RNC: Obama Fraudulently Using Air Force One

It claims his recent travel has been for campaign purposes
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 26, 2012 11:26 AM CDT
RNC: Obama Fraudulently Using Air Force One
President Barack Obama steps off of Air Force One as he arrives at at Buckley Air Force Base, Tuesday, April 24, 2012, in Aurora, Colo.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Republicans think Barack Obama's trips on Air Force One amount to nothing less than fraud. RNC Chair Reince Priebus has sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office asking it to investigate Obama's recent travel, alleging that the events he's traveling to have been "widely reported to be equivalent to campaign rallies," and hence shouldn't be paid for by taxpayers, CNN reports. For evidence, he cites the states Obama has visited in April: Florida, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, and Ohio, battlegrounds all.

Campaigning presidents are required to reimburse the government for political travel at a commercial rate, which is already much cheaper than the $180,000-per-hour it actually costs to fly Air Force One. If the trips are semi-official—and the White House says these have been—the government chips in even more. A White House spokesman says Obama has an "official responsibility" to leave Washington and connect with the people (recent trips have involved meeting with students about interest rates on loans), and that he's following the rules. (More Reince Priebus stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X