Ed Schultz: 'Will Voters Hold GOP Accountable for Trying to Kill American Auto Industry?'
Despite Clint Eastwood's pronouncement Monday that he is "certainly not politically affiliated with Mr. Obama," the President's fans in the media are doing a victory lap over Super Bowl Sunday's Chrysler commercial featuring the Oscar-winning actor and filmmaker.
So excited by this ad was MSNBC's Ed Schultz Monday that he disgustingly asked his audience, "Will voters hold Republicans accountable for trying to kill the American auto industry?" (video follows with commentary):
"Will voters hold Republicans accountable for trying to kill the American auto industry?" -- MSNBC's Ed Schultz, February 6, 2012
Sadly, despite what Eastwood told Fox News producer Ron Mitchell, this is likely how the Obama-loving media are going to play this.
Never mind that Republicans opposed the bailout of GM and Chrysler because they felt both companies would be better off long-term if they went through conventional bankruptcies and reorganizations without the government's financial assistance, and if either or both didn't, it was because they were no longer viable entities.
Never mind that Ford did not participate in this bailout nor did the hundreds nay thousands of companies that supply the auto industry meaning that even if GM and Chrysler both ceased to exist - which was likely not going to be the case despite what folks like Schultz dishonestly claim - the auto industry would be far from dead.
Never mind that with the government's assistance, the auto industry is nowhere near back to where it was before this most recent recession began.
There were 955,000 employees associated with automobile and parts manufacturing in December 2007. There are 746,000 today.
As for those employed by motor vehicle and parts dealers, that number was 1.9 million. Today it's 1.7 million. That means we're still over 400,000 underwater despite all the money spent.
How big of a rebound has this represented as far as jobs are concerned?
There's been about a 90,000 increase in vehicle and parts dealer workers since May 2009 when the bailout was announced and about 100,000 in automobile and parts manufacturing.
Good news for those workers to be sure, but calling this auto bailout a success seems quite premature, especially given last week's report from the Treasury Department (via Detroit News):
The U.S. Treasury Department boosted its estimate of government losses in the $85 billion auto bailout by $170 million.
In the government's latest report to Congress this month, the Treasury upped its estimate to $23.77 billion, up from $23.6 billion.
Last fall, the government dramatically boosted its forecast of losses on the rescues of General Motors Co., Chrysler Group LLC and their finance units from $14 billion to $23.6 billion.
Much of the increase in losses is due to the sharp decline of GM's stock price over the last six months.
At this point, the auto bailout has cost taxpayers $124,000 per new hire. Was that money well spent?
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Comments
premature
Submitted by MidAmerica on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 10:23pm.
GM cannot be called a success until they are completely off of government support, posting profits and have sustainable profitability for the forseeable future.
I would add to that list
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 11:10am.
when (as if it will ever happen) the money stolen from the secured bond holders has been seized from the UAW and returned to those investors.
GM will never be cut off from the government.
Submitted by drsamherman on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 10:31pm.
They have zero reason to want to shut themselves off from the government. As long as their jobs are protected, the unions are being paid off and they can use the massive machinery of government to make consumers prefer their products with tax gimmicks and regulatory harassment, GM's management will not do a damned thing to become independent again. The federal government is a good protection for them from someone buying up all of their stock cheap, dumping their management and moving their brands overseas, even though that is what is essentially happening to all unionized American industries because the unions have priced themselves out of the current labor market.
Agreed
Submitted by Galvanic on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 10:52am.
Unlike private investors who might cut their losses and run, the Federal government will always pump more money into the corporation it has invested in for one simple reason: it can. A good example is Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Washington will just borrow more cash and hands it over to GM, and thus GM will have no financial incentive to reform its business and manufacturing practices to achieve efficiencies that will make it competitive.
WHO killed the American Auto Industry?
Submitted by Willis_Leon_Johnson on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 10:31pm.
A few facts.
1. The unions held the companies hostage every other year or so with the same old "PAY us MORE, and GIVE us MORE, or we will go on strike and put you out of business".
2. The companies always caved because they could just pass the added costs on to the consumers. If not through higher initial vehicle purchase price, then through higher priced replacement parts, and eventually, "planned obsolescence".
3. Unions pushed for and got democrats elected (repeatedly) that pushed UNCONSTITUTIONAL laws such as CAFE standards, and a whole raft of other punishing regulations that further damaged the ability of the companies to show a profit for the shareholders.
It became astoundingly simple for the foreign manufacturers to ship more, better built, more reliable cars into this country and sell them for less than the union demands allowed US manufacturers to sell them for.
NOW the 'foreign' manufacturers are building their vehicles on US Soil, making a profit, and the unions can't quite find a way to get a foot in the doors because the companies treat their employees that unions will not allow.
eddie schultz for brains continues to live below my expectations.
End 'gun violence in America' - Require training and MANDATORY "Shall Carry" by every Citizen.
If harry reid is the best person to lead the senate, what does that say about the other 99 senators?
One thing is certain
Submitted by Free Stinker on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 10:33pm.
Viewers have held Schultz accountable for being an idiot. See his ratings for specifics. ;-)
/// Sarah Palin Fan since July 11, 2007 /// خال
Hello Ed, you thick bastard...
Submitted by MightyMouth on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 11:09pm.
G W Bush ( a REPUBLICAN) started the auto bailout. You moron!
Get the facts strait!
Submitted by Fredy on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 11:23pm.
First thing first. The ONLY congressional action was that done by the PELOSI House in 2008!
In 2008 PELOSI STOPPED any auto-bailout!
There was NEVER another vote by congress. NONE!
The FACTS must not be lost by LIARS such as Ed Schultz!
In 2008 PELOSI STOPPED any auto-bailout!
Submitted by MightyMouth on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 11:33pm.
But why did she stop it? Because G W Bush, Incarnation of Satan, wanted it!
It's obama who's killing the
Submitted by robert108 on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 11:42pm.
It's obama who's killing the auto INDUSTRY by converting it into another welfare program for the unionists.
Wow
Submitted by bobsmom on Mon, 02/06/2012 - 11:47pm.
I just came off another site that I got disgusted with re the Eastwood commercial for Chrysler, and I'm feeling the same exasperation here, as I did there. Sadly, I'm from Michigan, and I'm feeling the pain here as much as anyone else. I maintain house and home here (and yes, I'm one of the lucky ones with a good job), while my husband works in Tennessee to make ends meet, as there is no work here for him. He and I were both watching the game last night (and rooting for the Giants), and 10 seconds after that commercial, he was on the phone to me. Here's the funny part, I'm a conservative, and my husband is a liberal, and BOTH of us were so thrilled with that commercial, that I'm sure no one here will ever understand it. To us, it had nothing to do with politics, or bail outs or any of that BS. It was about what this blue collar state does best (or used to) ,MAKING THINGS. I don't care where your politics lie. The thing we have to agree on, is as a country, we don't MAKE anything here any more, and that is the problem. Not who does a commercial for who. Or maybe I am just hopelessly naive, and if I am, I really made a poor decision to start commenting on these sites. Because, I gotta say, I actually feel worse since I've started talking to everyone. I expected to feel supported by like minded people and I've been treated worse by those I expected to understand my opinions, than I ever was by those I talk with every day.
Or maybe I am just hopelessly naive...
Submitted by MightyMouth on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 12:11am.
BINGO!
"I really made a poor decision to start commenting on these sites."
Yep, probably...
"Here's the funny part, I'm a conservative, and my husband is a liberal"
Right "bobsmom" We get it... that IS pretty funny. (eye roll) (yawn) whatever...
Troll much?
Oh God
Submitted by bobsmom on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 12:37am.
here we go. I thought maybe you'd found another hobby besides stalking me. If I can't speak truthfully on these blogs, the there is no point, and thanks to you for trying to stifle my speech. If I met you in real life, I'd tell you to your face what I tell them, "I didn't know you ten minutes ago, and your opinion surely didn't matter to me then, WTF makes you think it matters to me now?" MM, I've been talking to a lot of other folks on this site, and you're the only one who seems to have a problem with me, therefore, I've gotta think the problem is yours. And if not, if the powers that be decide to ban me, oh well, whatever. If it gives you a great big woody to have a person removed from commenting, you're a sadder specimen than I am. Sorry, the fact IS, I AM a conservative, and my husband IS a liberal, if that makes me a "troll" alrighty then, I'm glad your life is so frigging perfect that you found the perfect match. And if so, I'd venture to say,my life is a fiddly flying fu$k more interesting than yours is. Thanks dickweed, I'm sure glad I've given you a reason for living............yawn backatcha, you useless POS who seems to think commenting on blogs makes you an important person. Poor dude. Or dudette, hard telling by the histrionics.
What are you guys fighting about?
Submitted by cajun2 on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 12:47am.
If you are discussing Clint Eastwood's commercial then I am really confused. Just my opinion but I watched that video 3 times back to back. I saw no support for Obama or any politician in it. To me, it was a more patriotic call for Americans during these difficult times, to have hope, keep fighting for the things that originally made this country great. Things like creativity, innovative technology, hard work, competition to be the best. Somewhere along the way we lost that. And time is running out.
Sounds like a pretty good picture of our world today and a call back for the things that made us great. So what is there to fight about? Liberal or conservative, that ad sounded pretty good to me.
Honey
Submitted by bobsmom on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 1:04am.
I'm not fighting about anything, I was just expressing my feelings about what the commercial meant to the residents of Michigan, regardless of your political bent. Mighty Mouth had decided that he/she/it hated me with the first post I ever made, and I had hoped we'd gotten past it, but apparently not. Regardless, he/she/it can piss and moan about how they feel about me (didn't think that's what these sites were for, if so, I'd have signed up for a singles site all it likes, and you know what? Unless the NB powers that be decide I'm not worthy of commenting here, I guess I'll just stick around. Takes more than a cyber bully with nothing better to do to chase this gal away.
cajun, you got it. Liberals
Submitted by spiderdan on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 8:25am.
cajun, you got it. Liberals and their moronic following will attach themselves -- like leeches on a hippo -- to anything they believe will get them free street creds. Eastwood did a great job with the ad, and if Chrysler has that kind of moxy on Super Sunday, maybe they're worth another look when it comes time for a new ride. There is no political slant, but I'd love to see an Eastwood ad pointing out the utter failure of hopey-dopey and his ilk. Sort of like the famous exchange in "Outlaw Josey Wales": "Just when I start to likin' someone, they ain't around long." Chief Lone Waddy," I notice when you get to not likin' someone, they ain't around long, either."
Sorry, but your personal
Submitted by fitzfong on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 11:23am.
Sorry, but your personal situation notwithstanding, there is no intrinsic virtue in the taxpayer being forced to prop up GM & Chrysler. Both were poorly run companies overcompensating union labor and producing vehicles that could not sell at a level that justified the massive labor costs. The fact that the government used taxpayer money to bail out the unions at the expense of the bond holders so that the unions could continue operating inefficiently and producing overpriced cars that won’t sell is offensive enough. The fact that these car companies have then siphoned more taxpayer money (at Super Bowl rates) to pat themselves on the back for stealing our money and then demanding that we customers be grateful for this is just too much. The height of cynicism.
"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." -George Best
Ed's mindless rants are just
Submitted by rbosque on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 12:04am.
Ed's mindless rants are just further evidence of brain damage.
Gee Ed why should we care..it
Submitted by jkwtrading on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 2:46am.
Gee Ed why should we care..it was a good liberal once who said Corporations are not people.
Yeah, voters will go jousting
Submitted by spiderdan on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 8:17am.
Yeah, voters will go jousting windmills with Uncle Ed as soon as they get over their stupor from watching Democrats enslave three generations of minorities. A wise man once said: Give a man a fish, he eats today. Teach a man to fish, Democrats lose a voter.
Apparently, the Acapulco Gold brownies made their way into MincemeatNBC's green room (no pun intended).
these people are BEYOND ignorant
Submitted by wizardjr on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 8:24am.
I got three words for ya dipstick - Ford Motor Company.
Excellent retort!
Submitted by Galvanic on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 1:07pm.
Just like its Solyndra decisions, this Administration propped up the losers. If I were a share holder in Ford, I'd be pissed that my tax dollars -- or more accurately, the money we borrowed at our grandchildren's expense -- went to reward failing auto manufacturers GM and Chrysler, and principally to bail out the union pension plans.
Washington routinely mucks up the free enterprise system.
Provide Meds
Submitted by John21 on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 12:03pm.
Someone please provide "Special Ed" with anti-delusional meds.
I know that there is nothing between this mans ears but air, but there has to be a limit to stupidity somewhere. I know he is not smart enough to read or understand the world around him. I know that the script is read to him by one of the DNC writers.
This man needs help, maybe a friend (1, and I am not volenteering) to give him a clue. He has not said an even close to intelligent thing in months, I know that his handlers are getting desparate to give the administration some semblemce of competence but their has to be a limit to the torture.
The really sad part
Submitted by misterbee241 on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 12:25pm.
is there are people in this country who will listen to this cretin and believe every word he has to say. THAT is just sad.