Help! I have a Repub friend almost ready to switch over but I need some info...

[Indiana_Dem]

He asked me if I could find any info on a "less than complimetary" statement Obama made in one of his speeches last week regarding the company he works for, Rolls Royce. He says it might be something about the F136 (alternate) engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter....

Anybody hear anything about this?! He's really on the edge and likes Obama. He even caught the brunt end of the stick for sticking up for Dems and the public option to some Repub friends who've been involved in the Tea Party crap the other day.

[LiberalAndProud]

1. link

http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/4058-obama-cuts-target-465m-ge-rolls-royce-engine

[Indiana_Dem]

7. Thank you! nt

[sinkingfeeling]

2. This isn't from a week ago, but might be what the guy is talking about.

http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/4058-obama-cuts-target-465m-ge-rolls-royce-engine

The Pentagon will scrap $465 million in funding for the Joint Strike Fighter alternative engine in a move sure to roil supporters in Congress.

President Obama singled out the elimination of the engine’s funding in remarks Thursday on the budget, which proposes $17 billion in cuts. About half of those cuts come to defense programs, most of which were previously announced.

Obama said the alternative engine built by General Electric and Britain’s Rolls-Royce is one of several “unnecessary defense programs that do nothing to keep us safe.” He also noted the Pentagon has resisted funding for the engine for years.

[Ian David]

3. He also noted the Pentagon has resisted funding for the engine for years.

He also noted the Pentagon has resisted funding for the engine for years. ... in other words, even under The Bush Administration.

And aren't we supposed to "listen to the Generals?"

That’s why the Pentagon stopped requesting this funding two years ago. Yet it’s still being funded.” Again, during The Bush Administration.

Congress has provided funding to GE and Rolls-Royce for the alternate-engine program since 1996. In other words, you can thank Democratic President Bill Clinton for giving you guys the contract in the first place.


...the decision to scrap the Rolls-Royce engine already caused tension during the Bush presidency, which tried without success to get Congress to end the program.

[Indiana_Dem]

5. Thank you VERY much!!! You're good! :)

[sailor65]

4. Here's a link that will help with details

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/f-35-prop.htm

I don't think Obama's position is necessarily uncomplimentary, although misguided. More significant is the fact that time and again the Rolls Royce program has proven superior to the base 135, both in performance and cost.

Also, if your friend is based in Indy, as I guess, he should be ok since Indy is doing the Lift Fan, and that is a common component (A nicely done component I might add, I've seen it).

[Indiana_Dem]

6. Oh good! Tht's awesome! Thanks for the encouragement! nt