- President Obama praises the 2011 Explorer during his visit to the Chicago Ford plant.
- Obama says his last personal car was a Ford Escape.
- Obama says the domestic auto industry is "not back to where it needs to be," but "we are moving forward."
CHICAGO — President Obama put on his auto critic's cap for the second time in a week. During a tour of Ford's Chicago assembly plant on Thursday, Obama checked out the redesigned 2011 Ford Explorer and said it was "an outstanding car." Last week, the president took a brief, 40-foot test-drive in a 2011 Chevrolet Volt and said the electric car was "pretty smooth."
He also described the Ford Escape as "spiffy."
"My most recent car was a Ford," Obama said as the Ford workers applauded. "I had one of those Ford Escapes, and that was a spiffy car. Now, I have to admit that I bought it about two months before I got Secret Service (protection) and they wouldn't let me drive anymore. So it only had like 2,000 miles after five years, but I really enjoyed those 2,000 miles."
Obama used his appearance — the third such visit to a domestic auto plant in a week — to announce a new $250-million Export-Import Bank loan guarantee for Ford. He said the loan guarantee will "help Ford export more than 200,000 cars and trucks" to up to 90 countries.
"We're tired of just buying from everybody else — we want to start selling to other people, because we know we can compete," Obama said.
Despite massive amounts of federal aid, Obama said the domestic auto industry is "not back to where it needs to be."
"Our economy is not yet where it needs to be," he said. "It's going to take more time to heal from all the damage that was done. But we're beginning to see our efforts pay off. We're headed in the right direction. We are moving forward. The industry isn't just on the way back — it's on the way back to being number one again."
Inside Line says: Obama is becoming the domestic auto industry's biggest cheerleader — and apparently has a lot to say about its products. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »
subfanman says:
07:42 AM, 08/07/2010
"My most recent car was a Ford," Obama said as the Ford workers applauded. "I had one of those Ford Escapes, and that was a spiffy car. Now, I have to admit that I bought it about two months before I got Secret Service (protection) and they wouldn't let me drive anymore. So it only had like 2,000 miles after five years, but I really enjoyed those 2,000 miles."
1. How could someone have bought a 2008 Ford Escape two months before being assigned secret service protection on May 3, 2007?
2. How could someone own a 2008 Ford Escape for five years as of August 6, 2010?
3. Is the 2008 Ford Escape really a "car?"
Interesting.
zjev says:
04:11 PM, 08/06/2010
southsideny,
I understand your arguments and you do have some valid points. My argument is that I believe there are too many cracks in GM and Chrysler's foundation. I would love for them to be operational and to me that means profitable. Profit is good and will provide jobs. The problems with both companies are too much to list here, but the reality was they were broke while their foreign competitors were not. Had they not been bailed out and failed (like many car makers before them) sure it would have shaken up the industry and who knows what would have happened, but people still need cars today and other competing companies would have needed extra workers to build them.
Due to the unions, the Big 3 have had to pay their employees much more in comparison to their non union auto competitors. I simply do not agree with unions and think that they harm more businesses than they claim to help. The auto industry shot themselves in the foot decades ago by not treating their workers fairly and thus created the mess we are in today. Yes there are many overpaid executives that I do not agree with either, but many reports show that these mostly non college educated UAW auto workers make well over $18/hr after benefits, etc. (which is more than many Americans right now). I agree with you that it does not make sense to cut their wages and pay the executives more. It does make sense, in my opinion, to cut their wages until the companies can get out of debt, re-tool, and re-establish themselves in the market place. Having the government finance them and continue bailing them out will not create a healthy company. Just look at our Post Office, Amtrak, Freddy May, etc. Not healthy companies that government continues to throw money at without making necessary changes.
sugarlandtx says:
12:31 PM, 08/06/2010
Republicans who would have given up on America's ability to build quality cars and let the American Car Manufactures disappear forever. Oh what patriots they are. I believe American workers and American Car Companies deserved a second chance and the Car Manufacturers are delivering much to the dismay of the Republicans. And before you Republicans say the car companies took government money, where were your objections to government handout to farmers at a cost of $85,000,000,000 a year. Where are your boycotts on wheat, corn, cotton sugar etc? I bet you don't answer this. At least with the money given to the car companies we can see a car plant. What have we gotten for the farm welfare programs?
southsideny says:
08:36 AM, 08/06/2010
Kkear3: LOL... apparently that is the culture. Unfortunately it doesn't leave much room for progress.
zjev: I don't understand your complaint about having Chrysler and GM operational. If they'd gone into receivership there would be tens of thousands more people out of work. Then what would the complaint be?
Also, the Auto Unions have given back a lot. They even paid for there own members retirement benefits. I don't think lowering the wages and further cutting the benefits of blue collar workers, while upper management makes 50 to 60 times their salary is going to solve much. That's I believe is a argument that distracts from the true problem. The culture of greed and selfishness that allows people to see no problem with cutting someone's pay who makes $18/hr so you can add another $6mill to your year end bonus payment. That's the real problem. No one possess the foresight to understand that if the little guy does well, I at the top, can do better.
zjev says:
05:45 AM, 08/06/2010
The auto industry is barely surviving despite all of the ridiculous things this administration has done to supposedly help the industry. Ford may be doing better than most but they are not out of the woods. Recently they met with UAW to try to negotiate to become more competitive with the Japanese and Korean rivals and to become healthier as a company. UAWs response: not a chance. The GM bailout, giving Chrysler to Fiat, union buildup, illegaly revoking thousands of dealership franchises, cash for clunkers, CAFE standards, the list goes on and on. Add to that list all of things already wrong with GM that the mechanic stated nicely in his article last year.
tdiluv says:
05:05 AM, 08/06/2010
It's dangerous territory for a President to say anything but positive things when making these visits. At least he is out there showing support.
What needs to be said however is ,well we have along way to go go. Almost all vehicles are too large ,too heavy and suck way too much fuel keeping our dependency on oil incredibly high along with the emissions into the atmosphere!
carpaul1 says:
02:22 AM, 08/06/2010
Personally, inside line does a good job covering Obama and his auto plant visits. It is always good to hear a president's views on auto industry. We all love cars, and so, it is nice to hear the number 1 dude's views, as politically tainted as they may be. I think he is right, American auto industry is on the heal. Cars like the new Buicks, the Fords (Mustang, Explorer, Taurus) and Jeep GC are proof. Let's hope Cruze and Fiesta and Focus continue the tread. World needs a vibrant American auto industry, as does America. And having a president as a cheerleader, is not too bad.
southsideny says:
09:35 PM, 08/05/2010
You Americans really come off as a fickle bunch. First the President was criticized for doing too much. Now he's criticized for doing too little. He's criticized for not talking to the public, then he's criticized for talking too much to the public. He's criticized for not doing what he campaigned he would do, then he's criticized for doing what he campaigned on... LMAO!! You guys are nuts!!
Maybe you prefer inept leadership. Someone to leave your country in shambles. Someone the world has not respect for. Someone to make sure your dollar goes to crap. Someone to totally ignore the needs of the people and do whatever he feels. Maybe you'd be better off with George Bush Jr.
angry_mushroom says:
09:10 PM, 08/05/2010
I dunno if a 40 foot test drive is enough to so the true qualities of a car, but whatever. At least Obama's Ford is now better than my first Ford.
canabacon says:
03:50 PM, 08/05/2010
It is a nice car, and most compacts only come in a 4, so they just need to offer a reguarly aspired 4 cylander as well for better fuel economy. People tend to forget that the US could of not given a bailout and how many MORE people would be out of work? There just should of been a clause of no plant closures in there as well. But hein sight is 20/20 as they say. For is making a good product, unfortunate about the rest of the so-called, importing, domestics. Has anyojne coutned how many GM's Vin's start with a 3 or a K lately?