Obama Courts Michigan With $150b Green Initiative (Boondoggle)

Robert Farago
by Robert Farago

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama's love – hate relationship with Detroit automakers– they're evil, foot-dragging SUV-builders who need federal green initiatives (i.e. taxpayer money) to protect votes jobs– continues apace. Yesterday, Obama visited The Wolverine State to promise he'd meet with American automakers– unlike George Bush, who didn't have a sit-down with The Big 2.8's well-compensated execs until the sixth year of his presidency. Actually, it was his third year. But, as The Detroit News reports, "Late Monday, Obama's campaign acknowledged the misstatement as an 'unintentional oversight.' But they said it didn't take away from Obama's broader point. 'When the auto industry needed help the most, President Bush delayed for months meeting with them and now American workers are feeling the devastating effects of record layoffs and job losses,' said Obama spokeswoman Amy Brundage. Yes, well, one can only imagine how that meeting would go. "You are bad, bad people. Now take these billion dollar handouts and go!" Make no mistake, the former Chrysler 300C driver (yes it's got a Hemi) is ready to ask "what's in YOUR wallet?" when it comes to helping Detroit: "Obama today reiterated in his speech his pledge to spend $150 billion over 10 years to help create 5 million jobs in the 'green' sector, including helping automakers retool older plants to make plug-in electric vehicles."

Robert Farago
Robert Farago

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  • Carlos.negros Carlos.negros on Jun 17, 2008

    Obama's plan for the auto industry is one aspect of his overall plan to reign in energy costs, reduce ppollution, and support a green economy. I challenge anyone to post John McCain's well thought out ideas for us to analyze. From the Obama website: "Deploy Cellulosic Ethanol: Obama will invest federal resources, including tax incentives, cash prizes and government contracts into developing the most promising technologies with the goal of getting the first two billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol into the system by 2013. Expand Locally-Owned Biofuel Refineries: Less than 10 percent of new ethanol production today is from farmer-owned refineries. New ethanol refineries help jumpstart rural economies. Obama will create a number of incentives for local communities to invest in their biofuels refineries. Establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard: Barack Obama will establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard to speed the introduction of low-carbon non-petroleum fuels. The standard requires fuel suppliers to reduce the carbon their fuel emits by 10 percent by 2020. Increase Renewable Fuel Standard: Obama will require 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels to be included in the fuel supply by 2022 and will increase that to at least 60 billion gallons of advanced biofuels like cellulosic ethanol by 2030. Set America on Path to Oil Independence: Obama’s plan will reduce oil consumption by at least 35 percent, or 10 million barrels per day, by 2030. This will more than offset the equivalent of the oil we would import from OPEC nations by 2030. Increase Fuel Economy Standards: Obama will double fuel economy standards within 18 years. His plan will provide retooling tax credits and loan guarantees for domestic auto plants and parts manufacturers, so that they can build new fuel-efficient cars rather than overseas companies. Obama will also invest in advanced vehicle technology such as advanced lightweight materials and new engines."

  • Landcrusher Landcrusher on Jun 18, 2008

    carlos, Couple questions about the "well thought out" stuff. According to our Constitution, Senator Obama should be proposing much of that now in the Senate, because if he becomes President, he will then have to ASK Congress to fulfill much of his promises. Has he introduced ANY of this as legislation? "Set America on Path to Oil Independence: Obama’s plan will reduce oil consumption by at least 35 percent, or 10 million barrels per day, by 2030. This will more than offset the equivalent of the oil we would import from OPEC nations by 2030." This sounds like a nice wish. Exactly how does he propose to do this? This is a desired result, not a plan. I suspect he is hiding how he wants to do this on purpose? It's like the general saying their plan is destroy the enemy, really not inspiring. The whole last few lines are more of same. No real solutions, only declarations of what he wants to see happen. If you think that is well thought out, I think your foolish. He is pandering to the ignorant.

  • GS650G GS650G on Jun 18, 2008

    So, carlos.negros, how long have you been working on the Obama campaign anyway? Obama is a a character straight out of "Atlas Shrugged".

  • Nonce Nonce on Jun 18, 2008

    Maybe, just maybe, McCain figures that it's not the government's job to try to manage the auto companies.

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