Category: General Motors
Posted by David Shepardson (The Detroit News) on Tue, Jan 13, 2009 at 10:56 AMGM critic Sen. Corker praises automaker during 2007 Saturn plant visit
One of Detroit's critics during the auto bailout debate, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., is coming to visit the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this afternoon.
Corker plans to visit the General Motors Corp. display around 3 p.m. and meet GM's President Fritz Henderson, GM's Vice President for Environment, Energy and Safety Policy Beth Lowery and Ed Wellburn, vice president for global design at GM. It's not clear how many other exhibits Corker will visit.
Corker has emphasized that Congress and the White House were most concerned about GM.
"We know that basically we're talking about General Motors here. We wouldn't be having this discussion if it weren't for General Motors. Chrysler wouldn't be here really if it weren't for that. They're in serious trouble but wouldn't have the clout to be able to talk to us in this way," Corker said on the Senate floor on Dec. 11. "It doesn't matter how much money we were to put into General Motors with the $62 billion in debt that they have today, there is no way that they can sustain their company. They cannot. G.M. only has a market cap today of around $2 billion. $2 billion. Toyota has a market cap of $130 billion. BMW has a market cap of $14 billion. This is a company that has a huge amount of debt and very little value."
In advance of his meeting in Detroit today, a video is circulating on You Tube of an appearance Corker made at GM's Saturn plant in Spring Hill in 2007, in which he lauds GM's efforts.
In the video, Corker says his visit to the Saturn plant was "most uplifting" and that he had learned a lot. He said he would "think about things a little differently" after his visit.
He said being in Spring Hill "makes you want to partner, to make sure that you work on putting in place policies that cause companies like this to thrive, so nothing like being here firsthand."
See the video below:
Comments
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Learning?
Corker that video says it all. Six months ago you where thrilled with what you saw at GM now six months later its a bad business model. Now that true leadership! These yo yos are why the domestics are in the trouble they are. No consistent government policy. Six months ago gas was $4.30 a gallon now its $1.75 an consumers are saying to themselves what the hell do I need one of those overpriced hybrids?
Competitive Wages
Mr. Corker - Please use some basic common sense when you talk about competitive wages between UAW and the transplants. Can you realize the weather conditions between the midwest and the south when you visited Detroit for the auto show. Auto workers in the midwest are living in sub-zero weather where as the auto workers in the south are living in a comfortable environment. They don't have to pay for heating bills, winter maintainence, clothing and so on. How can you justify your statement to have a competitive wage between UAW and the transplants.
Bob Corker
Problem with your supposition is that you THINK there is a difference between the 2 parties. Until the citizenry wake up to the FACT that there is NO difference and we need to elect leaders (plural) outside the elitist supporting box, things will only get worse.
More Signs of More of the Same
Not only has he been working with Bush to pressure Congress from both sides to cough up hundreds of billions in bailout dollars, but "President-elect Barack Obama privately delivered a pre-inauguration veto threat to fellow Democrats on Tuesday, saying that they would not deny him use of the remaining $350 billion in federal bailout funds," according to the Associated Press. Meanwhile, he's dining with a tight clique of bonafide neocons.
This is not to say that Obama agrees with the neocon thinking that got us into the Iraq war. After all, the neocons seemed to think and imply that by 2004, the number of US troops needed in Iraq would be consdierably lower than 100,000, maybe 50,000 or so. Yet that's about how many Obama seems to think will be needed now, in 2009, and for the forseeable future. And he was the peace candidate? Of course, there's also that surge in Afghanistan Obama has long called for.
So more corporatism, more bailouts, more spying, more lying, more war, a bigger, more overextended empire. Just under one more week and he will be our president. Let us hope he plans to break at least some of his promises! If not we sure have our work cut out for us.
Bob Corker
Raymond- You are absolutely correct about these dirty republicans. I am also a former republican, but got sick of the liars and hypocrits. They have destroyed the middle class while increasing the wealth of the top 5% in this country. This is the first time I've voted Democrat in 16 years.
Bob Corker
Corker is just like Shelby of Alabama -- two fools who have absolutely no idea of what they talk about, have bad facts, and overtly protect their transplants within their respective states. The Senata Republicans finally have shown their colors - they are against the working person in favor of the wealthy, business folk. Well, the wealthy business folk have really driven the economy into a ditch. I had been a Republican for years, but after Bush and the those bunch of Senate idiots I am now well entrenched behind the Democrats.
Corker
What an idiot! Corker couldn't tie his shoes in the dark!
He should be upset with G.M. wanting to spend the TARP monies overseas for those batteries that could be bought right here in the USA by USA people who can do the work and need jobs!
sen. corker
can you spell hypocrite? corker
Corker
It would be interesting to find out how he flew here and who paid for the trip!
Put a Corker in it.
Wow, a politician talking out of both sides of his mouth. There's something you don't see everyday
Corker
Now these Southern Republicans want your vote and support in national elections so they will tell you what you want to hear. But make no mistake the next time the rubber meets the road they will support the foriegn companies and try an destroy the domestic auto companies again. This is all just bull.
Sen. Corker Learned Something!!!
Unbelievable!! The highly Honarable Senator Croaker(sic) admits to having "learned something" after visiting Saturn!! What a spotlight grabbing idiot! Hopefully he'll learn to not spout about subjects what he doesn't know in the future! I am amazed that he got his 15 minutes - hope it serves him and his state well!! I for one will not forget!
Learning?
Senator Corker states that he was at Saturn and "learned alot" while there. Really? I thought he already knew it all after his attack on the Big 3 in December in Washington! Now he is learning? I think he has the cart before the horse. Maybe he should have kept his mouth shut last month if he "didn't know so much back then!
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