Recently US Presidential candidate Barack Obama was criticized for lecturing automakers about their gas-guzzling vehicles. At the same time he owned a Hemi-powered Chrysler 300C, which to some people seemed a little hypocritical.
Well now it seems that Obama has taken that criticism to heart because he traded in his Chrysler for a Ford Escape Hybrid. Apparently he bought the hybrid before Ford Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. confronted Obama in early June.
Apparently other presidential hopefuls also own the Escape hybrid, such as John Edwards and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Full Story: Detroit Free Press
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Comments (14)
If he really had wanted to make a statement about the USA's energy policy, quality of US automakers' cars, and put his money where his mouth was, he would have NOT bought a US car and would have bought a used Passat/Jetta TDI or something. Seriously. Hybrids and flex-fuel vehicles are nothing but a fad. They do nothing for the environment when you do ALL the math...not just the math you're only capable of understanding.
Posted by bwilliam13 | July 13, 2007 6:04 PM
Posted on July 13, 2007 18:04
Bwilliam, buying a foreign car is a huge turnoff to voters (except apparantly for Nancy Pelosi's district). It seems that we want our elected officials to do what we are less and less inclined to do, support american business.
Posted by Obviously DaMinority | July 13, 2007 7:26 PM
Posted on July 13, 2007 19:26
Elections are a popularity contest these days, so yea, of course it is a political move.
Jeez, I hope for once more independent middle class reps are elected to Senate instead of this current republican/ democratic circus. The hope is very slim though the way it looks right now.
Posted by Alex Greene | July 13, 2007 7:32 PM
Posted on July 13, 2007 19:32
I agree with you Alex, except that if the Independents become the swing vote, they will be the most powerful people in the country. You know what they say about power corrupting and absolute power corrupting absolutely...
Posted by Obviously DaMinority | July 13, 2007 7:37 PM
Posted on July 13, 2007 19:37
Holy Christ! It's bad enough that we might get a woman president, but isn't there a law against putting apes in the White House?
Posted by Chris | July 13, 2007 7:54 PM
Posted on July 13, 2007 19:54
Chris,
There's already one there.
Posted by bwilliam13 | July 13, 2007 8:10 PM
Posted on July 13, 2007 20:10
bwilliam13: LOL!
Posted by Alex Greene | July 13, 2007 8:37 PM
Posted on July 13, 2007 20:37
Dubya is a chimp, not an ape!
Posted by hilary | July 14, 2007 3:23 AM
Posted on July 14, 2007 03:23
This is hilarious. I didn't realize that Osama was in such trouble politically that he needs the handful of hybrid lovers to worship him.
Posted by Remy LeBeau | July 14, 2007 5:57 PM
Posted on July 14, 2007 17:57
During the debates someone should ask these suddenly eco-conscience candidate how they plan on disposing of the batteries in the hybrids in a few years.
Posted by Tai | July 15, 2007 5:10 PM
Posted on July 15, 2007 17:10
Tai, if he's smart, he'll reply that he'll dispose of the batteries the same way that the lead-acid batteries in most other cars are disposed of... which is to say that they'll be recycled.
And if he's really smart, he'll say something like... would you rather recycle a battery with lots of nickel in it or a battery with lots of lead and acid in it?
Posted by Peter | July 17, 2007 10:51 AM
Posted on July 17, 2007 10:51
Chris,
You must be one of those geriatric Southerners who still lay claim to that fallen bureaucracy, the Confederacy--if you can even call it that. Screw you and your racial epithets! It is backward thinking like yours that hinders the progress of American society. As for Barack Obama, the indignation should be spread across a far greater spectrum, because there are politicians -- both Democrats and Republicans -- who voted to give President Bush authorization to go to war with Iraq. Now, buying a hybrid regardless of reason shouldn't be as great a stigma as trying to re-enact the Pyrrhic victory that was the first Gulf War.
Posted by Kevin | August 5, 2007 11:19 AM
Posted on August 5, 2007 11:19
Chris why don't you leave the internet cafe, head back to your trailer and fuck your sister?
Posted by Andrew | August 9, 2007 12:25 PM
Posted on August 9, 2007 12:25
I just wanted to contribute that hybrids (etc.) aren't a fad. It isn't possible for these engines to go out of style, dated yes but only because there will be bigger and better hybrid technology. The world is going to run out of oil one day and then we'll all be screwed. Of course the planet might explode or catch on fire before then because of the ozone layer, but that seems like too easy an out. I realize that hybrids made for Americans now do run on gas but they also run on the self powered electric engine! (it charges when you brake) But it's a step in the right direction, Toyota and Ford have already released plans for a purely plug in electric vehicle in a few years, and it won't be a tiny Asian or European car! It will live up to American size standards! I have an Escape Hybrid and I fill up on gas half as often as someone who has a regular Ford Escape. The car cost more than the standard gasoline engine, but I've done the math and the engine will pay for itself and start saving me money with in three years IF gas prices don't go up. (btw I originally did the math with gas at $2.80 and its already fifteen cents higher where I live) And we all know that gas prices are not going to drop. Please buy hybrids, they're better for your wallet and the planet!
The 2008 election is going to say a lot about our country. A woman? A black man? A mormon? Illegals? Abortion? The environment? The sub-prime mortgage crisis? It's a big deal and it will indicate where our pathetic prejudices still exist.
And if anyone cares I'm eighteen. Just thought I may be a comfort for y'all that the future of our country won't be in the hands of idiots who like to dance around half naked to bad music with their asses and boobs hanging out all over the place.
Posted by Lynsey | January 19, 2008 11:38 PM
Posted on January 19, 2008 23:38