Members of the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry Prefer To Drive Imports
The vehicles owned by the Obama administration's auto team could reflect one reason why Detroit's Big Three automakers are in trouble: The list includes few new American cars.
Among the eight members named Friday to the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry and the 10 senior policy aides who will assist them in their work, two own American models. Add the Treasury Department's special adviser to the task force and the total jumps to three.
The Detroit News reviewed public records to discover what many of the task force and staff members drove, but information was not available on all of the officials, and records for some states were not complete.
At least two task force members don't own a car, and there are still two open slots on the 10-member panel that will be filled by the secretaries of labor and commerce, who have not yet been appointed.
The co-chairs of the task force -- Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and White House National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers -- both own foreign automobiles.
Geithner owns a 2008 Acura TSX. He has also owned a 1999 Honda Accord and a 2002 Acura MDX. Summers owns a 1995 Mazda Protege.
Geithner is the president's designee for purposes of enforcing loan agreements with GM and Chrysler and must approve or reject any proposed transactions by either company that would cost $100 million or more.
While we're on the subject, President Obama traded in his Chrysler 300C for a more fuel-efficient Ford Escape Hybrid during the 2008 presidential campaign, and Vice President Joe Biden owns a 1967 Chevrolet Corvette -- a wedding gift from his dad.
- Posted by
- Scott Doggett February 23, 2009, 1:25 AM
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- Legislation, Manufacturers
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- Detroit Three, Legislation, Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry
I see this as a big problem. How do you expect these people to get consumers over the misconception about US vehicles if they have the same misconception themselves?
Well, I wouldn't fault the TSX purchase, as Domestics haven't offered much in the way of smaller, sporting sedans. I hope that changes.
I don't see it as a big problem. People should drive the cars they like/need and if those happen to be foreign vehicles, that's fine by me. It's up to the Big Three to convince Americans to buy their cars.
I'm not saying it wouldn't be a good statement to drive an American car or a hybrid......I'm saying driving a foreign car isn't a bad thing.
Good point jederino, I can't think of a single US made car that competes in size, trim level and MPG with the 2008 TSX.
And it is probably actually good that they come at it with a different perspective.
If they all drove US cars then we probably wouldn't need a task force to figure out what to do to get people in the US to drive cars that are made here..
"Summers owns a 1995 Mazda Protege."
Wow! one of them drives a completely sensible, reliable, often overlooked 'import'. What is this world coming to?
My problem is the ratio of imports to domestics. These folks are more skewed than the American public (remember GM was #1 until very recently).
Let me see if I can understand this. We are going to entrust the future of the American auto industry to a bunch of overpaid import loving politicians? Tell me who is doing the picking? It's got to be the three stooges, Corker, Shelby, and McConnel, behind this somehow. Why don't you just put that idiot Freidman from the NYT on it, and let the biasness begin. The Americans will never get a fair shake with those morons in charge.
I'm sure hope that Timothy Giethner has had the same transmission failures in his Acura that my wife has gotten in her Honda Odyssey. Two transmsiions in 20k miles as well as rotors warping, ate DVD players, dash rattles, and oil leaks. I sure hope he doesn't have to be on time for any meetings. Any Honda or Acura would be last on my shopping list with all of the problems I have seen and expeirienced (as well as dealings with the retards working at their dealerships).
"I can't think of a single US made car that competes in size, trim level and MPG with the 2008 TSX. "
Typical .... How about the Lincoln MKZ ... More vehicle with better reliability and more equipment for less money????????????
"Task-force co-chair Timothy Geithner (right)..."
Nice caption. Wouldn't want anyone confusing him with the car (above) or the black space (everywhere else).