Mica Gives Air Traffic Controller a Hard Time

Florida Republican Rep. John Mica has never been super-shy about the fact that he's not particularly fond of the nation's air traffic controllers and their union, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association. And according to the DC Examiner, he really let rip on the air traffic controller who testified in Congress yesterday about the landing of a passenger plane on the Hudson:

Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., attacked the air traffic controller, Patrick Harten, with a barrage of questions that gave the impression Mica believed the birds shouldn’t take all the blame. Mica, with a tone much different from the other, more appreciative members’, asked if Harten had “dumbed down” the equipment on the afternoon of Sept. 15 â€" suggesting the possibility that the birds alleged to have caused the trouble went undetected because of his error. Mica continued to heckle the traffic controller with questions, leading to shocked faces in the audience, wide eyes and whispers in the crowd. One member even mumbled, “What an ass.”

Mica, of course, is entitled to his opinions and his personal style. But if he wants to continue playing a lead role in addressing FAA policy, he might use his political capital to better effect.