Sully Rebuffed GOP Push to run for Congress

By: Brian Montopoli
Topics: Congress

(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Hero pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who safely landed a damaged commercial airplane on the Hudson river in January, rebuffed overtures from Republicans who wanted him to run for Congress, the Hill reports.

Sullenberger, a registered Republican, reportedly indicated to GOP officials that he did not want to seek a seat in the House of Representatives through his business manager. Republicans had hoped the pilot would challenge second-term Democratic congressman Jerry McNerney, who represents the district that includes Sullenberger's hometown of Danville, California.

The Hill reports that the effort to recruit Sullenberger was led by the head recruiter for the National Republican Congressional Committee, Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California. McCarthy reportedly asked Rep. Sam Johnson, an Air Force veteran like Sullenberger, to call the pilot about a possible run.

But McCarthy never spoke to Sullenberger, sources told the newspaper; instead, Sullenberger's business manager told McCarthy that the pilot did not want to seek the seat.

Sullenberger's publicist, Alex Clemens, said the pilot is not interested in running for office and is happy flying airplanes.

Asked about the effort, the National Republican Congressional Committee confirmed the contact but said it was casting a "pretty wide net" early in the recruiting process. The group said at Sullenberger is one of "a dozen people" on the list to contact about the seat.

On Thursday, Sullenberger for the first time since January flew the route he had been on when his airplane hit a flock of birds, disabling the aircraft's engines and forcing the river landing.

Brian Montopoli
Brian Montopoli is the senior political reporter at CBSNews.com.
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by pvperson3 October 2, 2009 8:57 PM EDT: Jeez, what hypocrites, they slam Obama as being a celebrity then try to recruit celebrities at every opportunity. The GOP really is the Goobers Only Party.; Reply to this comment


by kansas1946 October 2, 2009 8:13 PM EDT: He probably knows better. If he doesn't walk lock-step to the whacko party far-right line, the Republicans will tear him apart in the primary. Best to just be a hero and steer clear of the current Republican whackos.; Reply to this comment


by proudmilvet October 2, 2009 7:44 PM EDT: Anybody,.... ANYBODY, to replace their Phony Hero, Saint Ronald Reagan! LOL!!; Reply to this comment


by sedean1 October 2, 2009 7:08 PM EDT: Coulda told ya Sully was a Republican, Danville, Ca is wall to wall conservatives, just like Orange County, Southern California. But I
certainly have even more respect for the man now, not to be "handled" in the name of politics. Thank you, Sully!; Reply to this comment


by blindersoff October 2, 2009 5:22 PM EDT: He may be a Registered Republican but he is in the pilot's union and we know how Republicans feel about unions. He has too much sense and class to go into politics. Some of these people are so upset that we have President Barack Hussein Obama that they will go to any excuse to insult him. I don't see what he had to do with this story, but it says more about the people who attack him than it does about him. It must hurt to think about somebody you despise 24 hours a day!; Reply to this comment


by superdem1 October 2, 2009 4:57 PM EDT: The man knows airplanes and likes to fly them. He's the master when he's in the air. Why would he want to beg for campaign money or push legislation, engage in the tedium of wordsmithing the vehicles by which pimps get prostitutes to do their dirty work ? Every politician dances for pay, it's just a matter of do you dance for the good guys, or do you dance for the bad guys ?; Reply to this comment


by ici2i October 2, 2009 4:25 PM EDT: They struck out trying to sell us on somebody with nice legs and breasts so why not a national hero? It doesn't matter to the Repugs whether their candidate is solid on their conservative issues. They've shown us again that they think Americans are dumb and superficial. Sully must have known that the puppet strings wouldn't fit well on his back.; Reply to this comment


by bpai99 October 2, 2009 3:56 PM EDT: This guy's got way too much class and smarts to soil himself by getting into politics. He's a true role model and an American hero.; Reply to this comment


by Marc_1986 October 2, 2009 3:09 PM EDT: This is the problem with politics today.

It's all a popularity game with politicians. It doesn't matter anymore how good your ideas are, or what you stand for. It's just a matter of who can make the other person look the worst.; Reply to this comment

by credibility2 October 2, 2009 1:58 PM EDT

Sully was uncomfortable with all of the media attention he received for his heroics. I doubt he'd be comfortable with more media attention as a politician.

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by sandy19731 October 2, 2009 9:47 PM EDT: The guy is a very, very good pilot. And, obviously kept his cool under difficult circumstances. But, why is he a hero? Would he have done anything differently if the plane would have had no passengers? There is no proof of that.

I think a hero sacrifices without expecting to save him/her self. Again, a very, very good pilot.