It's always been easy to complain about getting stuck in an airport or on a tarmac for hours. Now the GOP hopes to use that agitation against President Obama.
It’s always been easy to complain about getting stuck in an airport or on the tarmac. Now the GOP hopes to turn that frustration into a political punching bag.
Republicans are reaching out on Twitter to capture some of the anger passengers are feeling about widespread airport delays and channel it against President Obama. Sequestration cuts have forced the FAA to furlough air traffic controllers and other employees in order to meet a mandatory 5% savings, resulting in increased delays at some major airports across the country.
Using the hashtag #ObamaFlightDelays, party leaders created a chorus of disgruntled airline customers lamenting their airport problems and blaming it on the president:
#ObamaFlightDelays part of @whitehouse’s “never-ending effort to extort further tax increases” j.mp/14c87ht @debrajsaunders— Speaker John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) April 25, 2013
Delayed 1.5 hrs at Detroit airport bc Prez wants to use FAA as political football. At least DTW has starbucks and wifi. #ObamaFlightDelays— Reince Priebus (@Reince) April 23, 2013
Why is President Obama unnecessarily delaying your flight? FAA could cut other spending. on.wsj.com/15BSzDm#ObamaFlightDelays— Eric Cantor (@GOPLeader) April 23, 2013
Hearing more stories abt FAA travel delays. Want to make sure the Admin hears from you. What has your experience been? #ObamaFlightDelays —Rob Portman (@robportman) April 23, 2013
Air traffic controllers furloughed, #Obamacare workers still on the job 1.usa.gov/12KJHsA#ObamaFlightDelays#Unfair — Energy and Commerce (@HouseCommerce) April 25, 2013
No flight should be delayed or cancelled because of politics. gingrichproductions.com/2013/04/maximu…#ObamaFlightDelays— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) April 24, 2013
Continuing to experience flight delays? Call the WH at 202-456-1111. bit.ly/17S7AR9#ObamaFlightDelays— RNC (@GOP) April 25, 2013
Cornyn on #ObamaFlightDelays: “phony” and “contrived:” fb.me/206hisY9N — JohnCornyn (@JohnCornyn) April 24, 2013
.@richlowry: The air traffic controller furloughs are the White House tours of the sky. politi.co/14S51jn#ObamaFlightDelays — Senate Republicans (@Senate_GOPs) April 25, 2013
Ridiculous lines at Dulles airport from #ObamaFlightDelays while Obama teaches us a lesson. twitter.com/jeffcrank/stat…— Jeff Crank (@jeffcrank) April 25, 2013
Wednesday, the FAA reported 863 delays attributed to staffing reductions. There were 2,132 delays as a result of weather.
Senators have been scrambling to find a fix for the FAA furloughs before they leave D.C. on Friday for a week-long recess. The White House announced Tuesday that it would be open to legislation that would allow air traffic controllers to resume work.
