Bailout Watch 68: Yes But No

It’s flip-flop week over at Automotive News. While Editor David Sedgwick pulls a Volt-face, publisher Keith Crain is flopping around the bailout issue with the grace of a freshly-landed steelhead. Just a short week ago, Crain took to his keyboard to pen a paean to the Detroit bailout. “Have the auto companies made bad decisions in the past three decades that have led them to this period of peril? Of course they have, and they continue to make bad decisions. But it is in the best interest of the United States to have a strong and viable domestic automobile industry.” This week, the AN strongman has a new take on bailouts, written under the headline “Somebody Should Just Say No.” In fairness, Crain hasn’t properly flip-flopped, he’s just being hypocritical. He may be the biggest backer of Detroit’s federal teat-nuzzling (“hoon”), but when it comes to Wall Street bailouts, the man is all principle. “Those Wall Street companies bought portfolios of bad home loans to make money,” growls Crain. “The companies are at risk because of their bad judgment, and they should take their losses.” In other words, America needs an auto manufacturing industry, but the financial centers that run the world economy we can give or take. “Let’s not jump into decisions that will increase the indebtedness of the American people,” says Crain, arguing that the auto-industry loans will definitely be paid back. And if “the mess on Wall Street is only a distraction from a thorough study of our manufacturing base,” why does Crain think the Wall Street bailout is getting top billing? Because Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson “made millions” on Wall Street and is “compromised.” As opposed to Keith Crain who never made a dime off America’s auto biz, and is as neutral and incorruptible as Solomon himself? Money-grubbing is never fun to watch, but this is just getting ugly.