Posted on 05/07/2007 8:15:30 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
DETROIT - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) on Monday faulted U.S. automakers for failing to do what foreign manufacturers have accomplished in producing fuel-efficient vehicles.
Uttering words not often spoken in Detroit, Obama said U.S. energy policy must change in order to help domestic automakers answer the rising global demand for efficient autos.
"For years, while foreign competitors were investing in more fuel-efficient technology for their vehicles, American automakers were spending their time investing in bigger, faster cars," the Illinois senator told business and political leaders.
Obama said his plan encourages domestic automakers to make fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles by giving them health care assistance for retirees. Federal financial assistance would cover 10 percent — up to $7 billion — of automakers' annual legacy health care costs through 2017, under Obama's plan, which would require automakers to invest at least half of their health care savings into technology to produce fuel-efficient cars.
As a second choice, Obama's plan would provide $3 billion to automakers over 10 years to help retool plants to make fuel-efficient cars and trucks.
It's all part of the U.S. auto industry taking necessary steps to help its own turnaround, Obama said.
"Here in Detroit, three giants of American industry are hemorrhaging jobs and profits as foreign competitors answer the rising global demand for fuel-efficient cars," he said.
"The need to drastically change our energy policy is no longer a debatable proposition. It is not a question of whether, but how; not a question of if, but when. For the sake of our security, our economy, our jobs and our planet, the age of oil must end in our time."
A Senate committee on Tuesday is expected to consider a proposal to raise fuel efficiency requirements for automakers. The measure, which would require a fleetwide average of 35 miles per gallon for cars and trucks by 2020, comes amid calls to push the industry to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles to respond to global warming and America's growing reliance on foreign oil.
Obama said focusing on the cars Americans drive and fuels used would save 2.5 million barrels of oil per day.
"It starts with our cars, because if we truly hope to end the tyranny of oil, the nation must once again turn to Detroit for another great transformation," Obama said at the sold-out Detroit Economic Club meeting.
To start, his plan calls for raising American fuel economy standards by 4 percent each year, adding about one mile per gallon. Passenger cars currently must meet a fleetwide average of 27.5 miles per gallon, while the standard for SUVs, pickups and vans is 22.2 mpg.
The Bush administration has set a similar goal of increasing the standards by 4 percent each year.
"Our goal is not to destroy the industry, but to help bring it into the 21st century," Obama said. "So, if the auto industry is prepared to step up to its responsibilities, we should be prepared to help."
Separately, a portion of Obama's energy plan that would establish a national low-carbon fuel standard drew praise from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican who has proposed a similar regulation in his state.
"Climate protection, energy security and economic well-being are not partisan issues, and I hope members of Congress on both sides of the aisle will support and help pass this important legislation," the California governor said in a statement.
Monday's visit was Obama's first campaign trip to Detroit. He was introduced by Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama meets the media after addressing the Detroit Economic Club in Detroit, Monday, May 7, 2007. Obama said that U.S. energy policy must change in order to help domestic automakers answer the rising global demand for fuel-efficient vehicles. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Obama said his plan encourages domestic automakers to make fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles by giving them health care assistance for retirees. Federal financial assistance would cover 10 percent — up to $7 billion — of automakers' annual legacy health care costs through 2017, under Obama's plan, which would require automakers to invest at least half of their health care savings into technology to produce fuel-efficient cars.
As a second choice, Obama's plan would provide $3 billion to automakers over 10 years to help retool plants to make fuel-efficient cars and trucks.
It's all part of the U.S. auto industry taking necessary steps to help its own turnaround, Obama said.
I agree if we had more fuel efficent cars such as small diesels like we have in Europe we would be good.
How many private jets has Osama Bin Barrack Hussein who is not Muslim flown in the past month?
Hide your mama’s SUV from Obama!
Democrat Platform:
We’ll fix it by throwing your money at it.
Translation: "Our goal is to destroy the industry."
What the hell does this Obama kid know about auto manufacturing? Nothing!
The problem ISN’T the cars. It is mandated fuel blends for different parts of the country.
EPA mandates. Grain lobby mandates.
And a lack of sufficient refineries.
Agreed:
You know what, I didn’t know John Kennedy. I wasn’t a big fan of John Kennedy, but this dunderhead is nothing like John Kennedy.
This guy is too light in the loafers to be a serious candidate for the presidency of the U.S.
That the dems would actually countenance this candidacy tells folks all they need to know about the bankrupt party.
All sizzle, no steak : )
This dude just jumped de shark!
You want to know proof that osamabama is still an islamic? Once you are muslim, you can never leave the cult... alive.
LLS
“It is unbecoming for young men to utter maxims.” Aristotle.
I can’t think of Obama as anything other than a kid. This ain’t no time for children.
LOL. EVERYTHING is a partisan issue with DIMs.
This guy is made of paper mache if anyone has the backbone to hit him on his statements.
Obama is Slick Willy redux, pure and simple. Both are what I always referred to as “cotton candy” leadership. They appear significant, all fluffy and substantial, but when the rain comes you realize quickly..................it was just a lot of hot air and whipped up sugar. The problem is there are so many who will buy the cotton candy, and always will. Perhaps David Hannum’s famous quote, “There’s a sucker born every minute” requires adjustment to reflect contemporary gullibility and ignorance?
* “ There are 9.7 suckers born every minute, the majority of which are leftists” ———WildcatClan
When he spoke recently to black audiences in New Oleans and LA, Obama revealed himself to be a divisive race-hustling demagogue who played to the Blame Whitey Permanent Victim psychology. In Detroit, droning on about energy, Obama was merely a bore. I think I prefer the demagogue. Much more entertaining to watch the tribune of the New Politics trying to imitate the likes of Jackson and Sharpton than to see him all grave, substantive and Hillary-like.
Right on-—This Obama kid is as dumb as a sack of door knobs. If not for his lib college grad speech writers, he couldn’t recite the four points of the compass.
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