Tanker Rebid May Hurt McCain's Chances

Nice to see that someone's making the connection:

clipped from www.politico.com As the Pentagon mounts a new effort to buy $35 billion in aerial refueling tankers, the controversy engulfing the competition could haunt John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. McCain helped ensure that Northrop Grumman and its partner, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co., remained in the competition against Boeing Co. And Boeing supporters may start asking about his role. “I have to think there will be some question about the obvious external pressure that this group was experiencing,” said George Behan, spokesman for Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.). The congressman is not a member of the House subcommittee but plans to sit in on its hearing. McCain has a long history with the tanker program. He helped derail an earlier sole-source lease deal with Boeing that ended in a scandal for the company and the Air Force.

The bid for the tanker was set for a redo because of "significant errors" in the original process. Given McCain's history here, his fingerprints should be all over the problem.

Here's hoping it also opens up the issue of McCain's cozy relationship with defense contractors and his involvement in the pork project/scam of the "missile shield."