The "Central Pillar" of Obama's Reelection Campaign: Auto Bailouts
That the auto bailouts were and continue to be unpopular is no secret. Take, for example, a Rasmussen poll conducted last fall, which found that 53 percent of likely voters believed that if their local representative voted for the taxpayer bailouts of GM and Chrysler, he or she does not deserve reelection, while just 36 percent believe that a representative who voted for the auto bailouts does deserve reelection. And take any of these polls as further evidence:
May, 2011 -- Bailouts Remain Popular with Just 25% of Voters
February, 2011 -- 44% Less Likely to buy GM Because of Bailout
February, 2011 -- 57% Still Believe Bailouts Were Bad for US
So what exactly is President Obama, so-called master campaign tactician, thinking by highlighting the auto bailouts (which, mind you, are but a continuation of a Bush policy) as one of the "central pillars" of his 2012 reelection campaign?
President Barack Obama has already made it clear he will use the automotive rescue, begun under President George W. Bush in 2008, as one of the central pillars of his reelection campaign, especially in the critical battlegrounds of the Midwest.
Obama will begin making his case as both GM and Chrysler have emerged from bankruptcy as slimmed-down, profitable enterprises with more-popular vehicles. Even Ford, which did not need or receive a full bailout, benefited significantly from efforts that kept its suppliers afloat, analysts said.
Officials who helped guide the bailout are so confident of the turnaround they are taking a modest victory lap.
“In 2008, the automobile industry lost about 400,000 jobs and both GM and Chrysler were on the brink of bankruptcy and posed a real threat to the entire financial system,” Timothy Massad, assistant secretary of the treasury for financial stability and head of the Troubled Asset Relief Program, said in an interview with POLITICO.
“President [George W.] Bush provided bridge loans and President Obama came in and provided additional assistance allowing the industry to make the tough choices it needed to make to restructure,” he said. “If you look at where we are today, it was a very successful strategy. The industry is growing and has added over 100,000 jobs and is generating operating profits. It’s quite a turnaround.”
Call it a lack of imagination, but I can't see how Obama's own base, let alone those coveted independents, can get excited about reelecting a man whose "central pillar" is being Bush 2.0 and throwing billions of taxpayer dollars at an industry to which a very small segment of the American population has any connection. But something tells me that Obama's plan of focusing on the auto bailouts really isn't about the auto bailouts; it's about ObamaCare. Sure looks as though someone doesn't want to talk about it...
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May '10
Re: The "Central Pillar" of Obama's Reelection Campaign: Auto Bailouts
Obama's campaign strategy will be simple. He won't argue. He will lie. He will cite statistics, show images, and introduce shining examples of a prosperous and happy America that doesn't exist. Then he will lie about Republicans and how "extremists" like you and I are eager to tear this country down.
You're absolutely right that he will attempt to misdirect voters' attention. Note that the auto bailout occurred before Obamacare. He's proud of his first year and office and wants us to focus on that first year.
I can't wait for the "Arab Spring" speech in his defense of his foreign policy.
Mar '11
Re: The "Central Pillar" of Obama's Reelection Campaign: Auto Bailouts
On the issues, Mr Obama doesn't have a leg to stand on.
All we need to do is not shoot ourselves in the foot...
Apr '11
Re: The "Central Pillar" of Obama's Reelection Campaign: Auto Bailouts
Bash Bush...unless it provides a foundation point for re-election!
How can they claim that stiffing so many investors was a "hard choice"? All of a sudden they didn't have to worry about the ugly shadow of bankruptcy, and paying their debts! How can NObama claim a victory for the auto companies at the expense of so many investments by private AND PUBLIC retirement entities?
I was never crazy about Toyota, but they look pretty good right now!
Aug '10
Re: The "Central Pillar" of Obama's Reelection Campaign: Auto Bailouts
It's all Bush's fault!
...which is why you should re-elect me for continuing a vital Bush economic program?
...I also continued his use of Guantanamo Bay.
...I also continued the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and followed up on intelligence gathered during the Bush Administration to kill Bin Laden.
Bush provided "bridge loans" and Obama "merely" put bond holders at the back of the line.
Whee.
Re: The "Central Pillar" of Obama's Reelection Campaign: Auto Bailouts
President Obama thinks that this will help him in Michigan and Ohio. It might. But then again it might hurt him a lot elsewhere -- and a lot of jobless Democrats have left Michigan.
Dec '10
Re: The "Central Pillar" of Obama's Reelection Campaign: Auto Bailouts
While this will not appeal to non-union workers, it sure will to those in unions. Union members are incented (the auto companies give them the day off, for goodness sake) or forced/shamed to vote the party line. Since Dems are so effective at creating voters (real or imagined) and states have such a hodge-podge approach to voter registration, enforcement of voting laws, etc., union solidarity around Dear Leader could be just the ticket to another 4 years of His benevolent hand. Our theme must always be "If it ain't close, they can't cheat!"
Oct '10
Re: The "Central Pillar" of Obama's Reelection Campaign: Auto Bailouts
Lets see, the guy who loans or gives away the most taxpayer dollars with a return that amounts to nill, is a good thing ?
That moves one to the top of the pile for re election ?
Oh, and about those jobs, they are never comming back, if no one has been looking of late. This a brave new world et al, if anyone is willing to look harder.
Feb '11
Re: The "Central Pillar" of Obama's Reelection Campaign: Auto Bailouts
Truer words were never typed.
In this case Obama will spend a big chunk of his billion dollars telling everyone in the Midwest that they'd be unemployed absent the auto bailouts.
It doesn't have to be true- it just has to sound semi-plausible. And I can't imagine any of the likely GOP nominees actually willing to call this lie a lie.
Alas.
Jan '11
Re: The "Central Pillar" of Obama's Reelection Campaign: Auto Bailouts
Exhibit "A" your Honor - the Chevy Volt! Though this was under development during the Bush years, it should have died on the vine. In addition to initial cost, pathetic range, the car's batteries bank must also be periodically replaced. I have not been able to find out the interval, but I understand that the cost is between $8,000-$15,000!
Win the future! (invest in rickshaws)