Obama Faces Tough Decision On Pricey Presidential Helicopters

WASHINGTON - President Obama has slammed high-flying executives traveling in cushy jets at a time of economic turmoil. But soon he will have to decide whether to proceed with some of the priciest aircraft in the world - a new fleet of 28 Marine One helicopters that will each cost more than the last Air Force One.

A six-year-old project to build state-of-the-art presidential helicopters has bogged down in a contracting quagmire that will challenge Mr. Obama's desire to rein in military contracting expenses. The price tag has nearly doubled, production has fallen years behind schedule and much of the program has been frozen until the new administration figures out what to do about it.

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Comments

[TheGuide]

I'm confident he'll do the right thing. Perhaps an upgrade is in order, because we don't want our president's chopper to fall out of the sky, but the quanities of new ones needed will be considered, I'm sure.

[lafrance]

no one said a word when Bush went on all his continuing vacations and took the heli and Air Force one but, Obama takes them out a few times and suddenly the media and everyone is complaining.
Seems to me the double standard is out in full force these last 3 weeks.

[JZ735]

When the people are asked to scrimp, then Obama will....two copters only, of the best type...the rest are scrapped...money can be much more wisely spent...it isn't all about Obama...you people better learn that.

[neocon666]

Exactly. W took more vacation time than any POTUS on record, but did any republicans complain that he was swandering government resources while at the same time claiming that the government was spending too much?

[rockyersocksoff]

I think that the protection of the US President is paramount, and right-wingers sniping about Obama's limo, or plane, or whatever are just jerks being foolish.

BUT, Obama also needs to start leading a new era, where the Military/Industrial/Congressional Complex share in the fiscal discipline that their so-called conservative fanclub has long championed for every OTHER area of Government.

No more blank checks for the Church of the Bombs.

So, it's not an either(they spend like morons) or (the President rides around in Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang.)

[JZ735]

no more unnecessary extravagances for Obama or Congress....Americans are scrimping and being told to pinch pennies, well, Obama will too...now!

[pqn]

Another bush blunder Obama has to clean up. 400 million a pop. That's insane for a helicopter, any helicopter.

[liberalNmoderation]

400 million?!?!?!
Are they made of gold?

[RJII]

get her done. nuf said.

[sherbug]

Build them only if they are built in the US by US workers.

[BartLA]

Ask McCain to sell one of his homes to finance it. Country First.

[NotFooledByDistractions]

I'd be somewhat surprised if Obama was to go through with this. If they were being manufactured in the US, maybe, but...

Isn't Michelle decorating the white house with Pottery Barn - and the decorator is doing it for $100,000. That's good sense. He seems pretty down to earth and sensible, so again, it would surprise me if the spent the money on the helicopters now.

[InLosAngeles]

I think the mantra of the last 7+ years was that Bush/Cheney were hyping the terrorist threat. I tend to agree with the media and all of our pundits like KO, Mathews, Maddow, et. al. Obama does not need to feed the terror hype monster like the last administration. His helicopters are fine. They are already designed to withstand all the threats mentioned. We are going to spend $11b so they can defend against the "so-called" threat a little bit better? I refuse to buy the terror hype in order for us to spend an obscene amount of money for so called super choppers. He will be fine. Obama, please remember what you campaigned on....You would not continue the "so called" fear campaign. I hope KO and the rest jump all over this contradiction.

[wijg]

Currently, we have 19 Marine One aircraft, I don't understand the need for 9 more. I think the upgrades are important, I think keeping our President safe is important, but I also think there are areas where we can cut down on the overall price.

[FACINGREALIT]

Under NO CIRCUMSTANCE should it be acceptable to compromise the safety of the President! There is a VAST difference between him and those CEO's who are raking in MILLIONS a year in bonuses.

Don't even think about making changes to the Presidents mode of transportation - especially with Obama being the FIRST African American President and the target of haters/racists. NO WAY!

[blaising]

Protect the President...protect the president!!!

[Zen0469]

Presidential Safety YES. Flying turkeys NO.
I'm sure that Pres. Obama will make a good decision!

[BlueBoomer]

I agree that we need to keep our President safe, but why exactly do we nee 28 Marine Ones?...Wouldn't 7 (one for each day of the week) be sufficient?

[evekendall]

We're talking about the Commander-in-Chief and the personnel and many tons of equipment that would be needed if we were under attack.

[LeftRight]

It's not actually that all of them are Marine One. It's that there are always three flying, plus a whole fleet of support helos, none of which are the same type as the Presidential Helicopter. In addition, they also send out three of them to pre-stage wherever the President goes, which means that there needs to be MANY more of them than he will ever ride in!

[frantaylor]

At any given point in time, half of them are in the shop, so it's really only 14. Given their short range, you need one to get there and one to get back. So, yes, indeed, in effect, they really only have 7.

[dadw5boys]

LOCKHEED HAD NEVER BUILT A HELICOPTER BUT WAS AWARDED THE CONTRACT !!!!!!

COULD LYNN CHENY SETTING ON THE BOARD OF LOCKHEED MARTIN HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE ????????

[LeftRight]

nah!

[Ramirez]

Lynne Cheney resigned from the board of Lockheed Martin on January 5th, 2001.

[rabprevent]

Is this before or after she cashed out her options and stocks?

[sheikwil4]

Hey, we need those jobs here in Syracuse at Lockheed Martin.lol