Obama Aide Fired For Photo Flap
President Barack Obama has “accepted the resignation” of White House Military director Louis Caldera, the man who authorized the ill-fated low-level flyover of New York City by Air Force One.
The photo-op quickly turned into a PR disaster, evoking painful memories of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
From ABC:
The botched Manhattan Air Force One flyover photo-op that drew angry criticism from eyewitnesses all the way up to President Obama has now cost Louis Caldera, the director of the White House Military Office, his job. Caldera, who authorized the photo shoot that eyewitnesses said triggered 9/11 flashbacks, resigned this afternoon in a letter effective May 22.
“I have concluded that the controversy surrounding the Presidential Airlift Group’s aerial photo shoot over New York City has made it impossible for me to effectively lead the White House Military Office,” Caldera said in a letter to President Obama. “Moreover, it has become a distraction to the important work you are doing as President. After much reflection, I believe it is incumbent on me to tender my resignation and step down as Director of the White House Military Office.”
The White House also released a photo from the flyover, although let’s be honest – this pic looks more like something taken from a pilot’s Blackberry than a nice, glossy government-issue photo.
Seriously, “We the Taxpayers” paid nearly $350,000 for this stunt. Where are the good pics?
Comments
By Sam on May 9th, 2009 at 11:42 am
I read the report.
No mention of who was on the flight.
Mo mention of where it took off, and where it landed.
And no mention of WHY? (Does AF One need PR?)
Can you imagine if Bush had issued this report? Senator Nancy Graham ought to demand more. But he won’t. He rarely does anything useful.
By ts on May 9th, 2009 at 11:59 am
After all this — it’s not even a good photo. It’s frickin’ eerie.
One of my husbands co-workers was in New York that day. People were literally flipping out — scattering on the sidewalk like ants. I think THAT is the footage in the hands of some lunatic.
There is still something very bizarre about this. More heads should roll.
By Mike on May 9th, 2009 at 10:20 pm
I know the cost of the flight seems ridiculous, but keep in mind that these photo-op flights are actually just standard “currency” flights, where flight crews are keeping their hours up, shooting instrument approaches, etc. (th ephoto runs are just tacked on). The AF1 operation does have some great PR shots, and the USAF outfit who runs that show distributes them to VIP’s, foreign dignitaries, etc. I have a few, and can say that they are GREAT PR for the US, not AF1 (and they’re pretty cool, too).
That said, the issue here was the decision to buzz the freaking same patch of dirt where not that long ago the low-flying aircraft weren’t on such a benign mission. Because the advance PR that could have mitigated that would have presented its own issues in regard to the security of the aircraft, the whole photo op obviously should have been scrubbed. That piece of this thing was so monumentally stupid as to defy description…
By cerius on May 10th, 2009 at 8:25 am
Where’s the pic of George Soros and Michelle “takin’ in the view”?
By Hal on May 10th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Mike..
AF One is on the move constantly. I don’t see how anyone is worried about thier hours.
By Steve on May 10th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Can we say “fall guy.”
By Mike on May 10th, 2009 at 9:15 pm
Hal,
An genuinely understandable position, but most folks don’t know that there are two fully operational birds that share AF1 duties, and “several” flight crews (they keep the exact number close hold, but USAF keeps a deep bench there for obvious reasons). They do move a good bit, but it’s actually a real pain to keep every crew’s ratings current, especially in regard to shooting approaches, since ideally you only get one of those per pilot-in-command, per landing…
Let’s say for the sake of conversation that there were only two or three crews per bird; think about the logistics there for a minute and you’ll know why the currency flights are a pain in the butt for all involved. Every time one of those birds takes off, the whole logistics and security apparatus has to move with, just in case they’re called into duty for an emergency. Nobody enjoys riding on a 747 so they can fly three states away, shoot a dozen approaches at a couple of airports while the pilots jump around and take turns, and then fly home.
By Pat Hendrix on May 11th, 2009 at 8:39 am
Think about all the swine flu pumped into New York by that one flyover. The master plan is unfolding. The dark Islamic Manchurian candidate has started Operation Halal.