Murray accused of being 'off her meds' in tanker fight
SEATTLE -- The fight to keep business for Boeing in Washington state has taken a nasty turn with two lawmakers in two states trading jabs.
In one corner is Washington state and Sen. Patty Murray. In the other corner is the state of Alabama and the mayor of Mobile, Sam Jones.
The point of contention: a $35 billion contract to build a new refueling plane for Air Force tankers.
Murray made her move on NPR, stating, "I have stood on the line in Everett, Washington, where we have thousands of workers who go to work every day to build these planes. I would challenge anybody to tell me that they've stood on a line in Alabama and seen anybody building anything."
In response, Jones threw out a jab, accusing Murray of being "offensive" and "out of her mind."
"She's obviously off her medications if she believes the delusions that I've heard her make concerning the state of Alabama," he said.
Jones even sent an open letter to Murray's doctor, asking the physician to "please check on your patient."
Murray told KOMO News that in her discussion on NPR, she was only referring to tankers, not all businesses in Alabama, and the fact the Boeing plant in Everett is already equipped to make the planes.
"There is no tanker line in Alabama," she said. "No matter how they want to skewer what I say or take it out of context, there is no tanker line in Alabama today."
Some bloggers aren't buying it, claiming Murray lost her mind and disrespected workers in the southern state. They're now demanding an apology.
"That's not the way to run a competition -- to attack people in another state," said Jones. "I think there are fine people in Washington state and certainly fine facilities there, just as we have in Alabama."
Jones has even invited Murray to be his guest on a tour of Alabama.
"Well, you know, I'd love to go, but they don't have a tanker line for me to visit," Murray said in response to KOMO News.
Some Alabama lawmakers have proposed splitting the project by awarding contracts to both states. But Murray says she is adamantly opposed to the idea she believes will add burden to taxpayers.
The Air Force is expected to make a final decision on the contract by some time late next year.
In one corner is Washington state and Sen. Patty Murray. In the other corner is the state of Alabama and the mayor of Mobile, Sam Jones.
The point of contention: a $35 billion contract to build a new refueling plane for Air Force tankers.
Murray made her move on NPR, stating, "I have stood on the line in Everett, Washington, where we have thousands of workers who go to work every day to build these planes. I would challenge anybody to tell me that they've stood on a line in Alabama and seen anybody building anything."
In response, Jones threw out a jab, accusing Murray of being "offensive" and "out of her mind."
"She's obviously off her medications if she believes the delusions that I've heard her make concerning the state of Alabama," he said.
Jones even sent an open letter to Murray's doctor, asking the physician to "please check on your patient."
Murray told KOMO News that in her discussion on NPR, she was only referring to tankers, not all businesses in Alabama, and the fact the Boeing plant in Everett is already equipped to make the planes.
"There is no tanker line in Alabama," she said. "No matter how they want to skewer what I say or take it out of context, there is no tanker line in Alabama today."
Some bloggers aren't buying it, claiming Murray lost her mind and disrespected workers in the southern state. They're now demanding an apology.
"That's not the way to run a competition -- to attack people in another state," said Jones. "I think there are fine people in Washington state and certainly fine facilities there, just as we have in Alabama."
Jones has even invited Murray to be his guest on a tour of Alabama.
"Well, you know, I'd love to go, but they don't have a tanker line for me to visit," Murray said in response to KOMO News.
Some Alabama lawmakers have proposed splitting the project by awarding contracts to both states. But Murray says she is adamantly opposed to the idea she believes will add burden to taxpayers.
The Air Force is expected to make a final decision on the contract by some time late next year.