Fact check: False claim that Pelosi travels weekly on 200-seat Boeing airplane

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The claim: Pelosi travels weekly to California on a 200-seat Boeing that costs millions annually in fuel

For more than a decade, social media users have claimed that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi travels to her home state of California every weekend on a 200-seat Boeing 757.

That claim has now resurfaced in a Feb. 21 Facebook post with over 2,000 shares that reads, "Speaker Pelosi flys (sic) home to CA every week. She leaves on Friday & returns on Monday."

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Claims reportedly date back to 2007

The claim that Pelosi travels to California every weekend on an expensive Boeing 757 have been circulating on the internet since at least 2008, when it was first debunked by FactCheck.org.

-more-

https://www.yahoo.com/news/fact-check-false-claim-pelosi-212354211.html

[exboyfil]

1. She is number 3 in Presidential sucession

The President and VP are together often. She shouldn't even be travelling commercial. In an instant she could be President.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. I am inclined to suggest that she, and every other member of Congress

should simply fly regularly scheduled passenger flights.

I remember when Richard Nixon actually did that. At the time I was a ticket agent at Washington National Airport, and we were all highly amused that he chose to fly commercial. Of course, as soon as that was announced, no one else was allowed to book on that flight, and I'm sure the Secret Service had total conniption fits.

As someone who worked at DCA (this was 1969-1979) I can tell you we had little patience with those who claimed privilege. At the time, there was actually a separate parking lot for Supreme Court Judges. I'm sorry, but as far as I'm concerned everyone can compete for parking spaces. Or take a taxi. These days, Uber. I cannot tell you how many times some lower level jerk would demand, "Don't you know who I am??" No, I don't. And honestly, I don't give a flying fuck.

My personal favorite story of privilege was when Admiral Rickover sent a flunky over to the airport to buy a ticket for him to fly somewhere a few days later. The flunky wanted me to write a military discount ticket. I balked, because the person in front of me was not the person who would be flying. I wrote, in very large capital letters on the ticket: MUST SHOW MILITARY ID CARD.

I had no use for flunkies, or any other attempts to run around the rules.

[bottomofthehill]

4. The Speaker as the head of the Legislative Branch

Is the only person who does not fly commercial. She is second in line to the President.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

5. Pfffft. As a former airline employee, I'm completely

unimpressed by that argument.

I'd love to see the President flying commercially every time. Then maybe some of the problems with commercial air travel would be resolved.

Honestly, I'm a huge believer in equality, and everyone experiencing the same stuff.

[secondwind]

7. Pelosi is Pelosi...

Not just an “ ordinary “ passenger. I disagree with your assessment.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

8. Meh. Why is anyone other than an ordinary passenger?

Again, as an airline employee who dealt with all sorts of supposed "not ordinary" passengers,
I'll say Pfffft. Remind me again why she, or anyone else deserves special privileges? Really?

I'm of the "We really are all equal" is nonsense. We are not all equal. There are many and various levels of privilege.

When I was an airline employee, when I worked at DCA (Washington National Airport) from 1969 to 1979, I constantly came up against people who claimed privilege. And honestly, as someone who worked at the airport, who dealt with lots and lots of passengers, some of whom were actually privileged, I say, no. Nancy Pelosi can travel just like the rest of us. And chances are, she'd benefit from that. She'd actually have to travel just like the rest of us. How egalitarian would that be?

Back then(referring to my airline employee experience), and continuing to now, I have zero tolerance for such bullshit. I long ago decided that EVERYONE needs to be subject to the same rules. Think about it in the current world.

[Cartoonist]

3. That's why I don't run for office.

I couldn't handle that commute, even in first class.

[musette_sf]

6. I sat next to Rep Pelosi

in coach on Virgin America.