Posted on 09/12/2006 4:50:42 PM PDT by ritewingwarrior
DETROIT (Reuters) - The president of the United Auto Workers union on Tuesday said U.S. President George W. Bush's failure to address the challenges facing the nation's domestic automakers would come back to haunt his Republican Party in the fall elections.
UAW chief Ron Gettelfinger said he believed Bush's decision to postpone a meeting with auto executives until after the November elections -- despite being in Michigan recently at a fund-raiser for the Republican challenger to incumbent Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow -- was an example of the president putting party politics above national economics.
The union has historically supported Democratic political candidates.
"Apparently, (Bush) thinks that if he did something for Michigan right now ... he might be helping (Stabenow) get re-elected when he's trying to unseat her," Gettelfinger said at the Reuters Auto Summit in Detroit.
Gettelfinger also said it was "ludicrous" that Bush had no time for the car industry, but managed to find the time to tap Clay Aiken, the runner-up on the popular U.S. reality talent show "American Idol," to serve on the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.
(Excerpt) Read more at today.reuters.com ...
I love this part. "..Bush's failure to address the challenges facing the nation's domestic automakers would come back to haunt his Republican Party in the fall elections."
You mean those union people won't vote for the Republicans?
Shazam
"The union has historically supported Democratic political candidates."
If the UAW wants to save the automakers that they care so much about (/sarc if you missed it), then maybe they should figure out a way to help the automakers to swing a profit on the sales of cars. Hey i got an idea, stop demanding super high wages, and concessions for your union members that bankrupt the automakers!.
Friggin unions are to blaim for our huge trade imbalance and the reason why we can't compete in the manufacturing sector in this country.
UAW - driving American auto companies out of business, which, ironically, drives them out of business.
That is funny! Of all the rotten Unions in the country the UAW is the worst. They deserve their problems and the do not vote GOP anyway.
"Red" staters are already buying UAW made products.
If they vote for the Republicans they will get help. If they don't then in the words of Johnny Paycheck.. "Take your job and shove it."
Damn that is the first time they have had the tables turned on them. It has always been kiss my butt and we just might consent to vote for the Republicans. Now it is vote Republican or you can go to hell.
Oh and Bill Ford is a Democrat too.
What's ludicrous is having a name like "Gettelfinger." He should have changed it to "Ludicrous," but I guess that's already been taken.
Not so much, which is the problem.
Before, the UAW voted for people who wouldn't be caught dead in a UAW-made product (except for the Presidential limo, natch). The people who voted against those candidates bought UAW product.
Now, the UAW votes for people who won't buy a UAW product, and the people who vote against those candidates won't buy a UAW product *either* because they're tired of getting shafted.
Toyota wouldn't be putting up a new plant in San Antonio if they didn't think they could sell the new Tundra in enough quantity to dominate the F-150.
I live in a conservative suburb of Dallas. I'm going to go outside to the parking lot of my apartment complex parking lot and take a picture. Remember, Texas is one of the reddest of the red states - there should be a lot of domestic cars here, if your theory is true.
Back in a minute.
The morons in the UAW cut their own throats, and killed the USA automakers and destroyed their own jobs. Following their stupid leaders and the Democrat Party, they cut their own throats. Now, they will continue to support the Democrat Party and will really get their throats slit by Bin Laden and his ilk, aided, abetted and enabled by their beloved Democrat Party. What idiots. I feel sorry for their families and children.
an excellent analysis -
I happened to attend a GM plant opening in 1996 where Mr. Gettelfinger (who was a UAW vice pres at the time) told the media this economic benefit was all because of the Clinton administration, LOL.
Michigan won't vote for a Republican President, but I think Stabenow and Miss Canada are going to lose because the job situation is bad...but it's the UAW's fault not their's. Take a look at Delphi. The UAW is/was threatening to strike a dying company. Talk about stuck on stupid. It's not the President's job to "save" the auto industry, it's your's Mr. Gefeltfish.
That and the fact that most Americans generally accept the concept that Honda and Toyota make better vehicles. I had an '82 chevy pickup I bought thinking a newer vehicle would be more reliable. I dumped so much money into that damn vehicle for repairs I couldn't afford squat. I bought a Honda, have continued to buy Hondas, and wont go back.
The election season is upon us, thus the do nothing cockroaches come out of the woodwork to feed.
D#mn anyway!
All he has done is support WOT, CIA, NYSE, and USA.
What a wimp for he didn't find time to support UAW.
Vote Democrat and you will be feed to the sharks last.
Of course most of the voting public doesn't want to be fed to the sharks at all.
Sorry, ain't gonna happen.
They think Guido offers them more...
There was a time when unions voted republican.when they switched to voting demorat they cooked their own goose. I say tough. what morons.
He better stick to Michigan, that may be his only win and it won't be because of the union. People here in Michigan haven't felt quite enough pain yet and are likely to stick with the Democrats.
The good news: Our Governor has a five year plan to prosperity for the state if we re-elect her. By that time we will all be living in Florida or Texas.
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