Employees at the Boeing assembly plant in Renton, Wash., work on a ... more >Mr. Obama alluded to the enthusiasm deficit among his base Thursday when he told supporters at a fundraiser in California, “Some of the newness and excitement surrounding us [in] 2008 has naturally dissipated.”
Friday’s visit isn’t the first time Mr. Obama has highlighted Boeing and his administration’s efforts to create more union jobs at the company. During an Asia-Pacific summit in November, the president credited his administration with helping to pave the way for Boeing’s $21 billion sales deal with Lion Air, an Indonesian airline.
“The U.S. administration and the Ex-Im Bank, in particular, were critical in facilitating this deal,” Mr. Obama said.
The Lion Air deal was the largest for Boeing since 2006, involving as many as 230 aircraft.
About 78,000 Boeing workers are employed in Washington state, with about 8,300 jobs added last year.
© Copyright 2013 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.
Dave Boyer is a White House correspondent for The Washington Times. A native of Allentown, Pa., Boyer worked for the Philadelphia Inquirer from 2002 to 2011 and also has covered Congress for the Times. He is a graduate of Penn State University. Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
A collection of reader guest articles, thoughts and opinions by Communities writers and breaking news and information.
World's Ugliest Dog Contest
26 Photos
Spelling Bee finale
45 Photos
Marines train Afghan soldiers
4 Photos
Rolling Thunder 2013
24 Photos
Benghazi: The anatomy of a scandal
13 Photos
