And, unfortunately, Roberts, Brownback & Tiahrt apparently ♥ McCain.

Tiahrt just flat out can't wait to fall in love:

“I’m going to learn to love him,” Tiahrt, a former Boeing manager at the military aircraft finishing plant in Wichita, recently told The Wichita Eagle.

Roberts and Brownback voted for McCain's 2003 amendment, which weakened traditional "Buy American" rules and allowed the military to look at European countries when awarding contracts for our national defense. (Companies such as...say...Airbus.)

But in 2003, when Congress approved his amendment that allowed the Pentagon to buy American military equipment from foreign companies. Sens. Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback, both Kansas Republicans, voted for the amendment along a largely party line.

All three are choosing to ignore the fact that McCain not only hired Airbus lobbyists to key campaign posts, but also actively worked to make sure Airbus was included in the bidding process.

And in 2006, McCain wrote letters to the Defense Department suggesting the criteria be broadened and the issue of European subsidies to Airbus not be a deal breaker. Opponents said the senator was lobbying on Airbus’ behalf, but McCain said he was merely calling for an open bidding process.

And, of course, when given the opportunity to decry McCain's loyalty to Airbus over Kansas - did they take it?

Well?

Weeeellll?!??

The issue has put McCain at odds with two of his fellow Republican senators, Kansans Pat Roberts and Sam Brownback. Both senators are angry that Boeing was denied the contract, and they want the decision overturned.

Both declined to comment on McCain's ties to Airbus, but they defended Boeing and said the current deal should not be influenced by the 2004 scandal.

"Those are two separate issues... I think that's past history," Roberts said.

And Brownback, who has been campaigning on McCain's behalf, called it "an entirely different picture" now, adding that Boeing paid a price for its misconduct: "There were corruption charges and people went to jail, as they should have."

No.

Of course not.

Because Roberts, Brownback & Tiahrt ♥ Mccain. And McCain ♥ Airbus.

So when can we have senators who ♥ Kansas?