The American Spectator

The Spectacle Blog

Some folks may have seen the NBC report last night about members of Congress using private or corporate jets for travel purposes.

The report almost exclusively attacked Republicans, and particularly targeted Sen. George Allen's use of corporate jets. How did NBC arrive at attacking Allen, particularly when Democrats such as Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Dick Durbin often use corporate facilities for travel?

From what we hear, NBC congressional reporter Lisa Myers picked Allen after she learned that the Senator (who is up for re-election this year) took a corporate jet from Memphis earlier this spring to get back to Washington. In fact, cameras were present at the Memphis airport to film Allen's boarding the plance.

How did Myers know about Allen's travel plans? Because Allen was coming to Washington to attend the Gridiron Dinner.

And who had invited Allen? Why, none other than Myers' boss, Washington Bureau Chief Tim Russert.

Allen has begun responding to the emails he's getting from constitutents from the report. It's a reasoned letter, but we expect that the NBC report will become fodder for TV advertising by the Democrats in the fall.

topics:
Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, NATO