Posted on 04/11/2007 2:03:24 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
DETROIT (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co. Chief Executive Alan Mulally is no longer laughing about his suggestion that he saved President Bush's life during a recent White House visit.
The No. 2 U.S. automaker has apologized after Mulally said his claim that he had intervened to prevent U.S. President George W. Bush from plugging an electrical cord into the hydrogen tank of an experimental Ford vehicle had been meant as a joke.
On Wednesday, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said, "The story wasn't accurate, and I'll just decline to comment further."
Ford said Mulally never expected the story he told journalists in New York last week would be taken seriously.
The CEO found himself in an embarrassing situation when the story was featured on blogs and even in mainstream media such as the Financial Times, which said, "he may have saved the incumbent of the Oval Office from blowing himself up."
Mulally said last Wednesday, recounting a meeting at the White House on March 28, that he had noticed the president appeared to be ready to plug a power cord into the wrong outlet of a rechargeable vehicle that also runs on hydrogen.
"I violated all protocols. I grabbed his arm and I moved him up to the front," Mulally told reporters at the New York auto show.
"I wanted to make sure he plugged into the electricity, not into the hydrogen," he said to roars of laughter from the media, before adding: "This is all off the record, right?"
Ford said Mulally's anecdote had been inspired by a video spoof featured on ABC-TV's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" talk show that suggested Bush blew himself up by plugging the cord in the wrong outlet.
"I tried to tell a joke about it and proved I am no Jimmy Kimmel," Mulally said in a statement that was released to Reuters on Wednesday. "It never occurred to me that it would get such wide play or be taken seriously."
Ford spokesman Tom Hoyt said Mulally thought Kimmel's joke was funny and showed it to several Ford officials before his remarks to reporters.
"He just meant it as a joke. He kind of embellished the whole thing," Hoyt said. "There was no danger whatsoever."
Bush irritated U.S. automakers and allies last year when he said they should build more relevant products. He has been reaching out to them this year and promoting alternative fuel technologies as part of a plan to reduce gasoline consumption by 20 percent.
I had a Camry that had fist-sized rust holes through it after 3 years.
The dealer refused to honor the warranty, stating it wasn’t rusted through because “there’s still a layer of metal underneath there”
Another reason the Ford truck I just got rid of will be my last.
Camry LE 4-cyl ($19,400), power seats, abs brakes, cruise, quality control, last a lifetime, (my 2001 Camry CE 4-cyl bought new now has 178k on it and runs great).
Fusion well equipped was approximately $23,800 the last time I checked. A stripped Fusion sells for about $14.5k Ford A/Z pricing.
We wouldn't mind a new Ford, the wife's car is a 2003 Sable LS with 38k on it.
For the driving I do for work, a Toyota is the way to go for me!
(Did I mention I only use 100% synthetic oil in my cars?)
FYI,
Toyota is having trouble with the 6 speed autos on the Camry, so you want to stick with the 4-cylinder...
Somehow Ford is showing higher reliability on their 6 speed on the Fusion V6, though it is also an Aisin design.
You know, though, if you simply give up the power seat (I almost never use mine in my Taurus), the Fusion S is very comparably equipped to the Camry.
Given automatics and abs selected for both, all you’re really missing in the Fusion is audio controls on the steering wheel, knee airbag, cabin air filter, automatic headlights, and the power seat. The invoice price for that Fusion minus available rebates is $17,152. The Camry LE is $19,391. Go up to the Fusion SE and it is definitely similarly equipped, but still at a $1500 invoice price advantage.
I’m not sure how the heck you came up with $23,800 for a well equipped Fusion. That’s the invoice price for a Fusion SEL with V6, AWD, 6 speed automatic, leather, power moonroof, abs, power seats, fold flat passenger seat, climate control, electochromatic mirrors, 6 disc player / mp3, and heated front seats.
That’s certainly not similarly equipped to any 4 cylinder Camry LE.
Oh, and according to Consumer Reports, the Fusion is more reliable than the V6 Camry (not that they can possibly measure such small differences)...
The thought that a CEo would know who Jimmy Kimmel is makes my skin crawl. Jimmy Kimmel is a dirty mouthed guy.
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