American Airlines would never try to use political influence.

Here's some interesting excerpts from an article in the National Journal, detailing the lobbying efforts of each party:

Clash of the Texas Titans
by Lisa Caruso
23 April 2005

• American Airlines has long been a lobbying powerhouse in Washington compared with Southwest.
  
  
• Last year, American shelled out $1.95 million on lobbying, while Southwest spent just $100,000, according to the Center for Public Integrity's LobbyWatch project.
  
  
• American has earned a reputation as a political street fighter over the years. "They've got a really aggressive, confrontational corporate culture," said an airline consultant, and "have always had one of the most robust lobbying operations in town."
  
  
• D/FW expects to spend $846,000 this year on state and federal lobbying, primarily to protect the Wright amendment and the constraints it imposes on Love Field and Southwest.
  
  
• D/FW is devoting another $404,000 to public relations and marketing to protect Wright, as well as to support its efforts to find a new tenant for Delta's empty gates. (HKG_Flyer1 note: Dallas Love Field appears to spend $0 on lobbying.)
  
  
• (D/FW) has lobbyists on retainer... (including) well-connected Republicans at Hogan & Hartson and the Federalist Group.
  
  
• American Airlines... maintains a fleet of 10 outside lobby firms, three of which -- McBee Strategic Consulting, Denny Miller Associates, and Cassidy & Associates -- were hired recently to wage the pro-Wright fight.