By Steve Alexander Reporter
.
Published: Wed, June 18, 2008 - 9:24 pm
Steve Alexander
They believe Northrop Grumman/EADS winning the contract was a mistake from the beginning.
Boeing supporters held a news conference in Washington D.C. Wednesday.
Rep Todd Tiahrt, a Republican from Kansas, said, "I want to start this press conference with one word: vindication."
There were also plenty of statements that might raise the blood pressure of Northrop Grumman/EADS supporters.
Republican Senator Sam Brownback from Kansas said, "This is winning the Super Bowl of tankers to get this turnover and I just say, thanks be to God and the GAO."
Democratic Congressman Jim McDermott of Washington said, "Just remember Tiger Woods sinking that 45 foot putt to tie to get into the finals."
There were a number of references made to Boeing building an American plane and that, according to Democratic Senator Patty Murray of Washington, "These tankers that they (Boeing workers) had been building for 50 years were all of a sudden going to go away and be built in Europe by Airbus and foreign governments."
Republican Congressman W. Todd Aiken of Missouri called Northrop Grumman/EADS, "A company that has no real expertise in developing how you can get that fuel from one airplane to another."
Some of the Congress members had a suggestion for the Air Force.
Democratic Congressman Norm Dicks of Washington said, "You could award it to Boeing."
Brownback said, "The Air Force in moving forward quickly could accept the Boeing proposal at this point."
And what happens if the Air Force decides not to re-bid the contract?
Murray said, "We expect them to make the right decisions for this country and, if they don't, then I expect Congress to act."
Dicks said, "If the Air Force doesn't get it right, I'm going to reserve all of my options as a member of the appropriations committee to offer amendments and do everything I can to stop this thing from going forward."
Enlarge Video 
Download Video
Video RSS
Alabama Auto Plant Planning More Shutdowns
Those who Recommended this also liked:
Email to a Friend 
Printer Friendly 
Perhaps a better word would be vindictive, or evil. That is what these people are. They want to continue to get money under the table, and make sure they cannot be held accountable for payoffs. I wish there was some governing body that could investigate the money trail on this. They don’t want competition. Why?