Mitt Romney’s risky move of writing another Op-Ed criticizing the auto industry and the federal bridge loans that allowed Motown to survive resulted in a pummeling by Democratic and UAW officials earlier today.
This was the sequel to his controversial 2008 Op-Ed, “Let Detroit Go Bankrupt,” and we all know how sequels go.
Romney’s newest piece, published in The Detroit News, is full of mischaracterizations of the truth and is an obvious attempt to further cozy up to purist conservatives.
The son of former Michigan governor George Romney claims that the rescue package for General Motors and Chrysler was nothing more than a sweetheart deal – “crony capitalism on a grand scale” – for the UAW to benefit and Obama’s standing to rise with labor leaders.
UAW President Bob King scolded Romney for failing to do his homework:
“Mitt Romney is the last person who should be talking about the recovery of the US auto industry. He can try and rewrite history as much as he wants, but when we were at our darkest hour, Mitt Romney turned his back on the industry, their workers and the people of Michigan and in other places where Americans depend on the auto industry.
“He likes to say he is from Michigan, but no Michigander would advocate the bankruptcy of Detroit, talk down about auto workers and see the recovery of its economy as politically damaging to their campaign.
“Let me be clear: the success you’re seeing in the auto industry today — the new jobs, the increased market share, and even the existence of the auto show in Detroit last month — none of this would have happened if Mitt Romney had his way.
“President Obama and Democrats stepped in and provided emergency loans to allow the auto industry to restructure and rebuild and the people of this nation, where there was no private financing available, and Michigan know that.”
King conveniently ignores the initial bridge loans provided by President George W. Bush, but he’s hardly the only pro-Obama fixture out there who’s focused today on praise for Obama and a firestorm of scorn for Romney.
Former governor Jennifer Granholm, who described the 2008-09 stomach-turning gyrations that accompanied GM and Chrysler’s moves toward bankruptcy in her recent book, was clearly angry with the Massachusetts ex-governor. She said Romney was attempt to downplay a “bold rescue” that has resulted in a thriving Detroit Three. She repeatedly referred to native son Romney “stabbing” Michigan in the back.
“This rescue loan was hardly a free ride. President Obama demanded extraordinary concessions and shared sacrifices from labor and management,” Granholm told reporters.
“Romney will say and stand for anything to get elected, but it’s funny he can’t even do that right. He’s against everything that Michigan is for, and even his family name can’t cover that up.”
Romney also claimed in his News piece that his version of a “managed” bankruptcy process would have been quick and relatively painless without any federal funds involved.
U.S. Rep. Sandy Levin tried to set the record straight, pointing out that the dismantling and liquidation of GM and Chrysler would have been the likely result of proceeding to bankruptcy at a time when private investments had dried up.
“If governor Romney had been listened to once again it would have marked the end of one, perhaps two, of the auto companies, rippling throughout the economy causing hundreds of thousands to lose jobs,” said Levin, who represents a majority of Macomb County.
“Governor Romney is on the hook and he’s trying to squirm off it. If his way had been had, his so-called managed bankruptcy, there was no private money available.”
U.S. Rep Gary Peters, a Democrat whose Oakland County district includes Chrysler’s world headquarters in Auburn Hills, said that while Romney touts his business experience, he is “willfully ignorant of the facts when it comes to the auto rescue.”
“The fact is that there was no source of private capital to restructure GM and Chrysler and the working men and women of the UAW made enormous sacrifices to secure the future of the companies,” Peters said in a statement. “Had President Obama not acted, GM and Chrysler would be in the rearview mirror rather than helping to lead our economic recovery.”
In the News Op-Ed, Romney tries to sound folksy by recalling boyhood days growing up in Michigan and drinking Vernors. Based on his column, I suspect in recent days he’s been drinking something a lot stronger than ginger ale.
At this rate, Romney may be on his way to an embarrassing loss in the Michigan primary, which would provide even more momentum for GOP rival Rick Santorum.
If this presidency thing doesn’t work out for him, maybe he can move to Alabama and run for Senate.
He’d fit right in.
