Liberal radio host Ed Schultz doubts that General Motors' much-anticipated electric car, the Chevy Volt, will help nurse the ailing automaker back to health.
But not so doubtful that Schultz won't gush about the Volt in a radio ad for GM.
Here's Schultz warning his listeners about the vehicle during Monday's show after playing a clip of President Obama describing his rationale for giving GM and Chrysler more time to restructure (click here for audio) --
OBAMA: And so today I'm announcing that my administration will offer GM and Chrysler a limited additional period of time to work with creditors, unions and other stakeholders to fundamentally restructure in a way that would justify an investment of additional taxpayer dollars. During this period, they must produce plans that would give the American people confidence in their long-term prospects for success.
SCHULTZ: An insider has told me the Volt won't make a dime. An insider has told me the Volt will not make a dime. They're going to have to make something that's gonna make a dime.
Speaking with a caller later in the show, Schultz expressed more skepticism about the Volt --
CALLER: The president of the UAW is in a no-win situation and that's another reason why I think that Chapter 11 will probably happen.
SCHULTZ: But GM is gonna have to explain, why are you making the Volt if it's not gonna make any money? Forty-thousand dollar vehicle to average Americans is a helluva lot of money. People want a $22,000 car, they want an $18,000 car, and you know what, they'll even take a $15,000 car if they know they're only going to travel about 10- to 12,000 miles a year, you know, to and from work and that kind of stuff, they're not gonna take a long trip in it or whatever. You know, a $40,000 car just to run around and say, hey, I'm green and there's a wiz of a battery in here, practicality seems to have left, left the building when it comes to something like the Hummer.
Talking with another caller, Schultz played his ad for GM (click for audio) --
SCHULTZ: Now this is a spot, and I guess we could call this one a free, this is free-plug Friday on a Monday for GM. GM, GM buys The Ed Schultz Show, not only because of me, but they're buying it because of you, because you're a listener and I have enough listeners that they want to reach and this is the story that they're telling. I want to play this commercial and, can we stop it and start it as we go along? All right, here we go.
SCHULTZ (narrating ad): GM has been all over the news lately, but let me tell you a few things you may not know about GM. This company is completely reinventing itself. It's leaner, greener and stronger. Twenty-two of 24 new vehicle launches between now and 2012 are fuel-efficient cars and crossovers, exactly the kinds of cars Americans want. They've already got more cars that get an EPA-estimated 30 miles per gallon or better on the highway than anybody.
SCHULTZ (back on show): Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! What was that?! What did I just hear there?! They already get 30 miles to the gallon? What, what, did I, did you hear that?!
CALLER: Yeah, but you know what? It's like the Japanese, they had that, you know, 10 years ago, Ed. I mean ...
SCHULTZ: But wait a minute, but right now, but right now what GM is saying is that, hey, they're there.
CALLER: But you know, that's not good enough, Ed. I don't want just 30 miles per gallon. My Corolla that I'm driving right now, it's an '04, you know, it gets 30 in the city and it gets 40 on the highway. You know, give me something better than that, GM. Chrysler, that goes for you too.
And as for Chrysler, I know more about Chrysler than I do about General Motors, Chrysler for that matter, I mean, they put the freaking hybrid in the Aspen and the Durango, the two hugest things that they have. What about throwing a hybrid in a Caliber, you know, the smallest car they got? You know, bump that mileage up to, you know, 40, 50 miles a gallon and, you know, sell it for, you know, $15-, $19,000 for somebody like me to buy.SCHULTZ: All right, there's the voices of America right there, car manufacturers. That's what Michael in Union City, N.J., is saying. Let's play the rest of the spot.
SCHULTZ (in ad): They've got the biggest selection of hybrids too, one for every need. They're making incredible progress on the 2011 Chevy Volt, GM's extended range electric car. Fully charged, it's going to be able to go up to 40 miles without using a drop of gas.
More "incredible" still -- it won't make a dime for GM! But what a deal they're offering on that TruCoat sealant out here in Fargo, you betcha.
This isn't the only questionable ad pitched by Schultz. Another in heavy rotation during his show is for ITM Trading gold merchants (here for audio) --
SCHULTZ: Hi folks, this is Ed Schultz. You know, I'm convinced that everyone ought to own some gold today. Why? Well, because the dollar is traveling down the same road the German mark did in the early 1900s when it took a wheelbarrel full of money to buy a loaf of bread. Financial experts everywhere say our financial system is broken and the bailouts necessary to fix our economy are undermining the dollar.
So call my friends at ITM Trading and get some gold today, 1-888-OWN-GOLD, that's 1-888-OWN-GOLD. Since the dollar hit its peak in July of 2001, it lost over 41 percent to its most recent low while gold went up over 278 percent. I'm afraid the trillions needed in stimulus today to battle deflation are going to turn into runaway inflation, so don't wait. Call my friends at ITM Trading and get some gold today. Ask for their free information packet about owning gold. I got some historic $20 gold coins from ITM and you should too. 1-888-OWN-GOLD. That's 1-888-OWN-GOLD.
When it comes to "stimulus" that could trigger runaway inflation -- the TARP bailout, federal loans for automakers, Obama's so-called rescue and recovery plan -- Schultz has yet to encounter any that hasn't made his heart go pitter-pat.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Ask an engineer
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 08:12 ET by 10ksnookerYou will find that none of the following are viable -- That means costs less than conventional fossil fuels. Ethanol, bio-diesel, electric vehicles, hybrids, windmills(bird Cuisinarts, never understood why this was OK), solar panels and the rest.
It's simple really, if any of this crap were viable, means costs less, then it would be everywhere. The market would find a way.
Markets are very efficient at getting the best out. Fascism and government cannot compete.
Well you see
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 08:32 ET by general companyYou could put a big propeller on your car, race up to 60mph turn off the engine and let the wind power take over. With the addition of a solar panal, you could have power windows and a radio, not one of those thumping radios, but just a little something to listen to dear leader with
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
The market IS finding a way.
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 08:50 ET by redmikeThe market IS finding a way. Check out Tesla Motors. And they are doing it in a smart way. First vehicle, sexy roadster that gets 225 miles on a single charge and has performance characteristics of some of the worlds most exotic cars. $100k. All hand made. 0-60 in about 4 seconds. 100% electric.
The greatly demanded and hugely profitable roadster funds the development of the Model S. Under $50k with performance characteristics similar to todays luxury sedans. 300 miles on a charge. To be mass produced. 100% electric. Oh, and incredibly sexy.
Future plans? A sport utility vehicle under $30k. and the rest still TBD.
Feds need to stop bailing out old dinosaurs. Tesla is the next GM.
nice car, but need more trunk space
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 10:00 ET by mom_roxDarn, too bad my kids won't fit. Not even in the small trunk ;)
(edit: here's the link.)
How long will it take
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 12:05 ET by general companyfor a wind mill to charge the battery?
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
The Tesla electric car is a joke
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 16:18 ET by PopularTechI am all for markets but the Tesla is in no remote way market ready. It is an expensive toy for the eco-elite. It will only be ready for the masses when it comes in under the price of a Toyota Yaris ($12,000) and can charge in the same amount of time it takes you to fill the gas tank.
32 hours needed to charge Tesla (Edmunds)
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is Not Pollution
Tesla electic car: Unreliable?
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 16:54 ET by PopularTechStalled Tesla Roadster in venture capital's epicenter (Valleywag)
Tesla's alternative energy: the tow truck (Valleywag)
LMAO!
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is Not Pollution
EXAMPLE# 7,843 AS TO GM'S CLUELESSNESS
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 09:51 ET by SgthulkaWhere were/are the GM marketing exec's who allow this? In my day(!) if a network were to back-stab a client like this it would have been the kiss-of-death.
To say nothing of advertising on a network that wishes your coproration would just dry up.
Every day, another example of Harvard Biz school logic.
I read somewhere that this
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 08:45 ET by indianaconservativeI read somewhere that this was just a start into the process. The Volt has the engine/generator together as a module that could be replaced in the future with some other technology such as fuel cell, turbine generator, or whatever else comes along. These projects are good things when you are making money on the other lines but things have changed.
under cutting volt?
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 10:41 ET by foolnomoreMedia 's been beating u.s. car makers ,much too long, they over sold the cars from every place else, yes we were behind ,an g/m , ford have been retooling , the saturn, is one that is on track as is the "volt" , it's been on the drawing board & r&d"ed for awhile, it can work.
Real Reason for larger cars
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 11:57 ET by stunnedtired of liberal lies
I am so tired of the pundits wondering why Americans have such a love affair with big cars. The simple answer is car seat laws. When my youngest was born 6 years ago my husband and his brothers tried to fit 3 car seats in the back of my Toyota Corolla for and hour and they couldn't get the doors closed. Kids in my state must be in a booster seats until age 8. I moved into a mini-van and ALL of my friends did too or into SUV s. With the mandetory front passenger air bags my oldest can't sit in the front seat until age 12 at the earliest depending on his height and weight. Even with only one or two kids how can you car pool or take a couple of their friends out with you in a car? When shopping for a new car my husband wanted a small car for commuting to save gas but we had to shop around for a while with the kids and booster/car seats to find one large enough to hold them all if he needed take all three with him if I was not home. The number of large autos on the road exploded after these laws were passed and parents and grandparents bought larger vehicles to hold all the kids. The lesson should be learned that all laws no matter how good the intentions have unexpected consequences. Coming soon will be laws limiting the number of kids you have or taxing you more for having more than the mandated number in order to save the planet.
Electric Cars
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 15:35 ET by slickwillie2001With the right battery technology and modest expectations, electric vehicles should have a bright future, say in 5-10 years. You also must look beyond personal cars, to stop and go delivery trucks and vans. But while the liberals push electric, they are also pushing their idiotic Carbon cap and trade, which will dramatically increase the cost of electricity. The result may be that they kill any chance for electric vehicles to get off the ground.
Slick, battery tech, well still 1860's
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 16:07 ET by upcountrywaterAin't no battery magic... in the horizon... ( i want a better battery,man) ain't one... dang -it..
Lead acid batteries were invented in 1859 by Gaston Planté and first
demonstrated to the French Academy of Sciences in 1860. They remain the
technology of choice for automotive SLI (Starting, Lighting and
Ignition) applications because they are robust, tolerant to abuse,
tried and tested and because of their low cost. For higher power
applications with intermittent loads however, Lead acid batteries are
generally too big and heavy and they suffer from a shorter cycle life
and typical usable power down to only 50% Depth of Discharge (DOD).
Despite these shortcomings Lead acid batteries are still being
specified for PowerNet applications (36 Volts 2 kWh capacity) because
of the cost, but this is probably the limit of their applicability and
NiMH and Li-Ion batteries are making inroads into this market. For
higher voltages and cyclic loads other technologies are being explored.
Ok get the optional 250 KW charger for your tesla car, BTW 200 AMP electric service provides only 42 KW..
A "normal" charge time is 3-5 hours.. while on the road you get to wait in line.
Cheaper to DRILL for oil, mine for uranium and coal. Expand that market.
P.R.I.N.T. Money 30 sec YT
32 hours needed to charge Tesla Electric Car
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 17:01 ET by PopularTech32 hours needed to charge Tesla (Edmunds)
So much for plug it in anywhere and go.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is Not Pollution
LMAO Yea good one Pop T, great link.
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 11:53 ET by upcountrywateror
320 hours on a solar charger.
People don't get it. A million cars charging at a rate of 70 amps each, will cause a total black-out.
Unless several hundred nuclear power plants are built, NOW. Plus all that heavy wiring. We are so screwed.
P.R.I.N.T. Money 30 sec YT
The 100-Year-Old Electric Car
Fri, 04/03/2009 - 17:05 ET by PopularTechThe 100-Year-Old Electric Car (Popular Mechanics)
Funny how people think electric cars are something new. They have been around since cars have been around, the same problems remain - batteries. People want to fill up in minutes not hours. Until that changes, nothing will change.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is Not Pollution
Eating the Hand
Sat, 04/04/2009 - 08:22 ET by rightwingidiotRegardless of whether the Volt will or won't work doesn't seem to be the issue here. It's really the hypocrisy of Eddy boy.
He gets paid to do commercials for GM yet he bashes them because it's who he is and what he stands for. He doesn't give a crap about GM or the environment, he cares about being as much like Rush as he can so he can jack his paycheck up. The big diff is that Rush knows better than to poop in his own Cheerios.
Half of GM's line doesn't make a profit already. The Volt may not make any money for awhile, maybe never. But, if you take away the vehicles that GM makes that do turn a profit (trucks, SUVs) then it will cease to be. Of course, now that it's Governmental Motors under the supervision of Obeyme, it may never make a profit again. No prob, the taxpayers will just subsidize it.
Ed is just eating the hand that feeds him. I don't think he knows any better,
whoa
Thu, 04/09/2009 - 02:33 ET by GeronLThat is pathetic and ridiculous at the same time