Obama: We will hold U.S. automakers accountable for “bad practices”

Posted: Feb 25, 2009
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We’re pretty sure all of you watched President Barack Obama’s address to Congress last night. Of course when he said the words “As for our auto industry,” we turned up the volume, sat up straight and listened inventively. Obama clearly made promises to hold the U.S. automakers accountable for their “bad practices” but also promised to help create a ”re-imagined” auto industry.

About halfway through the speech, the president said:

“As for our auto industry, everyone recognizes that years of bad decision-making and a global recession have pushed our automakers to the brink. We should not, and will not, protect them from their own bad practices.

“But we are committed to the goal of a re-tooled, re-imagined auto industry that can compete and win. Millions of jobs depend on it. Scores of communities depend on it. And I believe the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it.”

Of course, it’s Karl Benz who is known as the inventor of the automobile but we get the point.

GM and Chrysler are scheduled to meet with Obama’s auto task force tomorrow.


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  • Bobmarley

    Wait?…so he first said he “will not protect them” then he says “we will not walk away from them”????

    …oh wait i forgot! Obama is a socialist freakin NUTCASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He wants to nationalize everything! God forbid people losing their jobs! that would be terrible! (sarcasm)…Lets just let the Government take over the auto industry, then we can have “free” cars for everyone!!! OBAMA is a jack ass!!!

  • Pat

    woha there Bob Marley…relax.

    “But we are committed to the goal of a re-tooled, re-imagined auto industry that can compete and win. Millions of jobs depend on it. Scores of communities depend on it.”

    No where does it say that he will help GM and Chrysler get back up on its feet. Options on the table include bankruptcy and letting other company's come in and do a better job.

    will not protect them – in reference to GM and Chrysler.
    we will not walk away – in reference to the auto industry.

    Obama is one heck of a President and he'll continue being that way

  • zermatt

    But will they protect the UAW and franchise dealers at the expense of the rest of the industry – now that is the real test.

    It is easy to say to the executives: take pay cuts, eliminate sponsorships (say good bye to auto racing),cram down the bonds into ownership stakes, but will the administration have the guts to tell the UAW that pensions and benefits are going to take a hit? Will the UAW be told that the work practices will be changed? Will the dealers be told that they will receive minimal compensation for the loss of their redundant dealerships?

    We will see.

  • Bobmarley

    will not protect them – in reference to GM and Chrysler. – Correct
    we will not walk away – in reference to the auto industry. – Correct…but in this case he is refering to GM and Chrysler as the “auto industry” he will not walk away from

    Tell me one reason why Obama is “one heck of a President”

  • Bobmarley

    Wait?…so he first said he “will not protect them” then he says “we will not walk away from them”????

    …oh wait i forgot! Obama is a socialist freakin NUTCASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He wants to nationalize everything! God forbid people losing their jobs! that would be terrible! (sarcasm)…Lets just let the Government take over the auto industry, then we can have “free” cars for everyone!!! OBAMA is a jack ass!!!

  • Pat

    woha there Bob Marley…relax.

    “But we are committed to the goal of a re-tooled, re-imagined auto industry that can compete and win. Millions of jobs depend on it. Scores of communities depend on it.”

    No where does it say that he will help GM and Chrysler get back up on its feet. Options on the table include bankruptcy and letting other company's come in and do a better job.

    will not protect them – in reference to GM and Chrysler.
    we will not walk away – in reference to the auto industry.

    Obama is one heck of a President and he'll continue being that way

  • zermatt

    But will they protect the UAW and franchise dealers at the expense of the rest of the industry – now that is the real test.

    It is easy to say to the executives: take pay cuts, eliminate sponsorships (say good bye to auto racing),cram down the bonds into ownership stakes, but will the administration have the guts to tell the UAW that pensions and benefits are going to take a hit? Will the UAW be told that the work practices will be changed? Will the dealers be told that they will receive minimal compensation for the loss of their redundant dealerships?

    We will see.

  • Bobmarley

    will not protect them – in reference to GM and Chrysler. – Correct
    we will not walk away – in reference to the auto industry. – Correct…but in this case he is refering to GM and Chrysler as the “auto industry” he will not walk away from

    Tell me one reason why Obama is “one heck of a President”