Home > Political Insider > Archives > 2009 > February > 25 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDid Obama just call the F-22 a Cold War relic?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For a Republican, Rep. Phil Gingrey of Marietta was fairly complimentary of President Barack Obama’s big speech last night.
But there were a couple things the president said that make him worry, according to my AJC colleague Bob Keefe in Washington.
First was the mention of a carbon cap-and-trade plan, which Gingrey said would really hurt Georgia — since the state doesn’t produce much in the way of renewable fuels, but is home to big-time coal burning companies like Atlanta-based power company Southern Co.
But what really worries Gingrey was Obama’s line about reforming defense spending “so that we’re not paying for Cold War-era weapons systems we don’t use.”
Gingrey and other Georgia members of Congress are pushing hard for the president to keep funding the production of F-22 fighter jets that are assembled in Marietta. Obama is expected to make a decision on F-22 funding on March 1.
Asked if he thought Obama were referring to the F-22, Gingrey said:
“You just don’t know. But that made my stomach tighten up a bit.”
Comments
By jsmooth
February 25, 2009 1:12 PM | Link to this
I can only hope that he is refuring to programs like the missle defense shield or something like that. Fighters are still of good use, especially when in a pinned down type of situation. Air superiority still rules whether traditional or guerilla styled war.
By Aaron Burr V. Mexico's Mulatoe muther
February 25, 2009 1:32 PM | Link to this
Obama is spending money on every thing but the kitchen sink. But he is cutting the pentagons budget and he will do his best to scale back the F-22. Whimpy liberals like Obama hat the military. Everyone knows it. It is not fair that this nation is so powerful, or something like that.
By Tax Payer
March 5, 2009 1:04 PM | Link to this
The Pentagon budget takes up far more than what is needed to defend us. If F-22s were produced in a northern or western state, Gingrey and others would be howling that it’s too expensive. It’s time to right the ship and spend taxpayer money on things that make the US and the world a better place to live.
By John K
March 6, 2009 11:32 AM | Link to this
Remember this if you don’t control the sky you don’t control the battle field and you will not win the war. If the F-22 is never used for its intended mission then it has completed its mission.
By Karen Haney
March 6, 2009 11:42 AM | Link to this
WE BUILD THE BEST IN THE WORLD! It takes less time and money and we build them better. Ghee maybe the next time he flys on Air Force One, he aughta look around, we are damn proud of what we build. Something bad has to happen to get the attention of libral politicians and personal. If it was personal, they might take notice, but they live in their ivory towers protected from the real world. They where to serve 2 terms FOR THE PEOPLE, NOT FOREVER, sucking every dollar from us and our children and grandchildren. Thank you, Karen Haney