Wow: New Ford ad blasts bailouts — and perhaps more (YouTube link)

hotair.com ^ | 9-16-11 | Ed Morrissey

[rawhide]

Is this just a business seeing a competitive edge against two of its rivals — or a political statement meant for wider purposes? Ford has a new ad series called “Press Conference,” in which sales staff escort a Ford buyer into a room supposedly to finalize paperwork but finds “reporters” and cameras on hand to ask why he or she bought a Ford. The responses are unscripted, according to US News and World Report, but the decision to publish this response while the nation still debates the auto bailouts might have some Obama supporters questioning the timing:

It’s brilliant in terms of distancing Ford from the anger taxpayers (and potential buyers) feel over the bailouts of Ford rivals GM and Chrysler. After all, taxpayers will end up losing about $14 billion for their trouble, and a lot of investors got screwed in the politically-manipulated bankruptcy proceedings for both companies. Any competitive edge helps, of course, and this is a natural argument — so much so that it’s curious that Ford hasn’t really pressed that point until now.

But it also feels like something more than just a sales pitch, too. The statement that America is about taking risks and enduring failure rather than expecting government to bail everyone out sounds more like a big thumb in the eye of the Obama administration, whose latest jobs bill keeps extending unemployment benefits, and which continues to propose spending billions on subsidies for businesses that can’t succeed on their own — like Solyndra.

[bt579]

I wont buy a Government Motors (GM) car , or an India Motors (Chrysler) car

[ridesthemiles]

All the Big Three use Union Labor.

[Andy from Chapel Hill]

Alan Mulally is the best person in the USA to become POTUS.

[CaspersGh0sts]

Ford does employ through the UAW. It’s worth noting that a Toyota Tundra and Tacoma are both made in Texas (a right-to-work state) and contain more American-made parts than do either the F-series or the Ranger (or Silverado and Ram, for that matter).

The Ranger is made from a mere 55% domestic parts.

[Joan Kerrey]

Does Ford employee UAW thugs?

Yes they do. That’s why I bought a Hyundai. American made in the non union southern US plant. Great car, no union but American labor.

[eyedigress]

Why would you care as long as Ford foots the bill. The bastard companies that took taxpayer dollars to foot their union bill is the real thief.

[Kieri]

I couldn’t find an article to post on this, but Ford has pulled this ad — and the radio is reporting it was after a call from the White House! “Chris,” who understandably has concerns about having his last name revealed, will be on the radio in a few minutes to talk about the ad.