By John McCormick
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - On the eve of his first campaign trip by train, Sen. Barack Obama talked a bit about the painful reality of planes Friday afternoon.
"Between T.S.A. and security checks, canceled flights, no peanuts anymore, you know, I mean, it's - try to get a blanket, don't have blankets - no pillows, missed connections, so it is clear that the industry is shaky and part of it is not the airlines' fault," he said.
Of course, it has been a while since Obama has flown commercial. For more than a year now, he has shuttled across the land mostly in chartered aircraft.
Still, the Illinois Democrat suggested that it is likely not to get more comfortable in the air until the nation reduces its demand for fossil fuels.
"That means that airlines are going to be continuing to get hard hit," he said. "They will lose money. And if they lose money, then they start cutting corners and when they cut corners, it means bad experiences for you flying."
The discussion was prompted by a question from a man in the audience who asked Obama whether he thought it was again time for the government to more fully regulate airline operations.
"I do think that we have to examine what the regulatory framework is for the airlines," Obama said, while still praising the lower seat prices deregulation has brought for consumers.
"In the current economic environment, there may just not be enough airlines to serve all the various communities that need to be served," he said.
Then, he smartly pivoted to infrastructure and railroads, a mode of transportation soaked in history and pride in this state.
"We used to have the best railroads in the world," he said. "Pennsylvania had the best railroads in the world. I don't know why we can't have decent rail service today. That's something that should be a priority."
Obama will have a chance to ride the rails a bit himself Saturday, when he campaigns by train from Philadelphia to Harrisburg.
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Comments
Obamaboys are "bitter" that Hillary is strong and doesn't fall .. This is the primary ... Not even the general elections ... Hillary is in politics for more than 30 years, Obama didn't really know what it is. This is the difference, which hasn't yet completed the primaries .. maybe Obamaboys "bitter" want that Hillary must yield to a man that no one really knows ... Only for his beautiful speeches can not choose, Hillary isn't perfect and neither is Obama ...
Go Hillary!
Yes She Will !!
Posted by: Nuccia | April 19, 2008 5:17 AM
So people can't fly from DC to Hollywood without a bag of peanuts? I thought the airlines originally served meals because of the time of day (very early morning or late at night) or as an enticement (not any more if you've eaten plane food lately), not something you should ever expect. I'd rather have the cheap seats than the peanuts. And, maybe they can't serve peanuts anymore because of food allergies.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | April 19, 2008 6:59 AM
"...(Is) it ... again time for the government to more fully regulate airline operations(?)"
WOW!
This audience member should have been in Philly, not Gibson or Steffy. He gets it. He asks a genuine ISSUES question, not a something about how many flag pins does Barack have in his dresser drawers.
But Obama's answer was lacking.
Here's my feeling. If the airlines are failing, the government MUST help. But the price for that help IS more govenment oversight.
That's social capitalism. And if you dislike it, well, consider this. The most "capitalistic" countries in the world are the poorest. The countries of Western Europe, the U.S. and Candaa (which all have elements of socialism in them) are hands down better off than those countries were anything goes.
Posted by: Bud McFarlin | April 19, 2008 7:04 AM
Truckers are complaining about high cost of diesel fuels. What is really needed in America is to build a network of regional railroad terminals near large metropolitan areas to facilitate quick methods of transferring piggyback trailers to truck cabs.
Trains use one-fourth the diesel fuel compared to trucks. In the past ten years truck freight has increased four times greater than trains even though trains are more economical and fuel efficient than diesel long haul trucks. The reason shippers use trucks is because they are faster than trains because train rails are owned by numerous companies and track right of way issues slow freight time for trains. Even though trains could travel non-stop night and day, it takes longer by train than long haul trucks to move coast to coast. The total amount of diesel fuel savings that could be saved is staggering. Truck drivers would still be needed to move the trailers from local terminal locations to end destinations, only they could go home every night..
Government needs to step in to speed up movement of freight and passenger rail traffic instead of building more highways. We need to take action to break the oil cartels stranglehold on America. .
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Posted by: rudym | April 19, 2008 9:17 AM
He is SO superior, isn't he? It must be nice to fret over not having a baag of peanuts or a security blankie!!!!!
PATHETIC!
Clinton vs. McCain in November...they care about American PEOPLE vs. Peanuts!
Posted by: Sean McM | April 19, 2008 12:16 PM
B Hussein Obama is saying things will get better on planes when we reduce fossil fuels, a typical Sierra Club line designed to take America back to the 18th Century.Democrat socialists like Gore and Obama don't care if ouir economy slows they want it to. The socialist Democrats don't strive for excellence in our economy they aim straight for the bottom. Conservation never helped anybody its a liberal code for stop the world we want to get off.Jerry White, Springfield, IL P.S. We must drill for oil in the Gulf and in ANWAR and build refineries alternative fuels don't work yet wind turbines kill birds and it's very costly for the return on investment. Using corn for fuel is stupid it raises food prices and is not as good as gas and oil.I'm observing Earth Day by worshiping Almighty God not Mother Earth as the environmental wackos do.Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | April 19, 2008 4:06 PM