News Flash: Obama-Appointed GM CEO Supports Obama
Posted May 19th, 2009 at 11.37am in Enterprise and Free Markets, Ongoing Priorities.
Here’s a shocker. Among the cheerleaders for President Obama’s plan to increase federal fuel efficiency mandates were General Motors and Chrysler — two companies that are, at the moment, virtually run by the federal government itself.
GM’s Fritz Henderson, who was made CEO when Rick Wagoner was effectively fired by the White House, was particularly effusive in his support. “GM is fully committed to this new approach,” Henderson said in a statement. “GM and the auto industry benefit by having more consistency and certainty to guide our product plans.”
It was reminiscent of a POW news conference, where distressed prisoners, armed guards on either side, sing the praises of their captors. One wonders whether Henderson’s eyes were blinking out SOS in Morse Code while making the statement.
To be fair, GM and Chrysler were joined by non-captive automakers such as Ford in support of the plan. All no doubt see the regulatory writing on the wall. And if they are going to have to sell cars that consumers likely won’t want — it’s better for all to be forced to do so. Such “consistency and certainty” would at least reduce the prospect that some company would break ranks and offer cars people DID want. After all, if you can’t avoid regulation, you at least can reduce competition.
- Author: James Gattuso
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May 19, 2009 MAS1916 - Denver, CO writes:
That is a huge surprise!
At least Obama isn’t setting another one of his “Bipartisanship Traps” here.
Obama and the Democrats need zero Republican help to get any legislation through. Unfortunately for them, this means that when policies fail, liberals will no longer be able to blame Republicans.
By appointing a leftist supporter, Obama has ensured GM of a very difficult road to recovery and when it needs another couple billion dollars in bail outs, Obama won’t be able to say to voters that this was a ‘bipartisan’ action that failed. He will own it.
Democrats are laying ‘bipartisanship traps’ all over Washington. These must be avoided by conservatives at all costs. (for a more complete list of where lefties have laid these bipartisanship traps, you can look at: http://firstconservative.com/blog/political-humor/political-humor-the-bipartisanship-trap )