Nick Timiraos reports from Wilkes-Barre Pa. on the presidential race.
Published: 04-21-08
Sen. Barack Obama said he fully supports a congressional investigation of the awarding of a Pentagon contract last month to Europe’s Airbus which teamed up with Northrop Grumman to beat out Chicago-based Boeing Co.
Boeing had been heavily favored to win the contract worth up to $40 billion for the next generation of Air Force refueling tankers. The Illinois senator admitted his bias towards Boeing because it is headquartered in his hometown of Chicago.
Obama had expressed his disappointment over the deal when the decision was announced. “If we’re going to create an enormous contract for the U.S. military I would think we would want … U.S. companies that are employing U.S. workers” he said Tuesday.
But he said that it was important for Congress to investigate whether Boeing’s bid had been competitive. If it wasn’t then maybe the Pentagon had made a good deal he said.
“If Airbus was saving the Pentagon 50 25 or even 15 or 10 percent then maybe they could make a credible argument for it” Obama said.
Disaffection with free trade has become a big election in issue in rust belt states like Pennsylvania and Indiana which have upcoming primary elections.
Obama said that despite his criticism of free trade deals he cautioned against protectionist sentiments. “Those who want to draw a moat around America it’s not going to work” he said.
