GOP tried to recruit hero pilot 'Sully' Sullenberger for 2010 bid

[cal04]

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/61179-gop-recruited-hero-captain-sully-for-2010-congress-run-

Republicans earlier this year tried to convince hero Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger to run for a congressional seat in California.

Sullenberger, a registered Republican whose textbook landing in the Hudson River in January was labeled a miracle, made it clear through his business manager that he was not interested, according to multiple sources familiar with the effort

The GOP wanted Sullenberger, 58, to run against Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.), the second-term congressman who represents Sullenberger’s hometown of Danville.

(snip)
"Capt. Sullenberger has repeatedly stated that he has no desire to run for office," said Alex Clemens, a San Francisco publicist who represents Sullenberger. The captain is happy with the job he has trained his whole life for, Clemens said.

He has not donated money to political campaigns over the last two decades, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, but he has been involved with his union. Sullenberger was chairman of a safety committee within the Airline Pilots Association.

[joeybee12]

1. Smart guy..."has no desire to run for public office"

Gotta have a thick skin and put your family through hell.

[madokie]

2. He's a classy man so being in government couldn't be all wrong, could it?

[Thickasabrick]

3. He was a union member and supporter. Why oh why would he be

a registered republican?

[hamsterjill]

6. Exactly what I was thinking!

A total contradiction!

[CurtEastPoint]

11. From friends who are flight attendants: MOST pilots are repubes n/t

[ddeclue]

12. Military officer background. Airline pilots tend to be less likely to be Dems than other unions

especially ex-military.

[XemaSab]

13. Why would they put a union member up as a candidate for a party

with an avowed anti-union platform?

[CTyankee]

15. It could be that his family was all Republican and he can't consider another way to be.

Not everyone is as involved politically as we are, hard as it is for us to imagine here at DU! I don't think that makes him a bad guy...he obviously cared very much for his passengers and has been a total mensch about his heroism and subsequent fame. It makes no difference to me. I don't see it as a character flaw. He probably just doesn't think about it as fiercely as we do...

[Xipe Totec]

4. Probably one of the last remaining real Republicans n/t

[proteus_lives]

9. A few do exist.

The GOP has bounties on their heads.

[Xipe Totec]

14. And here I thought we were alone...

[proteus_lives]

16. I shouldn't laugh....

But I am!

:rofl:

[Contrary1]

5. Looking for a new hero to run?

They should consider Glenn Beck. :rofl:

[Not Me]

7. Jeff Zazlow's (The Last Lecture) new book on Sully

is coming out on 10/13.

Synopsis
Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger became one of the most recognized men in America when he landed US Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River in January of 2009, narrowing averting disaster. Now, in this gripping memoir, the pilot New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg dubbed “Captain Cool” recounts not just the details of that harrowing five minute and eight second flight, but also the lifetime of flight training leading up to it, and the intriguing aftermath of the incident.

[Ezlivin]

8. He knew that even God couldn't pilot the crippled GOP craft to a safe landing

Buh-bye!

[Gormy Cuss]

10. Not a surprising move -- they'd love to have Pombo's seat back

just so there would be at least ONE GOPer in Congress from the Bay area.
:rofl:

Sully's going back to work as a pilot. Smart man.