# Kerry Campaign Stiffs Airport **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 24, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711 "2004-07-24T19:26:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711/1 "2004-07-24T19:26:04Z")
**[Island Airport Wants Its Share of John Kerry Catering Bill](http://www.capecodonline.com/cctimes/islandairport23.htm)** - July 23, 2004, _Cape Cod Times_ > [@](#): > > By LOMI KRIEL, STAFF WRITER > NANTUCKET -When the biggest plane to ever land on the island touched down with U.S. Sen. John Kerry and his entourage, airport manager Al Peterson never imagined he would have trouble getting paid. > > Kerry just raised a record-breaking $99.2 million in three months, and his personal finances reach the $1 billion threshold with his wife, Theresa Heinz Kerry. > > But a caterer who bought food on the island for Kerry’s campaign jet ducked one bill and haggled over another. > > “Apparently they don’t feel like he needs to pay fees to the airport,” Peterson said. “I gather the senator objects to that because his aide quoted him as saying that he already pays taxes on the island.” > > Peterson is out $847 from the two visits Kerry has paid to the island since he became the presumptive Democratic nominee. > > \< snipped for fair use considerations \> > > According to Peterson, Lalka told him that he represented the Kerry campaign and the candidate did not feel he needed to pay the fees because he already pays taxes on Nantucket. > > The airport has never had a problem with other passengers paying handling fees, Peterson said. > > And it’s not that the cobbled streets of Nantucket are untouched by fame. The island has long been host to many a celebrity’s summer vacation including other political heavyweights like Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee. The island is also a getaway for actor Jim Carrey and crooner Harry Connick Jr. > > “But everyone else pays a catering fee,” Peterson said. > > \< snipped for fair use considerations \> > > During most of the primaries Kerry flew on a succession of chartered jets, but he upgraded to the customized campaign plane now emblazoned with his name when it became clear he had secured the Democratic nomination. > > \< snipped \> > > The Boeing 757-200 costs $26,000 per flight hour. The expense of the plane makes the dispute over such a small amount all the more curious. And exactly who is responsible for paying the bills in unclear. > > Peterson and Tina Smith, the business operations manager for Nantucket airport, said Lalka represented himself as speaking for the candidate. > > Smith explained the 25 percent handling fee is charged by the airport for all catering transactions. > > \< snipped \> > > “It’s business for the airport,” Smith said. “We don’t take any taxpayer money.” > > Commission added Normally the airport will pay the local caterer and the bill the plane’s owner with the 25-percent commission added, she said. Last year the commission added up to $27,500 for $110,000 in catering business. > > \< snipped \> > > “The caterer told the campaign what the airport fee was and they called us and complained,” Peterson said. > > Peterson said Lalka objected to the $400 fee and instead offered to pay $150. > > “It’s like you don’t like the size of your telephone bills and you tell them what you’re going to pay,” Smith said. Okay, it looks like it was probably done by an underling with a bad attitude and an extremely overactive sense of entitlement. But now it’s in the news and it should have come to the attention of higher-ups in the campaign and the candidate himself, who, if he had any class, would’ve opened his wallet right then and there. He’s a billionaire. The campaign is up to its eyeballs in cash. (If you can consider this a legitimate campaign expense.) The bill is less than $1,000. This is how Nantucket Airport can afford to serve its ritzy customers in the manner in which they are accustomed. I can’t begin to contemplate how anyone (Mr. Lalka) could think that this was a reasonable argument with the airport, or that the campaign ought to be cut a break on something that is standard and has even been paid by the Kerrys (for personal events) without blinking in the past. Bad, bad form, Kerry folks. The uber rich trying to weasel out of paying a legitimate debt owed a small business operation? Isn’t that **exactly** what you guys bitch about in your “two Americas” spiel? Haven’t you gone on at length about how the moneyed, privileged people in our society get away without paying their fair share? Did you mean yourselves, or what? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711/2 "2004-07-24T19:34:29Z")
Kerry can’t be bothered knowing what’s happening to little people (despite his pledges to help them). If you don’t believe it, see what some lefties have said in this thread: > **[Thanks for nothing, DNC](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=268071)** > > C-Span this morning interviewed a fellow named Mark Pasquale. He’s a Boston native, a middle class guy, a small business owner. He lives in Boston’s North End, a quaint neighborhood of European immigrants and narrow, winding streets. Like many other... For example: > [@Skutir](#): > > I don’t quite know why you think this is some major thing that Kerry would even be aware of. Some cranky business man has a minor run-in with a minor functionary. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711/3 "2004-07-24T19:36:00Z")
New Talking Point, coming to a Fox “News” Channel near you: Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat Deadbeat ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711/4 "2004-07-24T19:39:06Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > …coming to a Fox “News” Channel near you… That should read “Fox Nooze™”, not to be confused with actual news or, you know, facts, or anything like that. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711/5 "2004-07-24T19:43:04Z")
The cited article is not from Fox News. ---
**Author:** ![WernhamHogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a587f6/32.png) [@WernhamHogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WernhamHogg)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711/6 "2004-07-24T19:47:35Z")
Do you have any evidence Kerry was even aware of this? It sounds like some billing snafu, or a disagreement, with FUNCTIONARIES of the campaign. Apparently, anyone with any kind of a beef about anyone is now Kerry’s responsibility. He’s supposed to fly around like superman getting cats out of trees, or he doesn’t care about “the little guy.” No evidence is needed to support any complaint about Kerry, and the connections need be not not be clear. ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711/7 "2004-07-24T19:54:39Z")
New! FOX brand super absorbent newsettes! ---
**Author:** ![WernhamHogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a587f6/32.png) [@WernhamHogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WernhamHogg)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711/8 "2004-07-24T19:57:19Z")
Some guys dog just took a dump on my lawn. Where’s Kerry? I thought he cared about the little guy? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711/9 "2004-07-24T20:02:04Z")
Is that the tactic? Jump into threads that don’t bash Bush and hijack them into joke threads? You put the ass in class. ---
**Author:** ![stretch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@stretch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stretch)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711/10 "2004-07-24T20:02:27Z")
The airport is complaining because they weren’t paid a 25 percent fee for coordinating/handling catering, even though they didn’t coordinate the catering? And then they are complaining because they reminded the guy they were dealing with that he **had** to have them coordinate the catering (because apparently everybody else does it), and then he wanted to haggle? Would the airport charge a 25 percent fee if the guy drove to a sandwich shop and picked up the fucking food himself? The first time, the guy coordinating the catering for the Kerry campaign did just that–he coordinated the catering. Why should the airport be paid for doing nothing? The second time, the catering coordinator agreed to let the airport coordinate (essentially doing his job for him) and disagree with the amount they wanted to charge, probably because he already knew he could do it and it was what he was supposed to be doing. Why should the campaign pay for a service twice just because the airport chooses this way to earn additional money? I’m having a hard time getting pissed at the Kerry catering coordinator when the airport is just insisting that everyone pay a 25 percent premium for any catering done on the island. Just because everyone else typically pays for a useless service doesn’t mean the Kerry campaign should. Do you really want people in office that are willing to throw away that kind of money? Paying twice for essentially the same services? I’d like someone a little more fiscally responsible, myself. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711/11 "2004-07-24T20:07:34Z")
A good argument, Stretch. ---
**Author:** ![wring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@wring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wring)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711/12 "2004-07-24T20:14:38Z")
let me see if I have this right - Kerrys campagin aides fail to pay a bill and htat is Kerrys personal responsability. Bush cites flawed intelligence reports, leads us into an unholy expensive mess that involves great losses in lives and tax dollars for who knows how many more years, but he is not personally responsible good to know. ---
**Author:** ![WernhamHogg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a587f6/32.png) [@WernhamHogg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WernhamHogg)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711/13 "2004-07-24T20:15:27Z")
Meanwhile, the Red Sox are playing after all, so Kerry’s cleared on those grounds as well. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711/14 "2004-07-24T20:15:59Z")
No, you don’t have it right. Neither does the uber-hysterical Skutir. Stretch has it right. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711/15 "2004-07-24T20:19:52Z")
Geez, the Right only has 3 more months of us bitching about things like killing our soldiers in a war he lied about to start, taking away our liberties, and leaving the country in a terrible mess (ok, we’ll probably be bitching about all that for a while yet), while we have to look forward to 4 years and 3 months of the Right bitching about every single little piddly-shit thing they can make up or blow out of porportion. Don’t worry Lib, when Bush appoints a Special Prosecutor right before he leaves office, the SP can spend billions of our tax dollars investigating little shit like this. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711/16 "2004-07-24T20:31:05Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > Don’t worry Lib, when Bush appoints a Special Prosecutor right before he leaves office, the SP can spend billions of our tax dollars investigating little shit like this. Actually, that one kinda came out of my uneducated ass. I’m very ignorant about the Special Prosecutor. Why was there one during Clinton and not during Bush, and _could_ Bush put one in place before he leaves? ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711/17 "2004-07-24T20:33:21Z")
He could, but he won’t. The SP typically would be charged with investigating his own admnistration. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711/18 "2004-07-24T20:34:03Z")
Ehhhhh…This won’t fly. Now that the news is out, they should pay. Even if it isn’t really absolutely justified in their mind. This is nickle and dime stuff to them, it would be easier, I should think, to pay to make it go away. If other big name celebrities are paying without pitching a fit, then it just makes them look like petty skinflints to not pay. Or, if they don’t want to pay, they can deal with the local Cape Cod news (and eventually, other news outlets) picking up the story and running with it. Which looks like it’s starting to happen. I’ll tell you what this reminds me of—I used to work in a well-to-do area, and a lot of “rich bitches” came into the store where I worked. The richer they were, it seemed like the cheaper they were. I swear, I don’t know what the deal was. A lot of us employees noticed it. Whether or not this is the case with Kerry, (and it very well might not be), it’s gonna _look_ that way when this news gets out, and it’s _looking_ that way to me right now. Because I’ve seen this sort of thing before, and it annoys me. Rich people nickle and diming the little guy, or bickering over (relatively) small charges that others in the same position pay without complaint. ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711/19 "2004-07-24T21:16:40Z")
If Kerry had lit the restaurant on fire with a big fatty and then run laps around it in a loincloth yelling “Hey Hey, Ho Ho, the Nantucket Airport Restaurant has got to go” while it burned to the ground, I would still vote for him. If someone were killed in the fire, I might reconsider voting for him, but only if it could be proven in a court of law that Kerry had intended to harm them. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2004, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711/20 "2004-07-24T21:24:00Z")
That’s just ignorant. The staff member who questioned the bill should be fired, immediately. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kerry-campaign-stiffs-airport/256711.md?page=2)