Tanker Truths

01 Apr 2008
Barack Obama responds to Air Force's choice of Northrop Grumman
In an appearance today in Wilkes Barre, PA, Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama responded to a question concerning the United States Air Force decision to award the contract to provide America's New Tanker to Northrop Grumman Corporation. The Chicago Tribune political blog, The Swamp, highlighted the Senator's comments.

With all due respect to Senator Obama, it appears as if he may not be fully informed. He told his audience, "I don't mind the Pentagon procuring from other countries. But when we you've got such an enormous contract for such a vital piece of our U.S. military arsenal, it strikes me that we should have identified a US company that could do it."

The fact of the matter is, the Air Force did identify an American company that could do it. That company is Northrop Grumman, the American firm that has been awarded the contract. Furthermore, Northrop Grumman has identified 230 American companies located in 49 states that will act as suppliers and support 48,000 American jobs as a result of the Air Force decision.

In fact, since he was campaigning in Pennsylvania, Senator Obama may find it interesting that 800 of those 48,000 jobs will be in the Keystone state, where there will be a direct annual investment of $43.4 million. In his home state of Illinois, the contract will result in a 4,300 jobs and will generate $2 billion in annual economic activity.

To read the full posting, go to: http://weblogs.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/blog/2008/04/
obama_criticizes_airbus_tanker.html

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