Ford Motor taken to the WH “WoodShed”; Pulls Ad on Car Bailouts; Says “No Pressure From WH;

     The ad has a Ford Motor customer telling the press he bought his new Ford because they didn’t take “bailout” funds; they stood on their own for survival.

      Now, as Obama gears up in campaign mode, they obviously don’t want this type of marketing biting at them. Ford Motor has pulled the ad, and Michelle Malkin reported that the ad does not appear on their YouTube page. From the Detroit News:

With President Barack Obama tuning his re-election campaign amid dismal economic conditions and simmering antipathy toward his stimulus spending and associated bailouts, the Ford ad carried the makings of a political liability when Team Obama can least afford yet another one. Can’t have that.

The ad, pulled in response to White House questions (and, presumably, carping from rival GM), threatened to rekindle the negative (if accurate) association just when the president wants credit for their positive results (GM and Chrysler are moving forward, making money and selling vehicles) and to distance himself from any public downside of his decision.

In other words, where presidential politics and automotive marketing collide — clean, green, politically correct vehicles not included — the president wins and the automaker loses because the benefit of the battle isn’t worth the cost of waging it

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The man in the ad, Chris McDaniels, was not thrilled with the ad being pulled. He  emailed Ford’s Marketing VP, stating that “I put myself on the line…… You either stand behind it or you don’t!” Ford has not responded.

for full article:
http://www.mediaite.com/online/did-ford-pull-anti-bailout-ad-under-white-house-pressure/

Ford Motor’s BEST AD YET: Anti-Bailout Customer

BUY AMERICAN, and BUY FORD

Obama Wants Fewer SUV and Pickups Manufactured

The country’s automakers should ditch their focus on SUVs and trucks in favor of smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles, President Obama said Monday.

“You can’t just make money on SUVs and trucks,” Obama said during a town hall forum in Cannon Falls, Minn. “There is a place for SUVs and trucks, but as gas prices keep on going up, you have got to understand the market. People are going to try to save money.”

for full article:

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/176917-obama-to-auto-industry-you-cant-just-make-money-on-suvs-and-trucks

NOTE: Obama has obviously never schlepped the kids to hockey, soccer, cheerleading and such!!

Sharpton’s NAN Organization Pushed Against Rush Limbaugh: NAN Sponsors Include WalMart, Ford, Pepsi

Al Sharpton’s platform for his assault on Rush Limbaugh’s NFL ownership bid was the National Action Network (NAN), which is bankrolled by corporate America.

The following companies were identified this year by NAN as “sponsors”: American Honda, Anheuser Busch, Colgate-Palmolive, Comcast, Entergy, Ford Motor Company, Home Depot, Johnson & Johnson, Macy’s, PepsiCo, Pfizer and Wal-Mart. Sponsorship reportedly cost $50,000.

NLPC is asking these companies to end their support for Sharpton and NAN. Here’s how to contact them:

See Free Republic for list:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2363190/posts

Union blocks Big Three Auto Bailout in Senate Vote

     It has been reported that as a part of their contracts, some auto workers who have been laid off are still collecting benefits two, three, four years later. These type of benefits, as well as pensions and medical coverage for retirees are referred to as “legacy” costs, and coupled with poor management, they have contributed significantly to the failure of the United States automobile industry.

      Thus, as the House of Representatives under their socialist czar Nancy Pelosi approved their version of the $14billion dollar emergency bailout, the Senate, with many on both sides standing strong, rejected the bailout legislation, and rejected the compromise being presented by Sen. Corker because the United Auto Workers Union (UAW) would not agree to immediate pay cuts to put labor costs in line with other automakers in the US, such as Toyota and Nissan.

      Rather than have the union membership be a part of the solution to the looming crisis, the UAW has opted to play hardball with the Big Three as well as with Congress, but at what cost.

     Ford Motor Company has been the stronger of the three, and actually wanted to hold off on using any part of the bailout (but wanted to know it was there if needed). But General Motors has clearly stated that they will probably not be able to sustain themselves through the end of the year, just more than two weeks away. Couple that with the ripple effect on related industries, and the UAW is helping to precipitate the problem.

      I am not a fan of the bailout mania, and I believe that all three companies have alternative means of getting through this crisis. At the same time, the idea of a Chinese company buying a huge stake in a bankrupt GM is not palatable either. It is time that all sides with a stake in the survival of the automobile industry stop looking out for themselves, and begin making concessions that will benefit all in the long run.