FACT CHECK: Obama promised and failed to keep Janesville GM plant open

Washington Examiner ^ | August 30, 2012 | Conn Carroll

[Qbert]

President Barack Obama came to office during an economic crisis, as he has reminded us a time or two. Those were very tough days, and any fair measure of his record has to take that into account. My home state voted for President Obama. When he talked about change, many people liked the sound of it, especially in Janesville, where we were about to lose a major factory.

A lot of guys I went to high school with worked at that GM plant. Right there at that plant, candidate Obama said: “I believe that if our government is there to support you … this plant will be here for another hundred years.” That’s what he said in 2008.

Well, as it turned out, that plant didn’t last another year. It is locked up and empty to this day. And that’s how it is in so many towns today, where the recovery that was promised is nowhere in sight.

The Washington Post, and a host of other liberal media outlets, are calling this passage “misleading” because the Janesville plant “closed before the president was inaugurated.” The Post is dead wrong. Here are the facts:

1. On February 13, 2008 Obama said in Janesville : “I believe that if our government is there to support you, and give you the assistance you need to re-tool and make this transition, that this plant will be here for another hundred years.”

2. In June 2008 GM announced that the Janesville plant would stop production of medium-duty trucks by the end of 2009, and stop production of large SUVs in 2010 or sooner.

3. In October 2008 Obama doubled down on his promise to keep Janesville plant open: “As president, I will lead an effort to retool plants like the GM facility in Janesville so we can build the fuel-efficient cars of tomorrow and create good-paying jobs in Wisconsin and all across America.”

4. In December 2008 GM idled production of GM SUVs at the Janesville plant. Medium-duty truck assembly continued.

5. In April 2009, four months after Obama was inaugurated, GM idled production of medium-duty trucks.

6. In September 2011, more than two years after Obama was inaugurated, GM reiterates that Janesville plant is on “stand by status.” Auto industry observer David Cole, tells the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel it would be premature to say the Janesville plant will never reopen.

6. Today the GM facility in Janesville still has not been retooled “so we can build the fuel-efficient cars of tomorrow and create good-paying jobs,” as Obama promised.

[virgil]

Ryan lives in Janesville. It’s in his district. He knows better than the media. They shouldn’t take him on over this. It’s just more media lies. It’s liars calling everybody liars.

[grey_whiskers]

Saving Private Enterprise Ryan.

Cheers!

[conservaKate]

Ryan does not need to fabricate. I think Willard’s writers gave Ryan information that is not accurate. Willard’s team have already said that they’re not interested/worried about fact checkers. I’ve always thought highly of Ryan. But it seems to me Willard is forcing Ryan to compromise on all sorts of issues. It’s troubling to me to see what is happening.

And before anyone jumps all over me...yes, I do realize that the MSM does not always have their ‘facts’ correct. But the picture at the link shows what the plant considered their last day of production. It was in Dec of 2008.

http://gazettextra.com/photos/galleries/last-day-gm/3120

[Balding_Eagle]

“5. In April 2009, four months after Obama was inaugurated, GM idled production of medium-duty trucks.”

Read the caption under the photo you link to.

As Rush pionted out today, Janesville was one of the plants Obma himself could have chosen Janesville to stay open to produce one of the ObamaCars, but it went to a democrat part of the country instead.

[conservaKate]

I am not into parsing ‘facts’. The plant made SUV’s. The plant stopped producing SUV’s in Dec and the notice went out earlier in the summer. NOW...there was ‘hope’ that GM might chose to bring on a different product. But that didn’t happen.

So if that’s what you’re referring to...okay. But that still doesn’t make what Ryan said last night accurate. And I don’t blame Ryan. I blame Willard’s team for putting Ryan in the position of making claims that are not completely accurate. I’m fearful that Willard’s team are doing to Ryan what McCain’s team did to Sarah.

Paul Ryan Statement on GM’s Announcement
October 13, 2008

WASHINGTON - Wisconsin’s 1st District Congressman Paul Ryan released the following statemtn regarding General Motors’ decision to discontinue production of their current product at the Janesville Assembly Plant on December 23, 2008:

“GM’s decision to end production of their SUV’s at the end of this year gets at the heart of our economic crisis. Today’s announcement is disappointing, although not surprising given the drop-off of sales of SUV’s. I will continue to do all that I can to support those in our community hit hardest by this loss, as we work to rebuild and revitalize Southern Wisconsin.

“Contrary to headlines I’ve read this morning, it is also critical to note that this accelerated timeline applies only to the current SUV product at the plant. I am encouraged by the tireless work of state, local, and union leaders who have offered a comprehensive incentives package to GM to bring another product to the plant. GM and local officials have continued their dialogue on keeping GM in Janesville, and I am hopeful that their talks will be successful. “

[Qbert]

"Ryan does not need to fabricate. I think Willard’s writers gave Ryan information that is not accurate...And before anyone jumps all over me...yes, I do realize that the MSM does not always have their ‘facts’ correct. But the picture at the link shows what the plant considered their last day of production. It was in Dec of 2008."

Nice try:

"GM plant in Janesville closing for good this week"

by AP, April 19, 2009

http://www.journalstandard.com/news/x1092975095/Janesville-GM-plant-closes-for-good-this-week

[conservaKate]

Nice try:

“GM plant in Janesville closing for good this week”

by AP, April 19, 2009

http://www.journalstandard.com/news/x1092975095/Janesville-GM-plant-closes-for-good-this-week

---

From the link:
About 1,200 employees were let go just before Christmas when GM ended SUV production at the plant.

Some 100 workers were retained to finish an order of small- to medium-duty trucks for Isuzu Motors Ltd.

Lee says most of those workers will be laid off Thursday. He says others will be kept on to help guide the plant’s shutdown.

---

So...nit pick much? The plant was effectively closed before Christmas of 2008....as reported by the article you linked. The sort of tactics you’re using are not an honest attempt to analyze events. We’re back to trying to figure out what the definition of *is* is.

My point was that Ryan was given bad information from Willard’s team. Ryan does not need to fabricate, stretch or misrepresent to get across the point about O’s inability to get the US economy moving in a meaningful/effective manner.

Why fabricate when the truth is out there for everyone to see? Ryan’s a good guy. Willard’s team have proven themselves to be incapable of walking and chewing gum. They need to get their act together...and fast.

[Qbert]

"So...nit pick much? The plant was effectively closed before Christmas of 2008....as reported by the article you linked. The sort of tactics you’re using are not an honest attempt to analyze events."

The article I linked to shows the plant officially closed in April, 2009. Your hero was inaugurated in January, 2009. The plant officially closed during Obama's presidency, despite all of his empty promises. Sorry, but "effectively" closed doesn't cut it.

[conservaKate]

My hero is Paul Ryan. My dissapointment is w/ the Willard handlers who are not effectively utilizing Ryan’s conservative credentials. Sorry that you don’t ‘get’ that.

I do find it odd that when someone points out that Willard’s a liar and fabricates his own ‘truth’....all of a sudden the allegation of supporting O gets thrown out.

I personally don’t think I have to be a supporter of Willard to be against O. But then I’m from a state that Willard will not win....so I can more easily vote my conscience w/o effecting the outcome of who is elected President. I feel for folks who live in the ‘toss up’ states.

What will I do when I actually have to fill out the ballot...I don’t know. I know I won’t vote for O....but can I bring myself to vote for Willard?....I honestly don’t know yet.

But if Ryan’s handlers keep pushing lies onto Ryan, if they keep pushing Willard’s abortion views onto Ryan....if they keep pushing Romneycare onto Ryan....it will make my decision less gut wrenching.