Posted on 04/06/2009 9:56:23 AM PDT by RatherBiased.com
Ford Motor Company has applied for $5 billion in taxpayer funds for retooling, and has access to an additional $9 billion line of credit from the government. Yet, the company was a financial sponsor of Al Sharpton’s national convention last week that featured a speech by Vice-President Joseph Biden.
In a letter today to Steven Rattner, who directs President Obama's auto industry task force, I wrote,
Ford’s financial support for Sharpton places into doubt the judgment of Ford executives. I can think of no expenditure further removed from the core mission of saving the company and the American auto industry than bankrolling Sharpton. It is your responsibility to ensure that no more capital is wasted on controversial political causes, no matter how supportive they are of the administration you represent.
In a Complaint filed today with TARP Inspector General Neil M. Barofsky, I wrote,
Ford’s major donation to Al Sharpton’s group at this critical time calls into question CEO Alan Mulally’s commitment to what he called “shared sacrifice” at Congressional hearings in December.
Ford was a sponsor of the National Action Network 2009 National Convention (NAN) that took place April 1-4, 2009 in New York City. NAN was founded by Al Sharpton and the convention is his major fundraising event of the year. Dr. Carl Horowitz of the NLPC staff attended as observer.
NAN did not disclose the exact amount of Ford’s gift, but a “sponsor” designation for last year’s event cost $50,000. Ford has recently closed 17 plants in North America and has laid off over 50,000 employees. Last year, the company lost $14.6 billion.
Other corporate sponsors of last week’s event included American Honda, Anheuser Busch, Colgate-Palmolive, Comcast, Entergy, Home Depot, Johnson & Johnson, Macy’s, PepsiCo, Pfizer and Wal-Mart.
Bailout recipients GM, Chrysler and Citigroup were sponsors of the same event in 2008, but were not identified as sponsors for 2009.
Reportedly, sponsors of last year’s event received subpoenas as part of the federal investigation into Sharpton’s personal and organizational finances. NAN’s finances have been the subject of several investigations over the years. In 2008, the group reported that it owed $1.9 million in unpaid payroll taxes.
Last week’s event featured a speech by Vice-President Joseph Biden, and two members of the Obama cabinet, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan and Education Secretary Arne Duncan.
During last year’s campaign, Sharpton blasted Biden for calling Obama "the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy."
Sharpton seemed pleased by the administration’s attention. He said, "I think it's noteworthy that this is the first civil rights organization the administration has sent their top people to [and this is Biden's] first trip to New York as vice-president.”
A Sharpton Shakedown.
LOL. All you FReepers who were going to buy Fords because they didn’t take any bailout funds are eating crow.
Which means that they have not received any bailout money to date.
God Bless American business!
*cough*cough*cough*
Ford received no money from the government...why do some freepers who post such lies want the autos to fail? As for supporting Dems...most of you defended AIG bonuses...they gave tons of money to the Dems...I will never understand why conservatives hate American business and have become communist lovers (China).
God Bless America without American business...cough, cough. A country that makes nothing will soon be finished as an economic and military power and with our natural resources, we are an inviting target for ...say China.
Hey all you freepers who bought foreign crap cars...you sold out your country, probably caused a depression and a new socialist America...now don’t you feel silly? You will eat crow because there won’t be much else to eat.
One of the Ford family members(don’t know if he is still with the company) is a zero population enthusiast. Is anyone surprised that Ford is surviving?
There are car companies in the south comrade..
Is Ford still giving millions to gay advocacy groups?
Good points....
Ford has not taken bailout money. Only GM and Chrysler
And, I have noticed many who complain about the auto bailouts have been less critical of AIG getting money (even defending the taxpayer funded bonuses for their execs). The auto bailouts have been a lot less than the AIG bailouts...and most of the auto bailout will stay in America...not wealth redsitributed outside of the US (where most of AIGs money will go).
You do not get to pick and choose your socialism. I would prefer no bailouts for anyone...although the auto bailouts will actually help create wealth (via manufacturing) unlike the AIG bailouts.
Granted, Ford should not be supporting Sharpton...he is a racist and a fraud.
Ford help[ed illegals here in Texas & ran some of the most racists commercials Ive ever seen on TV down here....anti-white of course
If you support any type of bailouts you are a socialist.. For the record, I was oppose to Tarp and other bailouts...
” all you freepers who bought foreign crap cars...you sold out your country”
Well,,, let’s see: First I bought an Astro van. 5 transmissions in 80 thousand miles. So,, then I bought a Ford pickup. The oil pan rusted out, blew on the freeway and took the rest of the engine with it! Then I inherited a 10 year old Lexus. It’s now 18 years old. Runs like at top, 185 thousand miles. Then I bought a Highlander, 2001, only repairs so far are brake pads and rotors, and oxygen sensors. So I screwed American auto makers, and America by buying good cars? Uh uh! American auto makers screwed us, by making junk, and bad deals.
In this regard, Ford was no worse than GM or Chrysler. If you examine the statistics carefully, it seemed that Ford was targeted more for its economic vulnerability at the time than a leading position in supporting the gay agenda.
Corporate liberalism sucks.
Original article link is dead.
I guess it di’nt happen then since it no longer exists at Al Reuters.
In other news
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/993400/posts
GLAAD to Honor Ford Motor Company for Commitment to Diversity and Fairness
US Newswire ^ | 9/30/03
I never said they did. But Ford supports left-wing causes and promotes the homosexual agenda.
Hey all you freepers who bought foreign crap cars
Uh, define "foreign." Nissan, Honda, and Toyota all have plants here in America.
you sold out your country, probably caused a depression and a new socialist America
As opposed to supporting socialist unions and government planners who now run GM?
I KNOW they didn't take any bailout money. What I'm saying is that FReepers were all lining up to buy Ford, thinking that they were pure as the driven snow, but don't realize that Ford supports left-wing causes and the homosexual agenda.
Do I really need this? -->
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Wall Street support far more far left causes than does Ford...I am sick of hearing about this and the autos. What about Gates or IBM. They all support such causes. I will ask you again why do you hate the autos which supply jobs for so many people?
Both my Honda and my Toyota were built in America. Except for my 1950 Ford PU, I've never owned a GM, Ford or Chrysler car that wasn't a piece of crap.
I will repeat my statement; you sold out your country period...you are talking about older American cars. Let me tell you the modern Lexus has problems; the best car is a Buick;it beat out Lexus...google it. Yes, you sold out your country...all of you who bought the BS line that somehow Japan and Korean were sort of American; they are not; you gave no consideration to national security either; a country that can not manufacture it’s own products can not be secure...the foreign auto makers had the money to improve quality as they are subsidized by their governments. What did the American autos ever get but a kick in the teeth by our government which turned a blind eye to blatant trade violations by these countries for more than 20 years. We will all bear the brunt of the anti-American economic sentiment that lead people such as yourself to support foreign auto’s...when the big three go, millions of jobs go also...who will pay for social programs for all these people? Where will the jobs come from. The businesses we have left our busy shipping jobs overseas...good paying jobs. Another example of selling out your country on the alter of globalism. The American taxpayer will as usual foot the bill for unemployment, welfare, health care etc; so your foreign junk made by companies that screwed over your country for more than 20 years was not really as good a deal as you might have thought. Patriots support their country in all things, they don’t wave flags and get teary about the ‘troops’ and then go out and buy cheap foreign products...they just don’t.
I agree about Sharpton and the rest of what you say...companies like Microsoft get a pass although they support many left causes...these freepers just hate autos. They have no understanding of the importance of a country that is self sufficient...which is ironic since supposedly, these guys are all about being responsible for one’s self and being self sufficient...crazy talk.
How ironic you call me comrade... there are a few transplants in the South which are laying off like crazy by the way and shutting plants down as well; these are final assembly jobs which you probably have no idea what that means; suffice to say it means much fewer jobs then what is found in American industry...now these are not American companies, any profit goes right back home to Japan, Korea or Germany...after they succeed in destroying the auto’s they will pack up and go home just as they did after destroying electronics (Japan). Germany will leave also as their people are screaming about jobs. They will all leave...but even if I’m wrong and they stay, they are not American companies and can not be counted on in any meaningful way...say a time of national crisis; you remember that little matter of national security...without a domestic auto industry, we become a pathetic dependent nation...the amount of jobs lost will certainly lead to socialism...and you call me comrade...too funny. Your policies lead directly to Marxism and dependency...please Japan, China, Korea etc. can I have some more; I am just a pathetic American who can’t make anything for himself? Only the truly stupid destroy their industries as we have...Europe knows better. They had no industry after WWII and would never give it up. There is value in making things...not so much in financial or retail (lowest profit part of manufacturing). You and your kind who spout this nonsense are destroying this country...what a shame.
Right so we should buy foreign cars and send the money to Japan, Korea or Germany; employ their citizens while paying for social programs for those our buying habits caused to lose their jobs?...maybe we should wait and send it to China; they are trying to get in the auto business...then they can buy more guns to eventually attack us with.
Too bad, you supported foreign companies that were funded by their government. Companies that screwed over American auto companies while our government looked the other way-allowing completely unfair trade policies. American cars are not pieces of crap and at the end of the day...you sold out your country. There is no way around it...you supported a foreign company and not an American company. You sold out your country just like those CEO’s who are now moving jobs overseas for profit...all the rationalizations in the world will not change this fact. You and others like you participated in the destruction of an entire American industry...I would not be proud but then I support American industry no matter what. Before I married my husband, I bought only American cars. I am a patriot and consider patriotism more than talk. I walk the walk and don’t just wave flags on the fourth of July. You sold out your country.
You're right. The Toyotas and Hondas that are built here are excellent vehicles.
and at the end of the day...you sold out your country.
Tell that to the good people of Indiana and North Carolina that built my cars.
You sold out your country just like those CEO’s who are now moving jobs overseas for profi
You mean like the CEO's of Ford, Chrysler and GM?
I support American industry no matter what.
Then you should consider buying an American Made Honda Accord or a Toyota Tundra.
“Ford Motor Company has applied for $5 billion in taxpayer funds for retooling, and has access to an additional $9 billion line of credit from the government.”
Anyone who writes an article with the opening statement being a flat out lie, is not to be given any credibility for the rest of their article.
“Ford help[ed illegals here in Texas & ran some of the most racists commercials Ive ever seen on TV down here....anti-white of course”
Those commercials were most likely done by the Auto Dealer’s of your area. 99.9% of any regional commercials for the Ford brand are actually funded by the dealer networks and produced by local advertisers.
Dealerships are independently owned businesses. Domestic automakers are legally prevented from owning their own dealerships.
“But Ford supports left-wing causes and promotes the homosexual agenda.”
Flat out lie.
Toyota and Nissan have applied for loans under the same plan Ford has....
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