Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

McCain Sucked Into Boeing Battle

Campaign boss lobbied against Boeing for European Airbus

By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 12, 2008 4:30 AM CDT
Email

(Newser) – John McCain is being dragged into the feud between Boeing and the Air Force, reports AP. A firm headed by McCain's campaign finance chairman, Tom Loeffler, was paid $220,000 to lobby on behalf of the Airbus, the successful European rival to Boeing's 767 fuel tanker. McCain had helped block an earlier, flawed Boeing contract for the tanker, and sent letters to the Pentagon in 2006 urging them to change bidding procedures that Airbus said were anticompetitive.

The bidding procedures were changed several months later, and Airbus won the $35-billion contract. The McCain camp noted that the lobbying firm was hired only after the McCain letters. "I had nothing to do with the contract," he said. Boeing officials have condemned the contract process as "seriously flawed" and are appealing the decision."I urge you to go back and start over," a Republican lawmaker told the Air Force secretary in a congressional hearing yesterday. "You did not do this right."

Boeing workers protest the U.S. Air Force's decision to award a fuel tanker contract to Airbus-Northrop Grumman (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Boeing workers protest the U.S. Air Force's decision to award a fuel tanker contract to Airbus-Northrop Grumman (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)   (Associated Press)
Presidential hopeful Arizona Senator John McCain greets supporters. His campaign chairman reportedly lobbied on behalf of the foreign corporation that beat Boeing out of a $35 Billion contract, potentially costing tens of thousands of American jobs.
Presidential hopeful Arizona Senator John McCain greets supporters. His campaign chairman reportedly lobbied on behalf of the foreign corporation that beat Boeing out of a $35 Billion contract, potentially...   (Getty Images)
The Boeing KC-767 aerial refueling tanker. Being has appealed the decision by the US Air Force to buy a new fleet of aerial tankers from a consortium headed by Airbus. (AP Photo/HO)
The Boeing KC-767 aerial refueling tanker. Being has appealed the decision by the US Air Force to buy a new fleet of aerial tankers from a consortium headed by Airbus. (AP Photo/HO)   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Tanker Uproar

McCain's role in plane's pact spotlights ties to lobbyists
Washington Post

 
John McCain • Pentagon • Boeing • contracts • Airbus • European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company • Northrop Grumman • GAO • Lockheed Martin • EADS • US Air Force • 767 Tanker • Teal Group • Jim McNerney • Tom Loeffler • Loeffler Group • Air Force Secretary • Michael Wynne

More Newser Stories

Congress Will Nix Airbus Deal, Boeing Says

US, Euro Alliance Landed Air Force Deal for Airbus

Air Force Picks Foreign Bid to Build Tankers
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne