McCain on daughter's Toyota Prius
Fewer vehicles draw the wrath of many Michigan auto workers than the Toyota Prius. Many Michigan members of Congress bitterly complained that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had the 2007 energy bill -- which hiked fuel economy standards by 40 percent over 10 years -- drive to the White House in a staff membner's Toyota Prius.
The Prius came up again last week, in a interview with WXYZ (Channel 7) in Detroit. Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain denied buying his daughter Meghan a Toyota Prius -- a statement at odds with a previous comment he made.
"Actually, she bought it -- I believe -- herself, but yes she does have a Toyota Prius because it ... saves on fuel efficiency," McCain said.p>
In October 2007, the New York Times reported he made a speech in South Carolina in which McCain said he had bought his daughter a Prius, after briefly forgotting the car's name. "OK, Prius, Prius," McCain said. "I ought to know the name of it; I paid for it." His daughter Meghan wrote about her Prius in a blog posting on Oct. 9, 2007. "Climate change is a very important issue to me; in fact, there are few issues other than the war in Iraq I find as relevant. I try to do my part by driving a Prius, recycling, using eco-friendly light bulbs, etc. but I know that I can always do more and so does my dad. It may not be one of his most highly publicized issues but anyone who watched the debate or who has followed his efforts in the Senate, would recognize his commitment and passion for the issue of climate change and the environment.
But McCain vowed to continue buying American-made vehicles during the WXYZ interview and touted his support of American automakers. "I've bought American literally all of my life and I'm proud," McCain said.
He told The Detroit News editorial board in 2007 that he drove a Cadillac CTS, but also said his daughter drives a Prius.
"The fact is we're going to help Detroit get back on its feet again. But we also believe that climate change is real and we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions," McCain told WXYZ.
McCain reiterated he wanted to give $5,000 tax credits for plug-in vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt. He misstated the date of the Volt's production as next year, rather than 2010 as GM has repeatedly said.
