Democratic Michigan insiders said President Barack Obama’s auto bailout will help his chances in the state in the November election: that’s the finding of this week’s inaugural Blue Mitten survey of influential Democrats.
Twenty-nine Democrats from the southeastern Michigan area were asked using an automated survey tool what they thought about how the auto bailout will affect Obama’s standing among Democrats and independents in Michigan.
Eighteen responses were collected.
All of the respondents said they agree or somewhat agree the bailout will help Obama win over Democrats in Michigan. Obama and other Democrats have said the 2009 federal bailout of General Motors and Chrysler saved jobs.
“His decisiveness on this issue is palpable compared to his opponent's ever-changing position,” one respondent said.
Respondents were almost as decisive in saying the bailout will help Obama win over independent voters in Michigan, with 72 percent saying they agree and the remaining 28 percent saying they somewhat agree.
One respondent believes “saving all of those jobs will surely influence voters.”
But not all share that view.
“It depends a lot on how independents feel about the Affordable Care Act and how strongly they agree or disagree with the plan,” one respondent said.
Democratic influencers also say that Mitt Romney’s opposition to the bailout has hurt his standing among Republicans in Michigan. In 2008, Romney wrote an editorial in The New York Times—entitled “Let Detroit Go Bankrupt”—that argued against giving federal money to the auto companies.
A little more than half—55 percent—agreed that Romney’s stance against the bailout will hurt him within his own party in the state. Another 17 percent said they somewhat agree. But the remaining 28 percent said they were neutral or said they disagree or somewhat disagree.
“I think Republicans will follow him regardless of what he does,” one respondent said.
Nevertheless, most respondents believed that Obama’s support for the bailout will resonate at the polls in November.
“GM and Chrysler are alive as a result of this President's efforts,” one respondent said. “A million jobs were saved. Our state economy is turned around as our anchor industry thrives again. How could any Michiganian NOT support the President? It would be downright ungrateful.”
“Every Michigan voter knows someone whose job was saved by the loans to GM and Chrysler and the admitted benefits to Ford,” another respondent said.
The Blue Mitten Survey
Our surveys are not a scientific random sample of any larger population but rather an effort to listen to a swath of influential local Democratic activists, party leaders and elected officials in Michigan. All of these individuals have agreed to participate in the surveys, although not all responded to this week's questions. Surveys were conducted between July 26 and Aug. 1, 2012.
Patch will be conducting Red Mitten and Blue Mitten surveys throughout 2012 in hopes of determining the true sentiment of conservatives and liberals on the ground in Michigan. If you are an activist, party leader or elected official and would like to take part in weekly surveys that lasts just a few minutes, please email Associate Regional Editor John Hetzler at john.hetzler@patch.com.
Blue Mitten roster: Vicki Barnett, State House Rep; Joanne Braund, Secretary, Royal Oak Area Democratic Club; Rose Christoph; Dorian Coston, candidate for State Rep;Colleen Crossey, Oakland County Democratic Delegate; Gary Cynowa, President of the North Macomb Democratic Club and District 10 Precinct Delegate; Judy Daubenmier, chair of Livingston County Democrats; Shawn Desai, Democratic Candidate for State Representative 47th District; Gretchen Driskell, Mayor of Saline; Gene Farber, West Bloomfield Township Board Trustee; Marcia Gershenson, Oakland County commissioner; Fred Hoffman; Mitzi Hoffman, former Chair, Royal Oak Area Democratic Club; Marilyn Krok, Oakland County Democratic Delegate; Kathi Kuehnel, Oakland County Democratic Delegate; Carmella Langley, Oakland County Democratic Delegate; Erik Lindquist; Deb Lobring; Jeff Long; Daniel Marcin, candidate for U.S. Representative; Gwen Markham, candidate for Oakland County commissioner; Jim Nash, Oakland County commissioner; Kevin Shopshire, member of Livingston County Democrats; Mike Smith, candidate for White Lake Township Supervisor; Walt Sobczak, Oakland County Democratic Delegate; Mark Steckloff; Regina Strong, candidate for State Rep; Scott Warheit, Royal Oak Crime Prevention Council, and 2011 candidate for Royal Oak City Comission; Karen Zyczynski, Oakland County Democratic Delegate
1. GM and Ford were terchnically bankrupt. Neither had the cash or credit to fund operations. Normally, they would go to the financial markets for CH11 financing to fund the bankruptcy process. That was not availablle in this case, so the government stepped in to fund the reorganization. Had they not done that, GM and Chrysler would have been forced into chapter 7 liquidation as opposed to chapter 11 reorganization. 2. Both the Republican Bush Administration and the Democrat Obama Administration supporterd the bailout, because it made good financial sense. Simply put, it was cheaper to bail them out than to allow them to fail. 3. The Obama backed bankruptcy did not follow chapter 11 code. They elected to pay unsecured creditors (UAW) ahead of others, like bondholders who would normally been paid first. Bondholders are both institutions and individuals. Alot of the bondholders who got hurt were GM retirees. They also pressured GM to make pensions whole for former Delphi union workwers, while allowing white collar workers to have ther penions transferred to the PPG. They lost 40-70% of their pension payouts. Summary: It made good economic sense to fund this bailout. Had the government not backed it, they would have liquidated. Its hard to argue that the Obama Administration wasn't playing politicvs when they protected union workers over white collar workers. They are his supporters.
Yes, the credit bubble driven primarily by non-bank lenders not covered by the CRA. No, the housing boom & bust was not in the areas covered by thew CRA. Yes, the housing boom global in nature, with the US bubble less than many other nations. Proof? What caused the financial crisis? The Big Lie goes viral - The Washington Post - http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/what-caused-the-financial-crisis-the-big-lie-goes-viral/2011/10/31/gIQAXlSOqM_story.html There are other sources: 2007–2012 global financial crisis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007%E2%80%932012_global_financial_crisis Private Wall Street Companies Caused The Financial Crisis — Not Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Or The Community Reinvestment Act | Political Correction - http://politicalcorrection.org/factcheck/201110140001 Private sector loans, not Fannie or Freddie, triggered crisis | McClatchy - http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2008/10/12/53802/private-sector-loans-not-fannie.html So, please, stop lying about it.
You continue to confuse me; have you flip-flopped your position on this issue -- your letter in the Rochester Patch supported -- backup -- Mitt Romney's position which would have caused millions of jobs. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/opinion/19romney.html?_r=3 http://rochester.patch.com/articles/was-the-automotive-industry-saved
Sometimes the truth hurts, and folk go into denial, like you are. You sent a pletheria of lett view opinions on how the Federally mandated credit loosening was helping Americans find housing, yet ignored the fact that many could not yet afford it. Americans need to learn how to save, like our parents did, to put down a 20% downpayment on a property. Instead, the govt relaxed those rules under Clinton, facts ,not lies, my friend. Here are some sources http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_housing_bubble Debt was a major factor in the housing and financial crash, and the govt caused it by making loans way to easy to obtain by relaxing loan underwriting requirements. When a person gets a loan, that is a debt now owed to the bank or lender. Folk were taking out loans left and right, going into debt to flip houses etc , all made possible by the govt directive to the banks to make loans easy to get by just about anyone. http://www.mybudget360.com/what-caused-the-housing-crash-two-words-crushing-debt/ You can call a person a liar when they say a dollar bill is green, but that does not change the facts, just shows that you need to recheck your vision for color blindness.
It shouldn't be. Obama has packaged himself as a hero to the people. Regardless of what the package says, he's a socialist, not an American, and his views combined with years of corrupt politicians are destroying the very foundation of this country. Sadly, Americans are trending towards ignorance at a terrifying rate, and no longer have education or a drive to learn about what is truly occuring, instead opting for a world through rose-colored glasses.
In any case. I have to wonder if people who cry 'socialism' have any idea what this actually means. Socialism does not equate to Soviet-era communism. I for one, would welcome a slide toward Finnish or Danish or Norwegian socialism! High GDP, great education and health systems, excellent standards of living, and possibly more 'freedom' and democracy that you or I experience in the USA. Bring it on!
I love this country. I'm proud to be an American and I choose to live here for many reasons. But I saw the benefit of those high European tax rates, and was happy to pay them.
TTFN
Again, yes, the credit bubble driven primarily by non-bank lenders not covered by the CRA. No, the housing boom & bust was not in the areas covered by thew CRA. Yes, the housing boom was global in nature, with the US bubble less than many other nations. Proof? Glean it from: >Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_Crisis_Inquiry_Commission -or- the 663 page FCIC report: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/GPO-FCIC/pdf/GPO-FCIC.pdf >2007-2012 global financial crisis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007%E2%80%932012_global_financial_crisis >Private Wall Street Companies Caused The Financial Crisis, Not Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Or The Community Reinvestment Act: http://politicalcorrection.org/factcheck/201110140001 >Private sector loans, not Fannie or Freddie, triggered crisis: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2008/10/12/53802/private-sector-loans-not-fannie.html Repeating your lies don't make them true. People are getting wise to your act - The Big Lie goes viral: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/what-caused-the-financial-crisis-the-big-lie-goes-viral/2011/10/31/gIQAXlSOqM_story.html
Today is primary election day. You know what to do. Try to get as many of your friends, family, and neighbors to make it to the polls. Oh, and remember: apathy, indifference, and disinterest are choices for those who benefit by lower voter turnout and participation. (Read the articles on voter suppression and you'll know who I mean)
Is a person in a persistant vegatative state really alive? If the government weren't pumping it's lungs with taxpayer dollars, would GM exist? We told you 30 years ago this couldn't last forever and you did nothing. Now there's about 75% less of you and no reason to think there will ever be more.
Because most CEO's aren't dumb, they managed to a higher share price and got paid even more than before.
If they move an auto plant to Alabama, they will certainly have workers who can run the plant. We've automated the skill out of 90% of the jobs. But they may not have the senior leadership, so the plant manager and his/her team move to Alabama and 2,000 union employee's in Detroit get laid off. So be careful when you spew hate on corporate tax breaks.