Ford's Appeasement Backfires

Fox News ^ | Thursday, March 23, 2006 | Steven Milloy

[yhwhsman]

Ford's Appeasement Backfires
Thursday, March 23, 2006
By Steven Milloy

Environmental activists took a whack this week at Ford Motor Company CEO Bill Ford in a full-page ad in the New York Times.

Bill Ford ought to be embarrassed – not because the enviros ridiculed him, but because the ad demonstrates that his strategy of appeasing environmentalists is backfiring.

Featuring a weary-eyed Bill Ford pointing in opposite directions, the ad caption reads “When it comes to global warming, Ford can’t have it both ways.”

After Ford caved into pressure from left-wing activist investors and issued a report stating that it “views stabilization of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and energy security as critical and related business issues that warrant precautionary, prudent and early action,” the enviros thanked Ford in return by accusing his company of putting “more heat-trapping pollution into our skies each year than the entire country of Mexico”; continuing to “produce more global warming pollution on average than any other automaker”; continuing to make SUVs; and fighting a California law that would require a 30 percent reduction in automobile carbon dioxide emissions by 2016.

The enviros glibly conclude their ad by stating, “A healthy planet and a financially sound Ford won’t be achieved until Ford offers a full fleet of cleaner and more innovative vehicles.”

[yhwhsman]

more heat-trapping pollution into our skies each year than the entire country of Mexico

I wish people would start standing up and making these wackos prove their accusations.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

Show me the data!

[L98Fiero]

"The enviros glibly conclude their ad by stating, “A healthy planet and a financially sound Ford won’t be achieved until Ford offers a full fleet of cleaner and more innovative vehicles.”"

I guess that 3 billion dollar profit they posted last year wasn't "financially sound".

[Pittsburg Phil]

"After Ford caved into pressure from left-wing activist investors ..."


And Ford caved into the queers, too.

Do yourself a big favor, buy Honda!

[bondjamesbond]

[BW2221]

Ford is getting bashed from every side. Earlier this week the American Family Association called for a boycott of Ford products because of the company's support of gays and ads in gay publications.

The problem with Bill Ford is that he hangs out with fellow limousine liberals and can't relate to the Ford buyer - Charlie Lunchbucket.

In terms of vehicles and management, Ford Motor Company is by far the weakest of the old "Big three." Billy's great grandfather started the company more than 100 years ago, and it just might go belly-up on Billy's watch.

[Nuc1]

Warm it up!!! I want my winter vacation property on James Bay to be made good! Heck, my pickup puts more pollution into the air than the entire economy of Mexico. /s

[bondjamesbond]

[Unam Sanctam]

Here's a thought for Ford: rather than caving in to every left-wing interest group, how about focus on making reliable and cost-effective cars like the Japanese?

[joesnuffy]

You mean like the other Americans who make reliable cars
in Japanese owned plants?...and in America to boot!

[Navy Patriot]

The problem with Bill Ford is that he hangs out with fellow limousine liberals and can't relate to the Ford buyer - Charlie Lunchbucket.

I believe your observation is the most important of the causes. I worked as an auto technician for a Ford dealership for years and the company attitude toward buyers is exactly the problem. The newest Ford I own is a 70's Boss 302.

[TheOracleAtLilac]

Bring back EDSEL II !

[oldbrowser]

the enviros thanked Ford in return by accusing his company of putting “more heat-trapping pollution into our skies each year than the entire country of Mexico”

School yard rule # 1

Bullies will always attack their appeasers

[nightdriver]

....the enviros thanked Ford in return by accusing his company of putting “more heat-trapping pollution into our skies each year than the entire country of Mexico”

Of course, these wackos would know, wouldn't they? (/sarc.)

I wonder if they have ever seen the polluted air in and around Mexico City.

[BW2221]

They have. It's called the Ford Five Hundred.

[goldstategop]

Of course the enviros would like to ban the automobile altogether. Ford is deluding itself if they think the Left will be happy with environmentally friendly vehicles. Oh the Greens will settle for it as a half-loaf but for them the car is The Enemy.

(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")

[funkywbr]

Hey let Ford go with the Gays and the Enviros and let them explain their losing strategy to the workers they lay off down the line.

[RightWinger]

Do yourself a big favor, buy Honda!

I do, Honda, Toyota or Nissan.

[TheOracleAtLilac]

I was referring to Billy's cuz ;-)

[tubebender]

Not to mention the hundreds of millions of dollars given to these anarchist by the Ford family foundation...