Corporate Jets: The Next Political Punching Bag

Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 10:33 PM ET

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John Travolta's private jet sits on the tarmac at Grand Bahama International Airport in Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009. (AP Photos/Alan Diaz) Original Filename: Bahamas_Travoltas_Son_FLAD106.jpg Diaz/AP

Key Takeaways:

Democrats are increasingly using "corporate jets" as a campaign issue, aiming to portray Republicans as supporting tax loopholes for corporations based on proposed changes to the tax code.
An early campaign ad for Democrat David Weprin controversially depicted a corporate jet flying towards the New York City skyline close to the 9/11 anniversary, causing offense and leading to the ad's removal.
Despite the ad's controversies and Weprin's loss, the article suggests the "corporate jet/tax loophole" narrative will persist in future campaigns, even though the "loophole" claim regarding depreciation schedules is considered dubious.

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Watch for “corporate jets” to emerge as a hot-button campaign issue in the coming months as Democrats seize on a change in the tax code proposed in President Obama’s Jobs Act to paint their Republican rivals as supporting tax-cheating corporations.

It’s happening already. In an ad created for the Congressional campaign of Democrat David Weprin, a business jet is shown flying across the screen as a voiceover warns viewers: “Corporate executive Bob Turner lives the high life. While you struggle to pay the bills, Turner supports tax loopholes for corporations.”