Pro environment political candidates + Private Jets =?

Question

When asked the question "how many of you took private or charter jets to the debate tonight" (paraphrasing)...I believe all but one candidate slowly and sheepishly raised their hands.

Mr. Mike Gravel alone spoke up and said that he took...

A TRAIN.

Sure, he was frightfully angry for the whole debate, and hardly asked any questions, but you have to give the man some credit for acknowleging the incredible sexy that is the train.

So I guess the question is, does being a high powered political leader with a busy schedual make private jets ok, or should they take a little extra time and lead by example? What do you think is an appropriate tradeoff between time efficiency and environmental stewardship, especially coming from people who claim to want to lead us in the right direction?

Answer 1

The main reason political candidates usually take private jets is because they're so high profile, private transportation is the easiest way to deal with the security risk of possible assassination attempts, etc.

If I'm ever receiving death threats, or in the public eye almost every night on the news, I'd want a private jet, too! But since I'm not, I'm happy to fly the usual airlines and, when possible, take public transit.

EDIT: I'm talking controversial people. I've never heard of Bob Hope getting assassination threats :-)

Answer 2

I think you can carry this a bit far until alternatives are found!

It is great to take a train, though it is very hard to provide security, and the train wasn't a diesel!

When business starts doing it, or the drivers for Nascar don't park their jets all over my airport, taking a train instead, that includes their trucks they bring up days before they qualify!

I think the race for the presidency is a bit more important than whether Jeff Gordon earns a couple of million this week!

Right direction is fine, but pointing out things that are really non issue at this time! An energy policy that is written by in public, rather than behind closed doors with the oil companies is more important to me!!

Wonder what it costs every time Air Force 1, a modified Boeing 747-200, eats up in JP8? I can tell you a 747's usually eat 5 gallons of gas for every mile (per Boeing), and that doesn't include in-air refueling with a KC-135, if that is what they are using! A Gulfstream usually gets about a 1,000 times better mileage! Burns 60 gal an hour and travels at Mach.88

Let's see what the Republicans use!

Answer 3

Actually Obama, Edwards, and Clinton all raised their hands immediately, all the other candidates beside Gravel hedged, and I seriously doubt he took the train, unless there is proof that passenger trains run to Charleston.

However I am a big believer in leading by example, plus I believe our public officials should never fear the public, if they do then they are not keeping the peoples best interest at heart. Every politician should be ready and willing to use public transportation.

Answer 4

I think that Pro environmental political candidates + Private Jets = A bunch of libs whose own egos place them 'above it all.'

God Bless Gravel. If the libs were going to vote in a candidate, it would be nice to see them actually vote in a puritan instead, of all those others who never step foot upon their own platforms.

EDIT: Bob Hope flew on commercial airlines quite often - so much for the high profile excuse.

Answer 5

Obama does fly commercial pretty frequently. Or at least he used to back in his Senate and Ill. State Senate days.
He had a good perspective on it. His reasoning wasn't environmentalism so much as it was that he didn't like splurging and seeming disconnected from ordinary people. He's talked about how flying commercial opened him up to being able to have conversations with regular people with this or that, like one guy on a plane told him his story about his son's cancer and how he couldn't afford to pay for the treatment because the plant he worked at closed down or something.
One reason why I respect him. He skips frills when he can. At least he used to. It's hard to keep track of him nowadays.

Answer 6

i look at it like this. If a private jet is needed for security reasons, then one should be accessible.. al gore is the former vice president, and it would be a security nightmare for him to fly commercial or travel around in bus convoys. I dont think its really his choice to fly private, but instead, the secret services choice.

Answer 7

I'm pretty sure Gravel will fly private plane too if he raised more money than he has. I doubt he prefers train over private jet.

Answer 8

With proper planning they could all use commercial transportation the vast majority of the time,but that's just for the little people. Even if every American were living as some of them say we have to live in order to protect the environment,they would still be riding around in limos and private jets. Because those rules aren't intended for them. That's why people like them can use transportation for them and their entourages that used up more fuel than the average American will in the next couple of years for one trip,and then stand on a stage and lecture you and I about the way we live. Because we are the little people,what business do we have improving our standard of living if it doesn't meet their guidelines? But those folks never intend for those rules to apply to them,when they finally get us all driving around in little tin can hybrids they will be riding around in private jets and limos.

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Answer 9

Hypocrisy. If they want us to cut back our energy consumption, they should lead by example. I'm already using about 1% of what the Global Warming Guru uses.

Answer 10

If they want me to change my lifestyle on the basis of questionable science, they better be the first to do it.