That’s right folks, a surrogate for Obama’s campaign is criticizing the decision to purchase a Prius hybrid, so beloved by Obama supporters. Of course, there’s only one person in America that isn’t allowed to buy Priora without criticism, and that’s Obama’s opponent, John McCain. Or is that his daughter, Meghan McCain? In today’s Freep, UAW boss Ron Gettelfinger brings Decision 08 discourse to a new low, accusing the McCains of dishonesty about the purchase of a non-UAW-made Prius. Last year, McCain told the New York Times that he “ought to know the name” of his daughter’s Japanese hybrid, because he paid for it himself. Now, McCain says Meghan purchased the Prius herself, and Gettelfinger is crying flip-flop. “To us, it’s a credibility issue,” Gettelfinger tells the Freep. “It’s very insulting to try and skirt something as simple as whether or not you bought a particular vehicle.” So Gettelfinger thinks McCain is a union-busting, America-hating liar. Clearly the McCain camp isn’t too worried about the charges since they haven’t commented on Gettelfinger’s attack. Or maybe they just know that all the money actually belongs to Cindy. In any case, it’s obvious what this is really about. Obama has come out in favor of all $50b of the proposed Detroit bailout, earning him the UAW’s endorsement, but McCain isn’t all-in yet. The UAW boss says McCain “was late coming to the game on the retooling loans. He’s never been clear from our standpoint on his level of support.” In short, the Prius attack is just another way to drum up blind, knee-jerk support for an ill-advised a bailout. You stay classy, Ron Gettelfinger!
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I love the picture, it’s almost as good as the Top Gear convertible conversion of the Renault Espace.
I guess Meg didn’t catch the drifting bug like Cindy did. Someone get her an AE86, stat…
What’s an abilout? That copy editor becomes critical if TTAC wants to remain professional.
philbailey :
What’s an abilout? That copy editor becomes critical if TTAC wants to remain professional.
I guess that makes you a critical part of the team.
Text amended.
The tone of this campaign has become truly an item of shame, as in “shame on both of you”!
Unfortunately, “surrogates” on both sides are encouraging this romp through the mud.
I was hoping that the Obama camp could “take the high road” for a little longer, but it’s not to be, I suppose.
Man, a Prius ragtop brings convertible=ugly to a new level…
I was hoping that the Obama camp could “take the high road” for a little longer, but it’s not to be, I suppose.
Several studies have shown that people say they don’t like negative campaigning, but also show that it’s effective. The elections have become somewhat like sporting events with no referee, so that fouls might draw a little groan from the crowd, but are effective. So the loser, regardless of taking the high road, is still considered the loser and blamed for being a sucker if he didn’t ‘cheat’. A better analogy IMO would be the public as students who were charged with informing themselves on the issues and positions of the candidates with the public seen as winning or losing based on how well the met their charge. Other than a bruised ego, candidates almost always do fine later where the public certainly does not.
I’m afraid it’s beyond a kind of tipping point. There seems to be a belief that anybody can be a reasonably successful president, so many people want to see somebody like themselves in the job. A major poll recently asked people whether they could ‘relate to’ each candidate. WTF? Ignorant people don’t know they’re ignorant, feel perfectly comfortable making decisions they’re not qualified to make, and feel no need to educate themselves, nor to demand a much improved system of public education. I don’t see what’s going to turn this around.
More Union Waaaahhh !!! Besides, where’s the small Merican hybrid ?
McCain and/or a family member bought a Prius? Shocking! Moreover, anonymous sources report McCain has eaten English muffins, Belgian waffles and French fries. Worst of all, he spent years in a foreign country!!!
When the Freep has hot stuff like UAW press releases, one wonders why it bothers to print anything else.
I liked Obama better before he swapped his Chrysler 300 for an Escape hybrid. Not that Chryslers are so great, but it’s always nice to see a politician doing something that’s politically incorrect. Nyah, nyah, Greenpeace!
mel23, political scientists have found negative ads (called “agressive” when they’re for one’s own side) are effective mainly because they usually provide more specific and relevant information. Instead of offering bland platitudes and unrealistic promises, negative ads zero in on things the opposition doesn’t want to talk about. In effect, they aid the voter in determining which candidate is “most worst.” The Swift Boat Veterans statements are examples: decried by Kerry and sycophants in the press as “partisan lies,” but they dealt with voter-relevant matters that Kerry wanted to bury, and no significant inaccuracies have ever been identified. Remember the criticism goes back to the 70’s, sparked by Kerry’s mendacity after his military service.
Yes, we would prefer to see citizens “informing themselves on the issues and positions of the candidates.” But if it’s any comfort, history shows that candidates (with Congress’ cooperation, of course) often wind up doing the opposite of what was expected. FDR pledged a balanced budget and keeping our boys out of WW II; Johnson promised peace but deepened our involvement in Vietnam; Nixon promised fiscal conservatism and smaller government, but gave us price controls, the EPA and the negative income tax. Reagan was to abolish the Department of Education. Clinton pledged the most ethical administration in history. Bush was originally against nation-building. And the list goes on. As does the American experiment with democracy as we muddle along.
I’m glad my car is made in Japan. I wouldn’t want to support these whiners in any way.
This car might not be UAW made, but it is union made http://www.jaw.or.jp/e/ by well paid employees.
People should be able to buy what they want and not get crap for doing so–whether they are related to a presidential candidate or not. Tell me what’s unpatriotic about buying a Prius anyway? It shows that you care about driving’s impact on the environment. Obama criticizing McCain’s daughter for buying a Prius would be like me telling my grandma not to give to the Make-A-Wish Foundation anymore. Absolutely stupid.
Hey Gettelfinger, I’ve got a wonderful nugget of news for you. Nobody cares! You are about as relevant as Milli Vanilli.
Has anyone ever realized that the chauffeur-mobile of choice for almost ALL Washington employees are humongous gas-gulping GM SUVs? Not sensible at all, being that those people on the Hill are the masters of the CAFE standards and such. Put your money where your mouth is.