…and finds the government stopped paving it, in favor of the low road.
General Motors and Chrysler flew their private jets to Washington to beg for some cheese.
Congress said “No.” George W. Bush said “Yes.”
So they got it, along with all the “strings.”
Ford said “No, thanks” and sent in their offense, announcing new energy-efficient and technologically-advanced models and boasting of higher quality and industry publication endorsements.
And now they want to kick some Detroit rear quarter panels. They want the Big Three to become The Big Ford.
Company insiders say the overarching goal was to separate Ford in the public mind from General Motors (GM) and Chrysler. As the crisis afflicting the auto industry has deepened, Mulally & Co. have gone out of their way to convince car buyers that Ford is stronger, greener, and more technologically advanced than those other guys. Executive Chairman William C. Ford Jr. sees an advantage if “people view us as a company that pulled itself up by its own bootstraps.”
At a time when GM’s and Chrysler’s financing arms have been hard-pressed to make loans to potential buyers, Ford has been using television, online, and radio ads to remind the world that it has money to lend. And executives have been falling over themselves to promote Ford’s kudos from Consumer Reports, which this month noted that of eight new Detroit cars it recommends, six are Fords or Ford brands.
In a dismal fourth quarter, it notes, only Ford, Honda (HMC), and Toyota increased their market share among the top six carmakers.
And yet?
This is why the President should have respected Congress’ and the people’s rejection of the bailout:
But GM, in exchange for federal help, likely will swap equity for debt and may emerge with a stronger balance sheet. By taking the high road, Ford could find itself at a competitive disadvantage.
President Bush in one fell swoop turned the American automotive industry upside down by rewarding failure and inadvertently but predictably penalizing success. Contrary to President Bush’s assertions otherwise, in the long run you can’t protect capitalism by abandoning free-market principles; especially to this magnitude.
GM and Chrysler should have been allowed to fail.
Ford Motor may find this out the hard way thanks to President Bush. Our nation may found out the hard way thanks to the President-Elect.
After how the UAW treated President Bush (and all Republicans), Bush should have given Big Auto/Big Union the finger and said “bite me, you soon to be unemployed losers. Let’s see how your PAC does when you try to support it on Burger King wages.”
“After how the UAW treated President Bush (and all Republicans)…”
Oh, boohoo, Chuckwagon! Did those mean auto workers say unpleasant things about Our President (T-minus one week and counting)?
Angryclown is all choked up. Snif!
AC has been known to routinely choke up on the Big Three.
They said mean things about Bush then went crawling & whining to him to help them pay their bills.
Class act on your side, AC.
My preference has always been Ford products. I won’t be buying from any of the companies that have had their hand out begging!
“Angryclown is all choked up.”
Been visiting those bathhouses again, have you AC? Well keep the details to yourself.
Personally, I think Ford’s tactic is brilliant. I enjoyed a little bit of pride after learning that Ford was going to take a pass on socialism to see my F150 sitting out there in front of the Swiftee compound, and I think that most people will want that feeling too.
Especially after we have watched the embaressing parade of tiny clown cars that GM and Chrysler will be trotting out to make their new masters happy.
If you read union newletters, you’ll see the instense hatred union thugs have for Republican-Americans.
But Chuck still buys American made cars by American companies. Was considering a Ford Fusion, but those are made in Mexico. May go with a GM product.
I’m with Swiftee, I drove Ford before the handout and now I’ll drive mine with a little more pride. Even if Ford’s decision was purely motivated by wanting a good ad campaign, the fact is they didn’t take my money.
If I ever buy a car or truck from the Bailout 2, I’ll demand a portion of my tax money back in the form of a hefty rebate.