In Ohio, Biden slams Ryan for GM plant closing claims

AP Photo/Mark Stahl

(CBS News) LORDSTOWN, Ohio -- Vice President Joe Biden slammed Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan for inaccurately suggesting in his convention speech that a GM auto plant in Ryan's hometown closed on President Obama's watch.

"What [Ryan] didn't tell you is the plant in Janesville actually closed when President Bush was still in office," Biden said, eliciting boos from the pro-Obama crowd. "He didn't tell you that! And what they didn't say is, but for the sacrifices you made, and the courage of the president, all those GM plants would have closed."

Lordstown is home to a major GM assembly plant, the area's largest employer.

On Wednesday night, Ryan, a House member from Wisconsin, told the Republican National Convention in Tampa that a GM plant in Janesville closed after Mr. Obama pledged to keep it open. "A lot of guys I went to high school with worked at that GM plant," Ryan said. He quoted Mr. Obama saying during a 2008 campaign appearance at the facility that if elected, "this plant will be here for another 100 years."

"That's what he said in 2008," Ryan said. "Well, as it turned out, that plant didn't last another year."

CBSNews.com reviewed Mr. Obama's 2008 remarks on the Janesville plant and the reasons for its closure in a fact-check of Ryan's speech.

In his remarks, Biden also reminded the crowd that Mr. Obama led the government reorganization of the auto industry after it nearly went bankrupt during the recession. Republican nominee Mitt Romney at the time argued against government intervention. (More on Romney's position on the auto bailout here).

"What they didn't say is because of the auto rescue, there are 4,500 of you working here today. And GM is adding two shifts," Biden said, adding, in a reference to a now famous headline on an op-ed written by Romney, "And what they didn't acknowledge is Governor Romney's position was, 'Let Detroit Go Bankrupt.'"

[nearl451]

Wow. I just read that Ryan admitted he mispoke.........




.......about running a marathon in less than 3hrs. As if that lie were important compared to the rest.

[nygurl1]

That is called a diversion. He admits to one stupid mistake while telling you 3 others at the same time.

[sjc_1]

Ryan was in the House all 8 years of Bush, voting for all of his deficit spending, tax cuts for the rich and wars we could not afford which racked up $6 trillion in debt.

Now he wants you to believe that he is fiscally responsible, so all we have to do is destroy Social Security and Medicare to pay for it...unbelievable.

[goat5691]

I am always better off when I know that the Democratic leadership is working for the WHOLE of the country which includes me.

What disturbs me the most is how so many people are so hard cast in thinking what they believe is always right and true and when a truth or fact comes along and doesn't fit in their belief system.....they ignore it.

So subjective thinking rules even when the fate of the nation is at stake.

As a small boy during WWII the atmosphere at the time was patriotism. The country was put on rations to make sure our soldiers were provided for and we didn't complain. So what do we have now???????????????

[johnlloydsch]

February 17, 2009 the Stimulus Act became effective.The last line closed after June 1 of 2009 and still remained closed after the 2009 Stimulus Act took effect.

[nearl451]

This is all your side has is counting dates.

The plant stopped full time operation long before the stimulus, GM had already decided itwas notgoingtobe viable and GM was not going to change its mind.....as is the corporate discretion.


If all you guys have is to pick dates to make the numbers and claims seem plausible, you have pretty weak arguments overall.

[johnlloydsch]

February 17, 2009 the Stimulus Act became effective.The last line closed after June 1 of 2009 and still remained closed after the 2009 Stimulus Act took effect.

[wfw3536]

Gaffe Joe is wrong again, if you research the GM plant closing in Janesville it had a small group of workers making SUV well into 2009 after Obama was in office. Another example of how Obama broke his promise to the folks in Ryans hometown to keep the plant open, but threw this plant and another plant in WI under the bus.

[marychgo]

The DECISION to close the plant was made in June 2008. Different production lines were scheduled to close down at different times over the next year and a half.

[nearl451]

This is all yur side has. Choose an effective date to make an argument. Not talk about the intent oroverall effect of the program in the least.

Same with Romney's claims on Obama's overall job numbers: Date Jan 1, 2009.....not even the 20th or any time for policy to take effect.

The bottom line is that GM IS BACKIN BUSINESS. AND America is far better off for that fact.

So.... bite me.

[bitterbloger]

Smart for Joe to go there; it
--keeps Ryan's BS speech alive in the news; and
--addresses a faction of blue-collar workers who's resentment regarding the false "no need to work to get welfare" the Repubs are counting on.

[Maerzie]

I wish more people would realize that Republicans have MANY more "WELFARE PROGRAMS", amounting to BILLIONS of dollars, than the pittance for the food and healthcare programs they intend to steal from the poor! Remember all their subsidies, grants for foolishness, and their bailouts, as SOME of them. And, all REPUBLICAN "WELFARE" programs go to their super-wealthy(the REAL Republicans); NOT the ones they duped with their lies. Republicans' "ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS" never even have to say: "GIMME, GIMMEE!" They BRAG about how much welfare they ripped off! This time they need to steal the programs from the poor to try to offset their tax cuts, ONE of their "ENTITLEMENT programs", but it isn't enough money to COVER the cost of THAT Republican welfare program for the RICH! Isn't that too sad!!

[nonameindependent]

History is kind of funny. It repeats itself if the situation is similar. Look to every "religious" nation in the world, and you will find nothing but failure. The entire Mideast is Muslim. The entire Mideast is a failure. Everything south of the US is C. Everything south of the US is a failure. And now, we have a third of the house and senate being C, and keeping the borders open. Calif has been C for twenty years, and is rapidly failing. The scores of students in the US is plummeting. The nation is failing. And a third of the house and senate are C and have a bloc to prevent the borders from being sealed. Vote every C out of house and senate and save the US.

[EyesStationZebra]

"'A lot of guys I went to high school with worked at that GM plant,' Ryan said."

You mean the same classmates who notably voted Ryan "biggest brown-noser" in their high school yearbook?

[nearl451]

Yeah. Those guys.

[nygurl1]

Think about 2000 people showing up to bid him goodbye and 70 are relatives. They didn't say if that included his wife and kids.

They love him not! hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

[greenlantern1]

Weren't GM jeeps used to defeat NAZI Germany?

[goat5691]

jeeps during WWII were mainly Willy's but Ford also made them.

[kat1043]

ZionistCensorship is a Dem Troll. What does the defense budget have to do with a GM plant?

[nygurl1]

I thought he proved his stupidity when he said he wanted 'to draw attention to what had happened'!

I think he really believes the people of the US are too stupid to realize a hurricane is happening and people are losing everything they own!

No wonder he thinks he will win!!! He thinks WE are as clueless as he is!