White House aide resigns over NYC flyover

WASHINGTON (AP) - A top White House aide resigned Friday for his role in Air Force One’s $328,835 photo-op flyover above New York City that sparked panic and flashbacks to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Louis Caldera said the controversy had made it impossible for him to effectively lead the White House Military Office.

“Moreover, it has become a distraction in the important work you are doing as president,” Caldera said in his resignation letter to President Barack Obama.

The sight of the huge passenger jet and an F-16 fighter plane flying past the Statue of Liberty and the lower Manhattan financial district sent panicked office workers streaming into the streets on April 27. Obama said it would not happen again.

Caldera’s office approved the photo-op, which cost $35,000 in fuel alone for the plane and two jet fighter escorts. The Air Force estimated the photo shoot cost taxpayers $328,835.

White House officials said the flight was designed to update the official photo of the plane, known as Air Force One when the president is aboard. The White House released a photo of the blue-and-white plane high above the Statue of Liberty, with New Jersey in the background.

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White House aide resigns over NYC flyover

OK, it’s a nice picture. Air Force 1 looks great, the Statue of Liberty is beautiful. In fact, it’s a fantastic picture. It makes me proud to see AF-1 and the Statue of Liberty in this flyover.

I’m pretty sure that it instills a sense of patriotism in many Americans, and well it should. These are highly recognized symbols of our great nation. They represent the office of the president and the freedoms that ALL Americans currently enjoy!

That said, I have to ask this question. In this time of job loss, recession, bailouts, money matters, home foreclosures and all of the other financial maladies the United States of America is currently facing, is this picture worth $328,835 of U.S. taxpayer dollars?

Not in MY opinion. Somehow, I can’t help but believe that this $328,835 could have been better spent on a much more needed service for at least some of the American people!

It appears that this White House aide, Louis Caldera, is going to fall on his sword like a good troop and protect the integrity of the office of president. I have to wonder, given the recent LIES told by the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, regarding her supposed lack of knowledge concerning water boarding and other enhanced interrogation tactics, is Louis Caldera the top of the chain? Or did certain other White House officials, or perhaps a noted resident OF the White House know this was being done?

Do you think we’ll ever get a straight answer on that question?

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