrise logo. It just screams new horizons...and hope. There's something comforting about it.

[Pdubya]

hey, you could be the Goering of his civilian police force!

update your resume'

[Raymondf]

Did he get any carbon credits for this plane.

[XME]

I would think that this would be some kind of security risk...it seems like a giant notice of who's in the plane.

[rasthedestroyer]

Lynn, the computer say's.....NOOO!!!!!!

[jmparks]

A 747 would have seemed more "Presidential", if you ask me.

[voting4BO]

I support Obama, but I don't support this move. This is a bit over the top and arrogant. I don't want my campaign donations wasted in this manner.

[ohiomark]

True, if he wants to be a true "greenie", he would campaign in a Prius and make the reporters follow him around on mopeds.

[Politicallie]

No... over the top and arrogant would be McCain's plane... which has the name McCain emblazoned all over the side of it.

This is actually a good -and very common - use of campaign funds. It's the most efficent way for the candidate to travel across the country spreading his message. Imagine the amount of time that would be wasted if he was taking commercial flights from city to city!!

[going2ireland]

Well, I support and donate regularly to O and I wholeheartedly approve. I think you will be but a minuscule number of O supporters who don't support this move.

[DamianG]

And Mc Cain has a new plane he just unvailed

Also the US is very large and he has always used a plane it is just newer now. about a week ago the older plane had to make a unscheduled service stop. So I have no problem with this.

[Raymondf]

Cindy bought it for him he used no campaign money.

[Sixtwo]

It's about security AND respect. I'll keep contributing--maybe even doubling my contrbutions.

[CtJean]

Right on, same with me.

Just wish I could catch a ride on that baby.

Hell I'd ride in the cargo compartment.

[SPQR1052]

I am an Arizona Republican and compensated physically disabled veteran of 173rd QRM USA and voting fo 0BAMA - No decision, no debate he's the only choice. Just a footnote of sorts "Homeboy" McGELIDING unveilded his new camapaign 757 today also.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/06/30/mccains-new-plane/

That should shut the Tr0lls up. Now discuss whos 757 is better - Talk amongst yourselves.

IPersonally, I vote for "O's"

Also a nother unfounded tumor, There is a U.S.A flag on the body of "O" airplane as is on ALL aircraft designating country or registration. Military aircrat also include, normally one on the tail. (Not civilians!!)

[CtJean]

Thank you for your service to our country. Thank you for your post.

Do you think Mcgelding has sindy's name on it. Ms Bud.

What a hoot!

but nothing will shut the trolls, they get paid a penny a word.

[indypete]

"...McGELIDING unveilded his new camapaign 757 today ....That should shut the Tr0lls up..."

Takes more than logic to shut up a tr0ll.

Anything short of duct tape on the mouth won't work!

Now I be attacked by the tr0lls for advocating violence because they don't understand the concept of "figure of speech."

[debwarot]

A private plane with room for security and the press is appropriate for a presidential candidate going overseas.

Would Ms. Sweet have preferred to travel across the sea in the cargo hold of a leaky vessel with a pack of peanut butter crackers for her meal? Has she commented on McCain's use of his wife's personal private jet?