If gas guzzlers are so evil, why does Obama keep riding in them?

By Michelle Malkin  •  May 5, 2008 11:18 AM

There he goes again. Barack Obama is lambasting Detroit’s Big 3 automakers again for manufacturing SUVs. He attacked the car companies over the weekend for making the “mistake” of investing in SUVs and large trucks instead of producing more fuel-efficient vehicles. Obama also bragged about his Big 3- bashing speech a year ago that delivered “the kind of truth-telling we need from the next president.”

A truth-telling reminder of the gas-guzzling car Obama himself was driving before eco-hypocrisy caught up with him:


Chrysler 300C
Output: 340 hp, 390 lb-ft
EPA fuel economy, city/highway: 17/25 (17/24 AWD)

His fancy wheels got less than the standard 27 mpg that he now whines is too low.

After his do-as-i-say-ism was exposed, he traded in his beast for a Ford Escape Hybrid.

But on the campaign trail, to this day, it’s still the bigger the better.

Obama’s eco-hypocrisy emission standard: High.

See what others have said

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  1. Obama’s Gas Guzzling | Election Geek Blog 2008 Election News 24/7
  2. Obama’s Eco-Hypocrisy : The American Pundit
  3. Michelle Malkin » Obama and Hillary’s Ethanol Flip-Flop
  4. Clinton & Obama: First They Lie To You and Then They Steal Your Property! « Pronk Palisades
  5. The Dan Lee Report » Blog Archive » Worried about Gas Prices? Well I know of some Congressman who aren’t..
  6. May, 2008 Archive « Right Minded Online
  7. Michelle Malkin » Obama initiates Car Wars
  8. Michelle Malkin » The Obamamobile: Drive as I say, not as I drive

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Comments


  1. #101
    On May 5th, 2008 at 4:01 pm, rightwingrocker said:

    Ford Escape Hybrid. I like the vehicle, I like the technology, I like the fact that it is made in the USA. I also like the fact that it gets decent gas mileage. I like sitting a little higher in traffic, I also like having the four wheel drive option. The extra space is boon for shopping, hauling extra people etc.. about the only thing I would offer in the negative is, the vehicle could use another 50 horsepower. However, in my opinion, everything I have driven in the last 20 years+ could use another 50 horsepower including my lawnmower:-)

    Wait till you see the bill when you have to replace the battery – oh yeah, and disposing of it causes more pollution than plain old gasoline exhaust!

    Anyone want to go for a ride in my ‘03 Blazer? HAHAHAHAHA

    RWR
    http://www.rightwingrocker.com

  2. #102
    On May 5th, 2008 at 4:05 pm, rightwingrocker said:

    And none of the industries noted above pay taxes even similar to what is levied on the oil industry

    Just a reminder: Industries and businesses don’t pay taxes. Their customers pay the tax for them. Tax on the oil industry? Guess who pays it. YOU. Not the CEO of Exxon. Not the guy who works in the refinery. YOU pay it every time you pull up to the pump.

    Remember that next time some commie complains about phantom tax breaks the oil companies get. Remember that every penny the oil companies DON’T pay in taxes is a penny YOU don’t have to reimburse them for when you fill your tank.

    I won’t let them beat me. You shouldn’t either.

    RWR
    http://www.rightwingrocker.com

  3. #103
    On May 5th, 2008 at 4:30 pm, starlightwoman said:

    Does this surprise anyone?

  4. #104
    On May 5th, 2008 at 4:35 pm, AlohaGuy said:

    You only have to look at the highways and see how many huge SUVs have just one person in them

    You only have to go to the airport nearest to any congressperson’s home town to see airlines with only one person on the plane. Our tax dollars go to a huge subsidy for Airlines to Nowhere (yes Michelle, you may use that:) so your representative doesn’t have to drive from the nearest large airport.

  5. #105
    On May 5th, 2008 at 5:38 pm, Ditkaca said:

    So let me get this straight. All our senators have secret service and bullet proof SUVs? Or just those running for president? Has Obama had this SS unit protecting him paid for by our tax dollars since he announced he was running for POTUS or before? Did all the other candidates have them? Are they paid for with campaign dollars or tax dollars?

    These are important questions that we need to ask.

    Bottom line though is he changed after he was called out which to me means he is not fit for pres. IMHO

  6. #106
    On May 5th, 2008 at 5:55 pm, Straight_Talk_Luigi said:

    An SUV is a reasonably efficient way to transport lots of people (miles per gallon per person). It’s an inefficient way to transport one person.

    What BS LGM! If this were Bush, you’d be thundering up a storm! I guess half-black liberals get a free pass, huh?

    You want efficient, LGM? Try a bus or a train.

    An SUV? Get real.

    Conservatives, I went to school for environmental science, and it’s people on the left who don’t lead by example that make our jobs harder.

  7. #107
    On May 5th, 2008 at 6:17 pm, Yashmak said:

    Criticizing him for his earlier choice of vehicles is completely valid because it shows his hypocrisy. But in the case of what he’s using “to this day” on the campaign trail, it doesn’t apply.

    – Mookie

    We’re on the same page there. But the Envoy isn’t his campaign vehicle, it’s one of his private vehicles.

  8. #108
    On May 5th, 2008 at 7:15 pm, dm60462 said:

    He did it (the 300) for the street cred… which a Ford Escape Hybrid definately does NOT provide.

  9. #109
    On May 5th, 2008 at 8:05 pm, Mookie said:

    – Mookie

    We’re on the same page there. But the Envoy isn’t his campaign vehicle, it’s one of his private vehicles.

    No, I know that. I’m just saying, if he’s going to be a hypocrite about his private cars, at least he’s trying to be an environmentally friendly one. :lol:

  10. #110
    On May 5th, 2008 at 8:41 pm, Dimsdale said:

    On May 5th, 2008 at 5:38 pm, Ditkaca said:

    So let me get this straight. All our senators have secret service and bullet proof SUVs? Or just those running for president? Has Obama had this SS unit protecting him paid for by our tax dollars since he announced he was running for POTUS or before? Did all the other candidates have them? Are they paid for with campaign dollars or tax dollars?

    These are important questions that we need to ask.

    Bottom line though is he changed after he was called out which to me means he is not fit for pres. IMHO

    You know, you have a point. Instead of spreading (like manure) millions of dollars on commercials that people just tune out, why don’t the candidates reimburse the gov’t for their own protection? Obama is hemorrhaging money, and Hillary can just send ol’ Bill out to make a few speeches. Speaking of Bill, he can afford to spring for some of his own protection too, since he has made being an ex-president so profitable. The Bushes too. Carter can get Hamas to pay for his.

    If they can arbitrarily make decisions that screw up our financial status, why can’t we return the favor?

    They can get the tax paid stuff after they get the job.

    Me? I would just get a bid from Blackwater, LOL!

  11. #111
    On May 5th, 2008 at 9:02 pm, SirKnob said:

    Rocker, the battery and system have an 8 year warranty. No pro-rating. I doubt I will have the vehicle 8 years :-)

    As for the other comments. Very good, you state the obvious, as I said, so little space.. silly me :-)

    As for the Toyota comment. Most cars today are made by convention. Toyota does not make a better vehicle, they have better advertising, better lobbies and as I said, the environuts are on their side. The environuts do not want anything made in the USA. They blame the President for chasing jobs overseas when their attack attorney lawsuits and logic defying EPA & OSHA regulations result in the largest loss of manufacturing jobs in the US.

    The media consistantly plays the automotive game the same way they play politics. Foreign cars get only good press, US cars get only bad. Consumer reports loves Asian models, J.D. Powers loves Europe. As for Toyota, a good brand, but the last two years running Ford has kicked their butts in the consumer complaint department. Funny, how Toyota can recall 3 million vehicles for a transmission defect and media fails to notice. The same media that placed dynomite in a Chevy Pickup and exploded it on camera to influence the public that the vehicle was dangerous. Funny also how they fail to mention the multi million dollars lawsuit payouts they had to make to Ford and Chevy.

    Anyway, thanks for the feedback all :-) Time to eat :-) Everyone have a really great day :-)

  12. #112
    On May 5th, 2008 at 10:10 pm, beenthere said:

    The argument from hypocrisy should have some affect on enviro-types but in my experience it never does. Might as well not even try it. The answer is invariably along the lines of: “Well, lots of people have SUVs. Big deal if our guy has one.” The implication being that it is fine for Gore, Obama, and their ilk to have SUVs — until the great day comes when the vehicles are universally banned. Then and only them would it be hypocritical for Obama, etc., to own/drive one.

  13. #114
    On May 5th, 2008 at 11:59 pm, conservativeindian said:

    Anybody know who drives the escape? Probably the piano teacher. or may be just sits in the driveway for show.

  14. #115
    On May 6th, 2008 at 1:03 am, henryinga said:

    What I want to know is how do we common folk stick a pin in the commodities traders bubble, to bring the oil prices down?

  15. #117
    On May 7th, 2008 at 9:48 am, rightwingrocker said:

    Rocker, the battery and system have an 8 year warranty. No pro-rating. I doubt I will have the vehicle 8 years.

    Still, the environmentalists’ justification for insisting everyone driving these things is the money you supposedly save and the environmental issues, both of which are bogus for the reasons I mentioned, espeically for the long term.

    RWR
    http://www.rightwingrocker.com

  16. #120
    On September 23rd, 2008 at 1:16 pm, right_on said:

    I hope Obama isn’t claiming that he is buying an American made car. According to the Kelly Blue Book list of top American made cars, the Ford Escape Hybrid does not qualify as “American Made because less than 75% of it’s parts are domestically manufactured.

    I know it’s nit-picking, but with his campaign’s history of deficient research, one would think they would have noticed this little point.

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