Would Kansas snub McCain over tankers?

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.kansas.com/news/local/story/349590.html

Posted on Sun, Mar. 23, 2008

AIRBUS GOT CONTRACT OVER BOEING

WASHINGTON - As a reliably red state, Kansas has backed a Republican in each of the past 10 presidential elections, but Democrats say things could be different in 2008.

With their economy strongly tied to aviation and defense jobs, Kansans are riled over the military's decision to give a $35 billion tanker contract to a partnership with ties to France, rejecting a bid by Boeing.

And as the anger builds, Democrats are happily reminding voters that Arizona Sen. John McCain, this year's Republican presidential nominee, has a history of sparring with Boeing. The tanker deal would have meant 3,800 jobs in Wichita if Boeing had won the contract.

"He has made it abundantly clear that, if president, he would be indifferent to the outsourcing of American jobs, even at a time when our families and our nation's economy are hurting the most," said Larry Gates, chairman of the Kansas Democratic Party.

In a presidential debate in Florida two months ago, McCain boasted that he "saved the taxpayers $6 billion in a bogus tanker deal," a reference to his leading role in stopping a contract between Boeing and the Air Force in 2004.

And in his run for the White House, McCain hired a finance director and several top advisers who had lobbied on behalf of Boeing's rival, the European Airbus partnership.

FULL story at link.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Huge issue here, Steve

Boeing defines Wichita. This loss is devastating.

[williesgirl]

2. I, for one, don't support one dollar of our defense budget leaving this country. rec'd

[TellTheTruth82]

3. Being From Kansas

We are being told that McCain doesn't support the deal to send the tankers to Airbus. I also don't like the idea of our defense dollars going overseas, however, I disapprove even more of the fact the Boeing did not develop a better tanker than Airbus!!! Is this due to a lack of education (the dumbing down of America - especially in the science fields), smugness from Boeing thinking the contract was a lock, or what? If this was due to a lack of education - then what can be done to make us more competitive?


"And in his run for the White House, McCain hired a finance director and several top advisers who had lobbied on behalf of Boeing's rival, the European Airbus partnership." This statement is immaterial to the story. Let's just stick with relevant facts, and avoid trying to spin. Spin is easily determined and actually gets the opposite reaction many times.