Air Force One Photo Released. Was It Worth It?

Many of you called for someone's job when a backup Air Force One and an F-16 fighter jet buzzed the Statue of Liberty for a photo op April 27. Today, President Obama accepted the resignation of his military office director for staging the flyover that sparked panic in lower Manhattan. Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the flyover was not adequately reviewed and approved by senior officials.
After originally refusing to let the public see the photo taken at a cost of 328,835 tax dollars, today the White House released it. Check out the action shot at http://www.ny1.com, then let us know if you think it's worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, mayhem in lower Manhattan and a White House aide's career. Are you satisfied someone lost his job over the misguided stunt? Was releasing the photo the right move?
E-mail your thoughts, along with your first name and neighborhood, to the address above.

Gee, someone's listening to you guys. For weeks you called for a shake-up with MTA managment, and you got it. And then, you called for the resignation of the person responisble for this idiotic flyover, and you got that, too.

I agree the unannounced flyover was insenstive, and in politics, it seems the only way to get rid of the controversy is to get rid of someone linked to it. In this case, it was President Obama's military office director. Was he the only one responsible for it? Absolutely not. But, he's certainly a good person to pin it on. He's someone who can easily be replaced. And, by ousting him, the Obama administration is hoping it will wipe away the bad publicity.

This is a silly story to distract us from important things like the economy. This guy resigns over this and Bush/Cheney who committed crimes against humanity go off into the sunset. Pity.

Rich Midtown East

Please tell me who else, besides Louis Caldera, thought this was a "great photo op"!?!?! How can anyone with any common sense sit in a "meeting" on this decision and not think for a minute someone in NY would find it so insensitive to all of us who live, work and have died here!!! Shame on all of those involved!!!

Donna from Woodside

Oh, Boo Hoo! Enough with people getting upset over seeing planes downtown, get over it already! Someone has to resign, get fired, get in trouble, etc etc etc - because what, people cant handle getting upset ? Too bad. Deal with it.

Esmerelda
East Village

I am outraged that any person other than the President of the United States took responsibility for the fright caused by the Air Force photo shoot -

We have always been told time after time that the President of the U.S. is the Commander-In-Chief of the armed forces and all of their actions, therefore, whatever occurrs falls under his wing - no pun intended - and President Obama should be the one apologizing loud and clear to the entire country that he is in charge, he is sorry, and he is responsible and that this will never happen again.

He is Commander-In-Chief -- this falls under him. He assumes responsibility. No one should have lost their job over this unfortunate scare - but our President should be comforting us, not accepting resignations.

Anonymous

I could have Photoshopped Air Force 1 into a decent aerial picture for about $50. Look at how I pimped out the plane with a NY1 logo and Schiumo's name in 10 minutes.

Rob
Gramercy

Of course some or many people had to be responsible for this incident and should have lost their job but this is not just a little mistake. Again I have to mention this Mayor. When reporters were still asking questions about the incident he said very nasty like that what do you want them to do they did apologize. The trade off for the incident is that the Statue of Liberty crown is going to open to the tourists and it will be by lottery. You know to me this mayor is a skunk. As usual there are so many Friday evening news stories and the response to them will have to wait till next week.

maxxiee
mp

Do you see what I see? No one meant any harm. People reacted as expected under the circumstances. However, how many of those will we allow before it's the real thing? Imagine ... we stop paying attention to such situations?"Oh its just another photo-shoot ..."
And then we get caught off guard. A line must be drawn in terms of what is to be allowed due to our home security.

Arturo
Manhattan

Why did they need to do a "real" flight. Everything is virtual these days. Some pc genius could have "created" the

Madeleine in Queens

If no one really knew about this flight wouldn't it have been shot down...post 911 in secure air territory.

Mikhail

I understand people might have gotten hurt, but this goes to show how terrorists are still winning over freedom! Bush said it, we have to live on and show the terrorists we will not live in fear forever. After 911, the world will never be the same and its sad to see that people overreact over something which was overlooked prior 911.

Cesar

I think that is ridiculous to think that this poor guy who is taking the fall for this is responsible. This is politics as usual, if Bush was in office people would be screaming impeachment. You mean to tell me that the president had no idea about the photo OP...I am sure his cabinet ordered it. This all goes back to the same old story of this administration spend first and think later!

Mike

The Photo Op was not at all worth. It was a complete blunder! Someone should be accountable for this stupid decision. I was one of the professionals in lower manhattan who had to evacuate. We were all scaaared at we rushed down 43 flights of stairs without any knowledge of what was happening. STUPID!!!

virginea

We all know the impact "911" had on so many of us, why are we blaming one person for this mess? Caldero isn't the only one to blame: NYC officials knew about it - but failed to tell the "Mayor." There should be mass resignations or terminations.

Liz
Rosedale

In regards to the presidential plane, why is the media and everyone letting Obama off the hook so easily? You know if Bush were the current President, everyone would be all over him, accusing him of actually knowing about the marketing campaign. Or they'd turn it around and say. "How can this guy run our country when he doesn't even know what is going in his own White House?"

John

Are you kidding??? This guy was a political appointee by obama...every other former head of this dept for EVERY past pres has been military active or ret.

Ed Water--Bay Ridge

In retrospect no but it woudn't have been an issue if the P.R. campaign went according to plan. Should they have released the picture? Absolutely! We've heard so much about it and we all want to see it. Especially if someone lost their job that wouldv'e been a waste!

Greg form Corona

President Obama has a difficult job given the previous administration and this photograph establishes that times have changed and that his plan will bring the hope that he campaigned for.

JL

This guy who sanctioned the flyover deserves to be fired. He should also be help responsible for the cost to the taxpayers. $328,000. It should come out of his salary.

Rock MH