Baier did not report that aircraft requests "from Pelosi's people" included trips with Republicans
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SUMMARY: On Special Report, Bret Baier reported on emails from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office concerning requests for air transportation for congressional delegation trips, citing one email calling a lack of a certain type of plane "totally unacceptable" and saying, "The Speaker will want to know where the planes are." But Baier failed to report that according to ABC's The Note, the email in question "came in reference to planes available for bipartisan trips by congressional delegations -- not the speaker's personal travel" or that Republicans participated in several of the congressional delegations for which Pelosi's office requested transportation.
During the March 10 edition of Fox News' Special Report, host Bret Baier reported on emails from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office obtained and released by the conservative organization Judicial Watch concerning requests for air transportation for congressional delegation trips. Baier asserted that the "documents detailed demands from Pelosi's people for certain aircraft" and that one staffer wrote: "It is my understanding there are NO G5's [Gulfstream V jets] available for the House during the Memorial Day recess. This is totally unacceptable. The Speaker will want to know where the planes are." But Baier did not point out, as ABC News' Rick Klein reported in a March 11 post on the ABCNews.com blog The Note, the May 10, 2007, email, written by Kay King, director of the House's Office of Interparliamentary Affairs, "came in reference to planes available for bipartisan trips by congressional delegations -- not the speaker's personal travel." Indeed, Republicans participated in several of the congressional delegations for which Pelosi's office requested transportation.
In a May 8, 2007, email to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), Pelosi aide Mike Sheehy requested that the congressional delegations over the Memorial Day 2007 recess led by Pelosi, Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO), Rep. David Price (D-NC), and Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) be given the highest priority in allocating aircraft. Each of these congressional delegations included or reportedly included at least one Republican:
- Pelosi's delegation to Greenland, Germany, England, and Belgium, included Rep. David Hobson (R-OH).
- Reps. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) and Mike Conaway (R-TX) joined Skelton on his congressional delegation to Colombia and Panama.
- Price's delegation to Egypt reportedly included Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE).
- A May 24, 2007, Associated Press article (accessed via the Nexis database) reported that "Republican Reps. Fred Upton of Michigan, Greg Walden of Oregon and Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee" and former Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert (IL) accompanied Boucher on his congressional delegation to Denmark, Germany, Belgium, and England.
From the March 10 edition of Fox News' Special Report with Bret Baier:
BAIER: Something else that appears complicated are Speaker Pelosi's multiple requests for military air travel. Transparency advocate Judicial Watch obtained internal documents by the Defense Department detailing attempts by its staff to accommodate Speaker Pelosi's numerous requests for military escorts and military aircraft, along with frequent last-minute cancellations and changes, costing taxpayers money. Other documents detailed demands from Pelosi's people for certain aircraft. One staffer writes, "It is my understanding there are NO G5s available for the House during the Memorial Day recess. This is totally unacceptable... The Speaker will want to know where the planes are." The same staffer reacts in a separate email to similar word that a certain type of aircraft would not be available. Quote, "This is not good news, and we will have some very disappointed folks as well as a very upset Speaker." Pelosi's office says the use of military planes are for security reasons and that she is very appreciative of the DOD's efforts to accommodate congressional requests.
Note to self: run for Congress, get GREAT frequent flier miles... and the condescending scorn of Fox *news*.
Yeah, news for nitwits don't like her at all.
Good one. I'd like to see any of the nitwits at FOX running for office and winning.
and dont forget you have the right as a member of congress to open airport gates at any time you wish even though they have been closed for 20 mins and when the alarm goes off you can threaten to have fired the person who tells you you can't do that.
I am so sick of this crap. You never heard a damn thing about Denny Hastert flying around in HIS military jet. This has got everything to do with Pelosi being a Democrat and being a woman.
Fox needs to get over it- she's the Speaker of the House, JUST LIKE HASTERT WAS. Cut out this petty crap. And when you figure out how, please let Sean Hannity know. He's got it even worse than you clowns.
Judicial Watch became big during the Clinton Administration, when it constantly harrassed the White House for documents allegedly related to "Travelgate," "Monicagate," and other phony "scandals." Then, during the Bush Administration, it would ocassionally launch a half-hearted "investigation" in order to maintain the veneer of non-partisanship. But you never saw them complaining loudly about the Patriot Act, illegal wire-taps, or any serious issues concerning Bush and the scandal-scarred GOP. There's nothing non-partisan about Judicial Watch- they only really go after Democrats and they are always petty about it. This is absolutely nothing new.
Judical Watch did go after Bush on several occasions, was not hi-lited in the media, but if one took the time to research, one could find some examples.
I'm sure you wouldn't mind showing us said examples right? I mean, if they are so easy to dig up and all.
you mean richard mellon scaife actually tried to seriously uncover bush scandals........i think my head is going to explode.
I can't quote verbatim, but on the local Salem channel Mike Gallagher was all in a tizzy saying Pelosi has a lot of nerve ordering the military around and demanding certain aircraft because she refuses to stop for re-fueling and how does flying back and forth to her district have anything to do with the Speakers business. Generally calling this a MAJOR SCANDAL!!!! that the MSM refuses to cover. A*#hat.
I heard the hand wringing on this yesterday, and of course they mentioned how Newt never got military planes, totally disregarding that for security reasons post 9/11, Hastert and now Pelosi are supposed to fly secured military planes, because they are 2nd in line for the Presidency and all. Got to keep the line of succession in tact and all.
The other thing I noticed about the hand wringing on this, is that they kept talking about these requests that Pelosi made, but of course didn't follow up with actual information about which requests were filled, and why, and who was on the plane, and for what reasons, and things like that.
They like to make it look like a big deal, when of course, any reasonable sane person would realize that this is nothing. Hastert flew military. Pelosi flies military. Whoever is speaker next of whatever party, will fly military.
This is a stupid trumped up "scandal". So stupid these people. And then they go on and complain about how there are such important things going on in this country, and why isn't Obama concentrating on the economy instead of, you know, working on multiple things at one time.
Have no fear, my good friend Jim"The Sexual Harrasser" Quinn read this on his show today. But, he also read this from an email from a listener who knows someone that works on the planes and adds that 'Pelosi wants saluted' when getting on and off the plane. You'll hear this amendment to the story today.
Of course, Jimmy also adds that Prez Obama is a black nationalist who is doing everything he does just to get even with this country. Naturally, the Idiot Jim doesn't realize that when Prez Obamas' plans work, the black nationalist hater thing is over. And, the Sexual Harrasser adds that Obama shouls show us his birth certificate. NOTE TO QUINN.....I will personally get the President to show you his birth certificate the same day you advise your 'fans' that you are a Sexual Harrasser. I demand you tell them. You are using my public airwaves to spout your silliness. So, I demand time..call it Fair...call it a Doctrine, whatever.
are you surprised...the guy is the scion of Rush. he credits him as his mentor.
they have yet to do something to stupid.
You must be new here. Try reading the mission statement. MMFA discloses, rather plainly, thier partisan leaning. They are, very cleary, a LIBERAL media watchdog site. If you want to see democrats critisized, watch Fox or go to a CONSERVATIVE media watchdog site. Although the best thhe con sites can do is whine about liberal bias in the media (which MMFA has shown to be a joke.) Only about 1% of [con watchdog site's] content demonstrates outright misinfomration. I know, I've looked. It's pathetic.
The GENERAL MEDIA however is supposed to be objective, balanced and non-poartisan. You know... that whole... JOURNALSTIC ETHICS thing?
Dennis Hastert actually used military aircraft more than Pelosi. Here is a more complete analysis by ABC News:
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=7057198&page=1
That wasn't a very "complete analysis". It did say he used it more, but he travelled a third as far. Perhaps you can find something that says what you thought that article said. I can't seem to find anything on it. It would be very helpful to actually see real data on this issue. Because it does seem wasteful for Pelosi to keep a complete aircraft crew 'on hold/stand by' waiting for her to make a decision on a flight that is or isn't scheduled. She does realize we are in a recession, doesn't she? She does realize that GM execs were dragged over the coals for flying in to ask for $$$ help. How does it make the government seem if they do exactly the same thing that they complained the auto execs did?
whats the distance between illinois and DC? now calculate the Distance between DC and California........
seems pretty simply why he traveled 1/3 the time
His home was perhaps only one third the distence maybe? You want to help or hurt the argument? Come up with something better.
The distance has a lot to do with it. What type of plane did Hastert use? Was it the large ones or small ones? I don't think the small ones can make it to Ca without refueling and the reason she would 'require' the larger ones it because they cannot have refueling stops along the way, for security reasons. So, what is the benefit of keeping complete airplane crews on stand by while she makes up her minute by minute mind about the use of a huge jet? She knows her schedule. It is wasteful to keep everyone guessing.
If this article is about republican waste, then the waste should be completely investigated, not assumed using one incomplete article. How about some facts?
http://www.snopes.com/politics/pelosi/jet.asp Per this she has in fact used the larger aircraft only once. The standby aircrew info is I think probably a standard operating proceedure. Its need and peramters are unknown to me right now. Gonna wrinkle arround the intertubes to see what info is availible, less you gotta link on the info?
I found an old MMFA article that says Hastert was a huge waster of government money by using the smaller jet so often, but that Pelosi's aide said; "All we're asking for is what Hastert had." . Is Pelosi asking to waste money just because Hastert did, or because she needs it? http://mediamatters.org/items/200702060013 It wouldn't be so bad if it was because she needed it, but if she's doing this simply because she wants to be just as wasteful as Hastert then she needs to get a different view of reality. Especially in these difficult financial times this nation is faced with. Plus she wants to save the world from global warming, and it won't succeed if she is constantly flying excessively-polluting jets across the nation. Does she know there is a thing called a 'telephone' that has been invented and in use for quite some time?
I couldn't find any info on the cost of crew waiting around for Pelosi, either. Or the cost when she cancels at the last minute. I imagine that's one of those things that aren't made available in this 'open government'.
Well, I for one happened to be appauld at Pelosi's excesses. No GOP congressperson would accept any benfits this controverisal and the Democrats are plainly going to be embroiled in some scandal. This is outrageous!!! I never heard about any GOP involvement in this tomfoolery.
One moment -- I watch Fox News, why does that matter.
What? Really? Got proof? Let me see that newspaper -- haven't seen one of these in years.
Ummmm -- never mind.
This is just the same stink they raised about the Presidential helicopter fleet repackaged, again and again. Someone in the MSM needs to call them on it.
Pelosi is the number 3 person in succession to the most powerful job in the united states and the world. I dont mind her having govt transportation as being in the top 3 in the world as that symbol. That said / She is going over the top with it. shes using these planes as public transportion for family friends and a host of officials and media. she still has a chance to really distinquish herself because she has done alot of things right and hangs right in there with other democrats, republicans, men, woman ,media, etc. She also can take the heat but madam speaker the thing is not to put heat on yourself. lastly pelosi and the media. The media like pelosi does alot of things right but parts of it are disgracefull.someone may tell me in private "maybe you don t like it but it pays the bills and helps the ratings" in public they say" its your right to know." thats why media matters and thats why im here to know exactly whats going on in media.
Any proof of your claims that Pelosi is using the planes as public transportation for family, friends and a host of officials and media? I've heard this floated before, but nothing ever came of it.
Do you know why nothing ever came of it? Because it didn't happen. It was made up by right-wing blowhards. Again, if you have some sort of proof to show that I'm wrong here, by all means, pony up.
Finally, what the hell is the deal with Republicans hating Pelosi? It's not as though she's done anything wrong. She's at the receiving end of criticism constantly - and that criticism usually cannot stand up to the light of day. What gives?
This is pretty simple. If the media would do thieir job and ask Granny Pelosi if her family has actually traveled on the C-32 or 37. IF they did, they would be subject to paying coach rate. If they did not then there would be conflict of interest.
As far as I know the question hasn't been asked, and I will not hold my breath that it will.
And we all remember Hastert (who used the miliary planes three times as often as Pelosi) being repeatedly grilled by the liberal media on this issue. (sarcasm)
The argument is not whether they used it but how they used it. Nice strawman though!
"shes using these planes as public transportion for family friends and a host of officials and media"
I think you mean Ms Palin.
the emails I read on Judicial Watch always mentioned repaying the air force at government rates for family and friends. This is just another right wing smear attempt on Pelosi. All the right wing has left are semar attempts since they put us in a recession.