REPORT: Senator John McCain doesn't believe Chrysler will make it
It looks like everyone is thinking about Chrysler these days. First it was former DaimlerChrysler CEO (and current Daimler CEO) Dieter Zetsche offering advice to Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne. Now it looks like former presidential contender and current Arizona Senator John McCain not only thinks that bailing out the ailing automaker was a bad idea (even though he supported bailing out Detroit during his 2008 presidential campaign), he thinks that Chrysler has no future. Here's a quote that comes via The Detroit News:
While McCain's never been one for pulling punches, this may be one head butt over the top. Chrysler declined to comment on McCain's statements. Ironically, McCain made his comments while serving as grand marshal of a NASCAR event at the Phoenix International Raceway as Dodge announced its new Nationwide Series Challenger racer."It was all about the unions. The unions didn't want to have their very generous contracts renegotiated so we put $80 billion into both General Motors and Chrysler, and anybody believes that Chrysler is going to survive, I'd like to meet them."
[Source: Detroit News | Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 16)
Steve Lopez 1:05PM (11/16/2009)
McCain should just fade away into the sunset. He will never be President. Period!
Give GM and Chrysler a break. They might make it and make better vehicles.
Who the heck knows!
Reply
Dave 1:16PM (11/16/2009)
"He will never be President. Period!"
I think he realizes that. Which means he needs to pander solely to Arizona voters. And Arizona voters don't work for Chrysler.
mofan 1:17PM (11/16/2009)
I have a hundred bucks says John McCain Dies before Chrysler, Any takers??????????
McCain only heard about the internet 2 yrs ago
geo.stewart 1:19PM (11/16/2009)
nobody likes the truth. that's why the Dems are popular and McCain is where he is at.
if mccain is lying, tell me why else these companies would not have gone into bankruptcy on their own and reorganized? ONLY for the liberal supporting unions.
Bobmarley 1:22PM (11/16/2009)
hes not campaigning for president jackass
Sea Urchin 1:52PM (11/16/2009)
Truth hurts, one only needs to look at Chryslers line up for the next 2 years, it is almost identical to the line up from 2 years ago. No good small cars, most of their cars are inefficient, cheap on the inside and are outdated.
McCain just tells the truth.
I did not vote for the guy but he is an honorable individual with a great track record.
chad.dawkins 1:53PM (11/16/2009)
The reason they shouldn't have just gone into bankruptcy on their own is because they probably would have hit liquidation and closed down. Many economists(even the unbiased guy they had at the hearings) was saying that it could have been a death blow to the economy since one of the three going under would take down all the others and all of the suppliers.
Blown tranny 1:55PM (11/16/2009)
geo.stewart,
The truth? Sara Palin would make an excellent vice president.
Have you forgotten that the government bailout of the auto industry was started by George Bush? I suppose he did it for the liberal supporting unions.
Level 2:11PM (11/16/2009)
I have to agree on one part that is was def party a bailing out of the Unions, everyone complains that if GM made the cars people wanted they would not have been in the mess they were in but forgot to acknowledge that they were No.1 globally and then No.2 in cars sales..Contrary to popular belief they were out selling everyone and making cars that people bought, but it was the unions which cut their profits...During bankruptcy the only time they would of had the opportunity to cut the Unions strength; what happens? they get a seat in the board when have you heard of such a thing...but the democratic party biggest supporters are the unions and it wasn't going to happen on their watch....
geo.stewart 2:13PM (11/16/2009)
Blown, GW didnt bail them out. Congress passed a loan through that he signed. Congress knew he wouldnt sign on to a bankruptcy that ignored standing laws and pandered to the desires of the union at the expense of so many companies due money.
GW chose the lesser of two evils and left it up to the Obama Lama and Pelosi-Reid trifecta of terror.
Sea Urchin 2:18PM (11/16/2009)
"everyone complains that if GM made the cars people wanted they would not have been in the mess they were in but forgot to acknowledge that they were No.1 globally and then No.2 in cars sales.."----------------------------------They why are they milking the taxpayer???????????????????????????
I don't care if GM makes the best cars in the world, why am i forced to pay for GM?
Blown tranny 2:50PM (11/16/2009)
"according to former vice-president Dick Cheney, who reportedly admitted in a recent interview on Fox News that the Bush administration floated the $17.4 billion auto industry BAILOUT package..."
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/06/09/cheney-bush-left-gm-bankruptcy-for-the-next-guy/
oZ 3:06PM (11/16/2009)
No, Congress denied the loan, and Bush passed an emergency loan cutting from the TARP funds.
John H. 4:16PM (11/16/2009)
"Give GM and Chrysler a break. They might make it and make better vehicles."
Agreed on both points:
- GM will probably make it.
- Chrysler makes such crappy cars, they can only do better in the future.
Paul 5:00PM (11/16/2009)
That is HUGELY, MASSIVELY irresponsible for him to publicly state such a thing. They need every bit of support to make it and this dismissal of such a large employer by a US Senator does not help.
I don't know what happened to the Republican party but I can't think of anyone with any sense left in that collective nuthouse. What happened to smart conservatives? Have they all joined the moderate wing of the Dems? I think so.
hector000 5:24PM (11/16/2009)
my god mccain looks like he aged 20 more years, but i agree with him Chrysler wont make it.
and no one will miss them, expect for the workers...
Nick 9:10PM (11/16/2009)
geo.stewart 1:19PM (11/16/2009)
You're aware McCain supported the Detroit Big3 bailout are you?
So here you go again: McCain supported the Big3 bailout. Got it?
And not he turns around and talks sh... about it because it's popular to do that in his ranks.
hookmrl 9:49PM (11/16/2009)
mccain a fine man--look at the country now with no clue in charge--chrysler is junk and how many dealerships closed--
gd 10:34PM (11/16/2009)
Whether McCain will ever be President or not is irrevelant, kind of like GM & possibly Chrystler/Dodge. I tend to agree with you McCain will never make president, of course that a great American cares about what you or I think is silly. I believe he is right about the Car Makers. I was a loyal Chevy buyer forever, until the bond holders were raped by mr. obama and the unions though, nevermore.
HenricksJ 9:37AM (11/17/2009)
I think he has it right - the CEO and head man at Fiat is wishing he could change it all around with the little ones and the big ones to make it all good. Very little chance of that.
They have too few models and the lead time to have what the really need is about
two years away. Can we all say 'cash flow'?