Obama: I understand people's anger and frustration about the position of our auto industry.

[Hissyspit]

At News Conference: I warned about it a year ago. I called for action by the auto executives.

I believe our government should provide short-term help, while holding industry accountable.

[still_one]

1. and what exactly does that statement mean, "holding industry accountable"? /nt

[Kokonoe]

2. I think it means they must change to make up for the past. nt

[Soylent Brice]

3. i agree

if he's smart, which appears to be the case, he will use any type of bailout to force them to begin converting to green. this in turn should make the atuo industry a hell of a lot more competitive.

[still_one]

4. That sounds good, but should the same CEOs that got us where we are today

be leading that charge. In other words, why should those people retain their positions

[Kokonoe]

5. Any replacement would be a roadblock to the future.

Wagoner is for GM, America, and not short term politics.

[mdmc]

6. Is Wagoner the CEO?

Why do they still make the Hummer?
If they did it to profit, then why do they need our tax bucks?
Get rid of those that allowed the Hummer and SUV toys to rule the land...

[Kokonoe]

7. GM CEO Rick Wagoner, yes.

Its the economy,..
This is a test, GM workers pay more in taxes than the bailout.
We can not get rid of those that put bush in office,Twice.
Lest we deny them water after a hurricane.

[mdmc]

8. I am all for helping industry weather a storm

but I can't support bailing out the HUMMER.

[Kokonoe]

9. GM is selling the Hummer. nt

[graywarrior]

12. Who is dumb enough to buy it?

[still_one]

10. wagoner is for wagoner /nt

[LisaM]

11. OK, I HAVE to make a comment here

When Obama went to Michigan and lectured them on fuel economy, at the time, he was driving a Chrysler 3000 with a HEMI! This hypocrisy was pointed out by the Free Press, and he then began driving an Escape hybrid.

The point is, people were buying the cars they complain about now. A couple of years ago in Seattle, at least half the cars I saw on I-5 going home from work (this is from the vantage point of being on a bus) were SUVs, and many only had one occupant. I am not a fan of SUVs, but the car companies were producing them because people WANTED them. That's why Ford is in a little better shape than GM and Chrysler; the Explorer made profits for them for years.

I believe the auto industry should be re-tooled to be greener; I've thought that for a long time. I also think it's the government's job to help make this happen. It's win win for everyone. But it's a little rich for someone who was driving around in a large sedan with a Hemi to make this comment.

If the credit markets were loosened up, the car companies wouldn't be in this pickle. I believe that it's a golden opportunity to green up the industry - with all our help. This is the industry, you know, that produced the vehicles and parts that won World War II for the world. Are our memories that short? Do we want to jeopardize our own future by not having the capacity to produce military vehicles (if, God forbid, they are needed) in the future? Are we going to depend on the US-based Mercedes and Mitsubishi plants to do this, the same companies that helped arm our World War II enemies? I don't think so. I certainly don't anticipate any more wars with Japan or Germany, but with industrial and treaty alliances, I think we need to rely on OUR OWN industries to remain self sufficient.

[countingbluecars]

13. The reason a lot of people wanted those cars

was because the car companies convinced them they did. Advertising is very effective.

[LisaM]

14. Yes - and Toyota and Range Rover and Honda also capitalized on it

I don't like SUVs. I think people bought them for status. I knew a couple who each drove their own SUV - two people, two SUVs! Insane. (I also thought the commercials were stupid, but I guess that's just me).

I don't disagree with you in principle. However, the car companies were profitable making these cars. I know lots of people who bought them - and heatedly defend their "need" of them, too. Heck, even Ed Schultz, doing all he can to lobby for the autoworkers, insist that people would all drive SUVs if they could - he lit into a caller trying in a mild-mannered way to defend the station wagon as perfectly capable of meeting a soccer mom's needs - Ed insisted otherwise. There is a faction that really likes these big cars and would drive them, all other things being equal. I don't like driving them myself, and I really hate driving around them on highways in the rain, when the drivers don't seem aware of the backsplash they are creating - or parking next to them in parking lots when you can't see to back out of your space - or when they park in spaces clearly marked "compact" - but there are people who actually like these things and would buy more fuel efficient versions of them.