Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) used Twitter to reaffirm his willingness to cut the F-22 Raptor from the National Defense Authorization Act, which provides funding to military and defense agencies.
McCain, who is ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, tweeted in response to a tweet and blog post by ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jake Tapper:
POTUS, @SenJohnMcCain unite to eliminate F-22 Raptor > http://bit.ly/3pmCK6
@jaketapper But I do support the Joint Strike Fighter, which will give us the balance we need.
Tapper wrote that:
President Obama and his former election rival Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., have found common cause: they are both seeking to eliminate the F-22 fighter jet from the National Defense Authorization Act.
In letters to McCain, the ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and the committee chair, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., the president urged his support for efforts to eliminate funding for the F-22 “Raptor” beyond the existing contract. (Read the letters HERE.)
Obama pledged to veto the bill if it reached his desk with the F-22 project still included. However, McCain and Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) failed to eliminate funding for the fighter jet during committee markups.
Tapper asked:
@senjohnmccain If you, Levin, POTUS, Gates + [Mullen want the F-22 killed why do u think it looks like it will survive?
The ABC newsman referred to Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen.
Twitter Room will keep you updated if and when Sen. McCain responds to Tapper’s inquiry.