Posted on Jul 5, 2016
Should sitting presidents be transporting their chosen candidates on AF1?
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Every election season this comes up. The truth is that the President is a political figure, and it is a longstanding practice for the President to vigorously campaign for the candidate they support. The President travels on Air Force One --like it or not, that is the President's aircraft and he can use it for whatever he needs to do, whether that is vacation, campaigning, or Presidential duties. If the President is campaigning for Hillary, he is going where she is going, so what is the harm in her being on there as well. Like I said, this is the way every President has done it since Air Force One started flying.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
As you said, comes up every election year but sure don't remember all the consternation when Bush did it for McCain.
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SPC Kirk Gilles
The story that formed my question said that no other president had done this, especially in this overt manner. Clinton I and Bushes were mentioned as not doing this. Just say'n.
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LTC (Join to see)
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen - That's because only the right wing likes trying to makes scandals out of routine nothingness.
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SPC Kirk Gilles
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen - Sir, W flew McCain around to rallies? It's not so much the Plane, it's the imagery of the overwhelming visual power of the Office, the vestiges, being used to beat another candidate over the head. It shows that the "Nation" is against someone who dared to run as a regular person.
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When the President uses Air Force One for political trips, he or his party pay an amount equal to a commercial ticket for the same route, if it is known. He would also pay for food, lodging and other costs during the trip. In this case, either the Democratic Party or Sec. Clinton’s campaign will be paying these costs.
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SPC Kirk Gilles
I read that too. Is money what matters or the perception that comes with the visual image?
I.E. Running a presidential bid costs $1 billion.
Riding to events on AF1; Priceless
I.E. Running a presidential bid costs $1 billion.
Riding to events on AF1; Priceless
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LTC (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) - Bexause the Domocratic convention has not yet nominated a candidate due to his (Sanders) not yet suspending his campaign. His protection is required by law due to hai share of the delegates.
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Absolutely not and HRC's campaign should foot the entire bill of $206,365 per hour of operation herself instead of splitting the cost with the administration? I never gave her or Obama permission to use AF1 in this way. Maybe they should cut Donald a check for half the cost so the playing field is even!
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