Media Ignore Caterpillar Plant Employees Opposed Stimulus, Even After Obama Rehire Pledge

Newsbusters.org ^ | March 3, 2009 | Jeff Poor

[Saint X]

In February, in the build up to the ultimate passage of President Barack Obama's $787-billion stimulus package, there was a lot of discussion about how much the stimulus was going to help the ailing economy. And to promote the bill, Obama visited a Caterpillar plant in Peoria, Ill.

Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., who represents the 18th Congressional District of Illinois, where the Caterpillar plant is located, described Obama's visit and how he used it to lobby him to vote for the bill. It was another side of the story that went unreported by the media.

Obama singled out Schock in his Feb. 12 appearance, telling his audience to visit with the Illinois congressman and encouraged him "to do the right thing for the people of Peoria."

--more (w/video)--

[Saint X]

Says he had 1,400 calls, letters and e-mails from Cat employees opposing the stimulus and 0 supporting it, even after the rehire pledge.

[1rudeboy]

Caterpillar didn’t fare so well around here, either, after the CEO came out in favor of free trade and against the ‘Buy American’ steel provision in the stimulus package.