EDITORIAL: Obama: Stop selling pickup trucks

The Washington Times ^ | August 22, 2011 | Editorial

[jazusamo]

President and Government Motors drive consumers into a ditch

The U.S. auto industry wouldn’t exist today if it weren’t for President Obama, or so he says. According to the White House, the 2009 $80 billion auto bailout - of which at least $14 billion was lost - not only saved the American auto sector but preserved 1 million jobs. If you believe that one, he has a $45,000 electric Chevy to sell you.

Earlier this month, at a Ford Motor Co. plant in Chicago, Mr. Obama even argued that Ford, which didn’t take a federal handout, had him to thank for its success. “If [Ford‘s] competitors had gone down, they would have taken down a whole bunch of the suppliers you depend on,” he said. “The brand of American autos would have diminished. That would have had severe consequences for Ford, and that’s the challenge we faced when I took office.” This is an audacious claim. It’s also baloney. Had its competitors vanished, Ford’s greatest challenge would have been to see how quickly it could ramp up production to snap up their market share.

In Minnesota last week, Mr. Obama lectured car companies to start investing in smaller cars. “You can’t just make money on SUVs and trucks,” he declared. “There is a place for SUVs and trucks, but as gas prices keep on going up, you have got to understand the market. People are going to try to save money.” It’s the height of chutzpah for a wannabe executive with no business experience to think it’s his prerogative to tell carmakers that they need to “understand the market,” especially because it’s obvious Mr. Obama is the one who doesn’t understand consumer behavior.

[editor-surveyor]

>> “If they don’t make smaller cars, and their market dries up because people want smaller cars ... DON’T BAIL THEM OUT.” <<

.
But people do not want smaller cars; they’re unsafe and useless.

People want their trucks and suvs to get better gas milage. That of course would require some engineering, and leave the people safe and mobile, neither of which Obama wants.

[editor-surveyor]

>> “Because starting today, the United States will stand behind your warranty” <<

.
Yea, waaaay behind.

[Fledermaus]

Finally, we have a King. Or an Emporer. Oh wait, DICTATOR!

And yet again we see the wisdom of our Founding Fathers and newly freed colonist who gave us the 2nd amendment for a reason.

Flash mobs the best you can do? Bring it on.

[editor-surveyor]

"Ever wonder why uber leftists hate pickups and SUVs in this country? They are a proven tool for civilian resistance forces. Watch how they applaud their use in countries where they support the civil unrest and overthrows"

Zakly!

[jazusamo]

Obama doesn't know his butt from a hot rock. Pickup sales for all companies have been great and Ford leads them all, they sold over 49,000 last month alone.

July 2011 Top 10 Pickup Truck Sales

[editor-surveyor]

When the economy is going down, you’ve got to have a truck; what’s a Pious good for?

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Obama: To hell with what “the Market” wants. We’re in charge now. I won. You build what the watermelons tell you to build and sell. Or else.

[T Minus Four]

LOL! Give her a big hug for me please!

[editor-surveyor]

>> “You build what the watermelons tell you to build and sell. Or else” <<

.
Actually, that started with W.

That’s why you can’t buy a Ford Excursion with a 7.3 diesel any more. W declared war on diesels in 2002. Now they’re all small and gutless, and use more fuel than the gassers use.

[MinuteGal]

I heard on AM radio news this morning that Costco, the membership club chain, is pulling its chargers for electric cars out of the ground in all its stores across the fruited plain because not enough customers are using them.

A Costco General Manager says just a handful of people are actually using the devices....so they are not cost-efficient enough for the chain's stores to maintain and retain the service.

In one particular store in Kal-ee-for-nia (the Mother Lode of Eco-Freaks) the devices were not used AT ALL during a ONE-YEAR PERIOD!.

Hah!

Leni

[willibeaux]

He would make a good New York used suit salesman. :-)

[jazusamo]

Thanks, I read that yesterday, I believe. They’re going to pull them all out because of lack of use.

Putting those in has to cost big bucks and Costco doesn’t mess with stuff like that normally, I was surprised they put them in in the first place.

[jazusamo]

LOL!

I’ll bet he be a loser at it. :-)

[Eva]

Costco doesn't mess with stuff with that normally,

It's called Green-washing. The left puts COSTCO in the same category with Walmart and so they bend over backwards to look as liberal as possible.

[maine-iac7]

I like your tag line! ;o)

[SuziQ]

Had its competitors vanished, Ford’s greatest challenge would have been to see how quickly it could ramp up production to snap up their market share.

I'm sure they would have! Hubby has an F-250 Four Door Turbo Diesel. He calls it his F-250 Global Warmer with the Middle Finger option. ;o)

[SuziQ]

When dad told her, her eyes got as big a saucers and as clear as a bell she said, “Well now, just how the HELL did this happen?”?

I ask myself that all the time.

[thecodont]

The corn is a nice touch!

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

My understanding is Ford dropped that line because it wasn’t cost-effective to keep manufacturing it due to low numbers of sales.

W was a big-government member of the Ruling Elite, so no love from me.

That said, W comes nowhere near the fascist takeover of industry as we’ve seen in the past few years (auto-manufacturing, healthcare, banking, equities markets, forex, mortages, etc.).

[Doomonyou]

Same here, I've had a 4WD truck for the last 30 years, work, hunting, camping, dump runs etc. I'm about due for a new one. Current is a 1998 GMC Sierra 1500 Z71 with 260K, burns a little oil but runs great. I have no doubt the douche bag in the white house has no idea what a truck is used for by real people. here it is a few years ago.