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Bracing for 'Obama Motors'

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 1, 2009 10:59 AM CDT

(Newser) – GM’s bankruptcy and semi-nationalization has everyone talking. Here’s what the papers are saying:

  • “Welcome to Obama Motors, and what is likely to be a long, expensive, and unhappy exercise in political car making,” writes the Wall Street Journal. The government seems incapable of hands-off management, and Obama will have to renegotiate the UAW contract in an election year, pitting "Big Labor" against taxpayers. "Who do you think wins that White House debate?"

  • The Detroit Free Press laments the fall of the once-mighty automaker, but notes that bankruptcy’s long been inevitable. “It will be painful,” it writes. “But it will offer the company a fresh start.”
  • President Obama must tell the public exactly how he intends to run the company, the New York Times opines. “GM cannot be micromanaged from Washington,” the paper argues, but the government can—and should—appoint board members dedicated to restoring profitability and increasing fuel efficiency.

This April 21, 2009 file photo shows General Motors world headquarters in Detroit.
This April 21, 2009 file photo shows General Motors world headquarters in Detroit.   (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
A Chevrolet logo is shown on a vehicle for sale at dealer in Tacoma, Wash., Friday, May 29, 2009.
A Chevrolet logo is shown on a vehicle for sale at dealer in Tacoma, Wash., Friday, May 29, 2009.   (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
A visitor looks at a General Motors Corp.'s Cadillac CTS displayed at a showroom in Tokyo, Japan, June 1, 2009.
A visitor looks at a General Motors Corp.'s Cadillac CTS displayed at a showroom in Tokyo, Japan, June 1, 2009.   (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)
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The larger corruption will be when government tries to vindicate its ownership by favoring GM over Ford and the other auto makers that aren't wards of the state - The Wall Street Journal

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 13 comments
northeast
Jun 1, 2009 7:19 AM CDT
They won't need to. Japanese companies can be small and efficient, German companies can be small and efficient, and GM has just been turned into a massive quasi-nationalized mess. Expect a negative impact on prices or quality.
northeast
Jun 1, 2009 7:16 AM CDT
GM will be around in the short term, but we're about to witness free-market capitalism and socialized business compete. They won't be sticking around for very much longer.
Fondue
Jun 1, 2009 7:08 AM CDT
Why? GM is the only Co. with a viable product heading to the market with the real possibility of reducing our consumption of oil. Why would you want to be a slave to the oil countries?
 

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