Patriotism or pork-barreling?

Apparently the Wall Street journal is asking whether Tiahrt is interested in patriotism or pork-barreling. The answer is painfully obvious. If Tiahrt had been on top of the situation and Boeing more flexible, this contract would have never been lost. On the other hand, it should be considered an act of treason to award a US military contract to a foreign country. We do need jobs in this country, especially under these times of recession. However, Tiahrt has shown little real interest in the workers of Kansas and way more about getting pork for the state to justify his dismal performance of representing this district.


According to The Wichita Eagle:

Patriotism or pork-barreling?
The Wall Street Journal made light of the fuss over EADS’ contract to build the U.S. Air Force’s tanker fleet in an editorial headlined “Patriot Tanker Games” and disparaged the calls “for ‘patriotism’ in defense procurement.”The editorial also warned about the consequences to Boeing if Congress starts a trade war with the European Union over the tanker. “

Tiahrt defends corruption once again

Since Rep. Todd Tiahrt is one of the most corrupted representatives in congress, the last thing he wants is a Office of Congressional Ethics. As in

The Wichita Eagle’s We Blog today:

“Tiahrt lobbied against House ethics panel

Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, not only didn’t support the creation of the new Office of Congressional Ethics but lobbied against its 229-182 passage Tuesday. “If you have a single ounce of self-preservation, you’ll vote no,” Tiahrt urged his colleagues, warning that House members could end up bankrupted by the legal costs of defending themselves.”

It goes on to say:

“Opponents of the new independent panel fear it will presume lawmakers to be guilty.”

Do we even have to ask who some of these people are. Of course Tiahrt will oppose any accounting of his finances. He has made a killing off of that office, with perks that include taking his family to Hawaii and selling his votes to the highest bidder. It’s too bad he didn’t have the money he needed to buy off the military to keep the tanker project here were Americans can work on it. That’s one area Tiahrt really messed up on and now he is asking question he should have asked in the beginning instead of waiting for our own military to sell out to a French Co.

Tanker Todd Bombs again

Once again Rep. Todd Tiahrt has banked and lost on his tanker proposal. Tanker Todd has tried hopelessly to get Wichita Boeing a job building military tankers. But according to The Wichita Eagle:

“The U.S. Air Force chose a Northrop Grumman/European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. team for a $35 billion contract to replace its aging fleet of refueling tankers, dealing a blow to Boeing and the Kansas economy.”

Tiahrt gave his usual clap trap about the military giving jobs to a foreign firm:

"I am deeply troubled by the Air Force's decision to award the... tanker to a French company that has never built a tanker in its history," U.S. Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, said in a statement. "I cannot believe that we would create French jobs in place of Kansas jobs."

Of course this company has a track record of building military equipment. Once again it is outsourcing that puts American workers out of business. But it was a business decision and no one has promoted faith in the rights of big business, no one has championed letting businesses decide what is best for our economy more than Tiahrt. So if anyone complains that big business has not been fair to the American worker it should not be Tiahrt. He is as responsible as the military in this decision.

He also promised to make the American worker more competitive. He can’t even save our jobs from the French. Once again we are paying for the incompetence of Rep. Tiahrt.