• Air Force Times, Tuesday, March 18, 2008 10:45 AM

Some lawmakers are questioning the Air Force's new "Above All" campaign that features TV, print and online ads, charging that it is an illegal attempt to lobby Congress. Notes Rep. Allen Boyd, a Florida Democrat and member of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, the ads seem to be of the same type "advocacy groups would run." The $81 million campaign rolled out last month and focuses on the Air Force's contributions to national defense rather than calling for enlistment.

But Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne and Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley deny the charge: "We've had a couple questions from the [congressional] staff who had referenced that we were attempting to lobby the Congress, and, sir, that's not the case," says Moseley. "We wouldn't do that because it's not right. ... That would never happen."

Wynne says the ads are intended to reach "influencers" of potential recruits, along with the actual target audience: "...the smart kids that we're going to require to keep our high-technology Air Force to come see us and sign up," he says.

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