From The Road
July 18, 2008 11:32 AM

McCain's Tough Talk to Auto Workers

By
John Bentley
Topics
John McCain
(CBS)
From CBS News' John Bentley

(WARREN, MICH.) John McCain gave an abbreviated version of his economy speech tailored to Detroit – singing the praises of General Motors development of the Chevrolet Volt, an electric-gas hybrid that GM hopes to bring on the market in 2010. But he also gave some answers that the employees here at this town hall meeting held at GM headquarters probably didn't want to hear on the issues of ethanol and the future of automakers.

While supporting tax credits for people who buy hybrid vehicles, he also said that the current business model of American carmakers in unsustainable.

"You can't compete with other automobile manufacturers if you lay somebody off and pay them full salary for the rest of their life. Can't do it. That's not going to be competitive," he said, adding that he would try to help workers who lost their jobs.

"I will be glad to assist, including education and retraining of workers that have been displaced workers from their jobs."

He also said he did not support ethanol subsidies, which has been a sore spot among automakers, who have invested in cars that run on ethanol.

"Most experts today will say because we subsidized ethanol, it has distorted the market and now contributed to inflationary pressure in our country, which are very, very dangerous, to say the least," McCain said.

"So I'm all for encouragement and whatever is necessary to make sure every vehicle is flex fuel, that every gas station has a pump that says E-85 on it, and it's clear to me that ethanol, corn based as well as sugarcane based, as well as bio-fuels, as well as other alternative sources of energy that come onto the market be made available and I would devote a lot of my efforts in that direction."

Add a Comment
by mattcat25 July 21, 2008 2:11 PM EDT
I forgot:

%u201CAnwar! Anwr! Anwr!%u201D
%u201Cdrill, drill, drill%u201D

just try to make sense to Republican%u2026
Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 July 21, 2008 1:57 PM EDT
Mattcat25: and the rest of You welfare minded folk''''s that support Government are just welfare minded and dumb downed. Why don''''t you just take responsibility and stop looking to the tax payer for help.

The loafers have had there way far to long and the welfare people posting on this site are just plain scared of losing there section 8 and welfare check''''s.

Get off your welfare A S S and get productive we cant afford to feed you and cloth and bath you so it''''s time you grow up now and pull your own fat A S S and get a job.

I am sick and tired of supporting you.As the rest of us that have let you slide for far to long.

Stop having babies and crying its to hard.
The illegal''''s seem to find enough work here I think you can do the same.
Posted by WarDogLRS


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Reply to this comment
by chuckamok July 18, 2008 9:32 PM EDT
"The Republicans want to see GM fold ..."

Ah ... yeah ... right.

;)

P.S. - The GM plant in Ohio that makes Cobalts is adding a third shift to meet the rising demand.
Reply to this comment
by wardoglrs July 18, 2008 9:04 PM EDT
Mattcat25: and the rest of You welfare minded folk''s that support Government are just welfare minded and dumb downed. Why don''t you just take responsibility and stop looking to the tax payer for help.

The loafers have had there way far to long and the welfare people posting on this site are just plain scared of losing there section 8 and welfare check''s.

Get off your welfare A S S and get productive we cant afford to feed you and cloth and bath you so it''s time you grow up now and pull your own fat A S S and get a job.

I am sick and tired of supporting you.As the rest of us that have let you slide for far to long.

Stop having babies and crying its to hard.
The illegal''s seem to find enough work here I think you can do the same.

Reply to this comment
by mattcat25 July 18, 2008 8:08 PM EDT
National Health Care, or Government Assisted Insurance will take the burden away from Companies like General Motors.

If the United States can at least curve the over inflated medical costs and insurance coverage premiums Companies like General Moters and Ford would be free to compete on the world market using American Workers.

The Republicans want to see GM fold and bought out by Toyota to end the union contracts, retirement responsibilities, and incorporate cheap labor. Watch what may transpire with General Motors. What happens at GM could be a template for many other US Companies and American Workers.

I urge Americans to vote in favor of keeping YOUR JOBS!
Reply to this comment
by rowdywicca2 July 18, 2008 7:00 PM EDT
GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!
GOD BLESS JOHN McCAIN FOR BEING SO STUPID!!!!
Reply to this comment
by aj4321-2009 July 18, 2008 5:09 PM EDT
John McCain is the stupidest candidate in the history of america. He does not care about the workers - he is throwing them under the bus.

Now he is flip-flopping on his opposition to E85!
Reply to this comment
by rowdywicca2 July 18, 2008 4:49 PM EDT
fire all workers that are not republicans!!!
Reply to this comment
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