Again as predicted: Louis Caldera, the White House official who approved the buzzing of Manhattan by a backup “Air Force One” and a couple of F-16 fighters has resigned.
The White House aide who authorized the controversial Air Force One photo-op flight last week around the Statue of Liberty is out of a job.
President Obama has accepted the resignation of Louis Caldera, the director of the White House Military Office, the Daily News learned Friday.
A secretary of the Army in the Clinton administration, Caldera took the fall for the public relations fiasco arising from the April 27 flyover, which was designed to replace a publicity photo of Air Force One flying past Mount Rushmore with a similar shot of Obama’s 747 jumbo jet over the Statue of Liberty.
The photo session cost taxpayers $329,000.
The White House is not, apparently, trying to sugar coat this – the press is reporting that Caldera is “taking the fall” for the decision. The White House also quietly handed out the photos that were taken at Caldera’s behest. Another example of Obama Speak – the White House quite firmly said it had no intention of releasing the photos only three days ago.
Questions that come to mind here: Who, exactly, approved Caldera’s ordering of the overflight? If it was someone higher up in the administration, why don’t we see that person also taking a fall for this? If nobody approved Caldera’s actions, what does that say about the way the administration is being run?
Either way, there is a problem here that Caldera’s resignation does not address.
From buzzing NYC to under the bus.
Rahm Emanuel is the Chief of Staff. Caldera answers to him. You telling me he was never briefed on this?