Come back anytime, Mr. President

Jul 30, 2010 — Detroit Free Press

Ron Dzwonkowski

Jul. 30, 2010 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Mr. President, come back any time. Seems to be good for you and it certainly is for us here in the proverbial epicenter of The Great Recession.

President Barack Obama is not the most popular guy in the land -- polls show his disapproval numbers running slightly ahead of approval -- and his Democratic Party is expected to take some lumps in the fall election.

But today in Detroit, where he visited two auto plants, was a win-win for the president and the Detroit area.

Obama had to be personally buoyed by the enthusiastic receptions he received at both Chrysler's Jefferson North assembly plant and the General Motors factory in Hamtramck where he actually drove a new Chevy Volt electric car, even if only about as far as a driveway. And he can legitimately say that the federal rescue of the auto industry -- which he had to confront in the first weeks of his presidency -- has turned out better than anyone expected. Jobs were saved and are now being added, although industry employment will never be what it was; the Detroit Three automakers are all running in he black, although sales are well below the industry's biggest years; and the U.S. Treasury is being repaid its investments in GM and Chrysler, although an Obama task force had to steer both companies through speedy bankruptcies.

But so far in the Obama administration, the reshaping of the domestic auto industry is a signature achievement and anytime the president wants to hear somebody say "Thank you!" as he did on Friday, he knows where to come.

On the upside locally, Chrysler used the occasion of the president's visit to announce a second shift and new jobs at the Sterling Heights assembly plant that once was scheduled to shut down in 2012, and the strong likelihood of a new shift at Jefferson North.

Both Chrysler and GM benefited immeasurably as well from having the world's most recognizable figure get behind the wheel of their new products. You can't buy that kind of publicity. Ordinary people may not be able to buy the kind of limousine Obama rides around in, but they can take a look at the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, which the president today pronounced a "state of the art car ... a world-class car." And they can get on the list for a Volt, which Obama said after his brief drive was "pretty smooth."

So the net for the visit: The president is juiced about something that's gone right in this economy, even as he acknowledges we have a ways to go. More than a thousand new auto industry jobs are announced. And two locally made products get the seal of approval from our Consumer in Chief.

Like I said, come back anytime.

Chrysler one-ups Obama with news

Presidents come and go. Jobs stick around.

That's why for local folks, Chrysler pretty much upstaged President Barack Obama's visit to the Jefferson North assembly plant today by announcing just before his arrival that its Sterling Heights assembly plant will not only stay open indefinitely -- instead of closing in 2012 -- but also . That means another 500 jobs at supplier plants.

And, as Obama observed in his remarks at Jefferson North, there are even further ripple effects when an auto plant stays open -- or closes.

In the case of Sterling Heights, the plant's continued operation -- even with $7.4 million in tax abatements -- means $2.6 million a year for the city budget, which translates to maintaining police, fore and other public services. The added employment at the plant, which now has 1,200 workers, also means more business for nearby merchants, maybe even more families looking for real estate in Sterling Heights.

The new post-bankruptcy Chrysler bought the once-doomed plant from the old Chrysler in February for $20 million but committed initially only to making cars there through 2012. Chrysler had bought the plant from Volkswagen in 1983. The plant makes mid-size sedans.

Thoughts on Obama's ride

Suppose the president of the United States will ever ride in an electric limousine?

The thought occurs as Obama visits two Detroit auto factories today, including the Hamtramck assembly line where General Motors is making the Chevy Volt, touted as a game-changer for the domestic auto industry and key to the president's goal of having a million electric-powered vehicles on American roads by 2015.

Consumers worry about the range of such cars -- how far they can go before running out of juice. What better way to public confidence than have the White House using one? The president never travels very far by car anyway, usually from airports into towns. His ride into Detroit from Metro Airport was just over 20 miles.

Wonder if an electric-powered vehicle could support all the armor, bulletproof glass and other necessities of a presidential limousine. Wonder if the Secret Service would trust it.

The president does ride in a Detroit product, a Cadillac limo that was delivered to the White House in time for his inauguration. While the exact features of the car are secret, for obvious reasons, GM said in a statement when the limo was completed that it "includes the finest examples of Cadillac's recent renaissance in design, technology and craftsmanship. The cabin blends modern design and technology with old-world craftsmanship. Major aspects of the cabin are cut and sewn by hand."

Think it has a litter bag? How a bout an ash tray for a guy who has admittedly struggled to kick the habit. With those tinted windows, who'd know?

Newstex ID: KRTB-0048-47485524