Obama Ditches the American Flag

[snopes]

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/airplane.asp

[Lainie]

If he made his plane look more like AF1, someone would no doubt complain that he was being presumptuous.

[snopes]

As far as I can tell, this is what Obama's campaign plane does/did look like:



- snopes

You know, I think it's time America had a leader who is more concerned about issues than symbols. I swear there are religious folks that were less fervent about their god than some Americans about their flag

[AnglRdr]

This pic from WSJ doesn't look like it is any of those planes (but the Chicago Sun-Times did have the pics of the "Obama"-themed plane).

[Tarquin Farquart]

Originally Posted by snopes

Not only is his plane's symbolism unpatriotic, it is
also narcissistic.

Having your own plane is fairly narcissistic in itself.

[snopes]

Surely there must be some aviation buffs here ...

Barack Obama's previous campaign plane is described in press accounts as an MD-80, while his new campaign plane is described as a 757. So, did they re-do the outside of the original plane, or did he recently acquire an entirely different campaign plane?

- snopes

[AnglRdr]

Originally Posted by snopes

Surely there must be some aviation buffs here ...

Barack Obama's previous campaign plane is described in press accounts as an MD-80, while his new campaign plane is described as a 757. So, did they re-do the outside of the original plane, or did he recently acquire an entirely different campaign plane?

- snopes

Or he switches them up frequently. In January, he got a 737-800 (the pic is a 747, though).

It seems from various articles that I am reading that he did not take the new O-mobile overseas, so that might help to explain the differing aircraft designated as his campaign plane.

[BoKu]

Originally Posted by Tarquin Farquart

Having your own plane is fairly narcissistic in itself.

I disagree. But that's just me.

[BoKu]

Originally Posted by snopes

Surely there must be some aviation buffs here ...

Barack Obama's previous campaign plane is described in press accounts as an MD-80, while his new campaign plane is described as a 757. So, did they re-do the outside of the original plane, or did he recently acquire an entirely different campaign plane?

- snopes

Courtesy Faux news:

The North American jet that flew Obama and his traveling crew around for much of the primary season was refurbished with new seats and power for each passenger a must on the campaign trail. And the plane that once had an American flag on its tail now sports the Obama “O.” “Change We Can Believe In” and the candidate’s website are splayed across both sides of the fuselage, making this 757 anything but inconspicuous.

[lord_feldon]

Originally Posted by idiot commenter

This means, of course, that the people of Afghanistan,
Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Germany, and other countries will see a plane
without an American flag

Really? There's no flag on the plane? I guess that red, white, and blue thing by the registration number is just a spot on the lens, then.

Originally Posted by idiot commenter

As a patriotic American citizen, I've been somewhat
concerned about Barack Obama's failure to put his hand over his heart
during the playing of the National Anthem as well as his blather when he
was forced to explain why he didn't wear the popular flag pin.

Then you have way, way too much time on your hands. Go get a hobby. It'll help your blood pressure.

[Mickey Blue]

Because patriotism isn't wanting whats best for your country, it isn't about trying to build your country up or move it in a direction that will bring it prosperity, its not about trying to help people or build relationships*.

No, patriotism is clinging blindly to a symbol in every way possible, be it flying in front of your house, stuck to the back of your car, crawling its way into your butt crack or, yes, painted on the back of your plane.

Honestly, I have no idea why Obama did or didn't keep a flag on his plane but when he said he would not wear the pin because he did not like the politization of the American flag I was damned proud, its about time somebody stood up to these idiots and it made me feel that, even if it was overall a small thing, he was willing to stand up for what he believed in even if it was lible to hurt him.

-MB

*Note, of course people may disagree with how he does these things, politics being what they are, but I believe he is trying to do these things, which I view as patriotic.

[snopes]

Originally Posted by lord_feldon

Really? There's no flag on the plane? I guess that red, white, and blue thing by the registration number is just a spot on the lens, then.

Which picture are you referring to?

- snopes

[BoKu]

Originally Posted by snopes

Which picture are you referring to?

- snopes

Probably this one.

Thanks, Bob "Lapel Switching" K.

[lord_feldon]

It seems that having special liveries for campaign plane's is fairly recent (within the past 20 years), although having a campaign plane at all is probably only 50 years old.

Kerry's plane; had a flag.

Bush's plane in 2000; had a (familiar-looking) flag

Bob Dole's plane; had a flag

Dukakis' plane; no flag, but it was only February

Mondale's plane (maybe); no flag

Reagan's plane (maybe, the description isn't clear enough); No flag and foreign

[lord_feldon]

Originally Posted by snopes

Which picture are you referring to?

The second one. The picture BoKu found is much clearer, though.

[Mycroft]

As far as I can tell (which is not much due to the nature of the OP) the plane when operated by North American Airlines as a standard charter role retained its company colour scheme (including flag tail). It has recently changed its colour scheme to that shown above (although it has been dedicated to the campaign since March).
Essentially therefore the facts are true, but done for publicity/identification reasons rather than 'Barack Obama hates America'. I wonder if there would have been any notice if the plane had not previously carried the US flag as a logo, and what McCain's plane looks like

[Keeper of the Mad Bunnies]

Could not find a photo of the plane, but it is described here and a partial picture.

The plane, paid for by the campaign (media riders reimburse the campaign for their shares), had been refurbished to re-create an airborne version of the Straight Talk Express bus, McCain's signature campaign vehicle, and replaced a plane leased from Jet Blue.

The plane's outer shell was repainted, as well, with McCain’s motto "Reform, Prosperity, Peace" on the side and the campaign's Web address -- www.johnmccain.com -- on the blue-and-gold tail.

[Ramblin' Dave]

Originally Posted by Tarquin Farquart

Having your own plane is fairly narcissistic in itself.

Yes, but probably necessary if you're going to run an effective campaign for president of the USA.

[keokuk]

Originally Posted by Ramblin' Dave

Yes, but probably necessary if you're going to run an effective campaign for president of the USA.

The plane or the narcissism?