Obama didn’t influence tanker contest – report

Published 1:38 pm Tuesday, March 1, 2011

White House officials say they didn’t influence the Air Force’s $30 billion tanker contest in this Reuters report.

The Air Force awarded the contract last week to the Boeing Co. The company’s rival, EADS, met with Air Force officials yesterday and have until next week to decide whether to protest the decision.

Rich Michalski, vice president for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, one of Boeing’s largest unions, suggested in comments made after the tanker announcement last week that President Barack Obama listened to the union, which lobbied in suport of Boeing’s tanker.

Obama’s influence also had been questioned by Sen. Richard Shelby, who represents Alabama where EADS would have built its tanker.

“I’m disappointed, but not surprised. Only Chicago politics could tip the scales in favor of Boeing’s inferior plane. EADS clearly offers the more capable aircraft,” Shelby said in a statement last week.

Boeing’s headquarters are in Chicago, where Obama calls home.