Romney hurts 2012 chances

[blue_onyx]

I believe Mitt Romney may have made a mistake in writing an editorial for the New York Times. He basically says that the auto industry shouldn't be bailout. He makes it clear that the purpose of opposing the bailout is to hurt the unions: "That means new labor agreements to align pay and benefits to match those of workers at competitors like BMW, Honda, Nissan and Toyota. Furthermore, retiree benefits must be reduced so that the total burden per auto for domestic makers is not higher than that of foreign producers." So the retirees and union members, who already made huge concessions, should be thrown to the wolves?

I think a lot of people on DU may actually agree with Romney but how is Romney going to win his "home state" of Michigan in the 2012 primary with statements like this. Michigan played a big role for him and most pundits said if he didn't win MI this year, that he would be finished. He won MI and was able to keep his campaign alive for a little longer. If Romney does get the nomination in 2012, remarks from this article will likely push Michigan (and other Mid-western states) even further into the Democratic column.

BTW Mitt, just because your dad was Governor of Michigan and was an auto executive doesn't make YOU an auto expert.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/19/opinion/19romney.html?_r=3&hp

[Justyce]

1. Maybe they should cut their higher-ups' salaries & bonuses rather than

constantly taking from the workers. I'm so sick of this 'new way'. Our country can't survive it. Prices skyrocketing & salaries dropping... all except executive salaries that is. :mad:

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

2. The guy made his wealth by destroying the working class in the 80s.

It didn't seem to hurt him much last time around.

[blue_onyx]

11. I don't think most people knew about his business history

They just knew he was the "CEO/business candidate." Michigan played an important part in his primary strategy and an article like this could take a big state out of play for him in 2012 (especially if auto industry does end up going bankrupt).

[opihimoimoi]

3. Mitt is unfit....keep it simple / short

[liberal N proud]

4. This whole thing is about busting the UAW

[rurallib]

5. Ain't it amazing the lengths they will go to to break the union?

[liberal N proud]

7. I have seen them shut down entire companies

I worked in the meat packing industry in late 70's. They shut down an entire company opened back up 4 months later with wages half of what they were before.

The would not hire anyone back that had worked in the union.

Yes they will go to great lengths to bust unions.

[maxsolomon]

6. it doesn't hurt his chances of securing the nomination

he doesn't need UAW support to lead the GOP.

[floridablue]

8. I remember his papa

He went to Vietnam and got "brainwashed" in 1968

[NNN0LHI]

9. Romney spent $42.3 million of his own money on his failed campaign. Great business sense

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/02/romney.html

Final report: Romney spent $42.3 million of his own dough

[EC]

10. With all the American Motors/Chrysler retirees

here in my little town of Kenosha (where Mitt's dad was CEO) he'd lose, since half the town is retired from there....including me...I'm the widow of a retiree and would lose my late husbands annuity...my Mom too...it really sucks when they start talking about taking retirement benefits that were worked for ...


Besides, Japan and the other countries we are competing with have trade unions and good contracts...the differences are exec pay and insurance...has nothing to do with the unions breaking them...

[blue_onyx]

13. It annoys me when people talk about the greedy unions

and blame the retirees. They worked for what they've gotten and shouldn't be blamed for wanting what they've been promised. The unions and retirees have given a lot of concessions. I recently talked to my great aunt who lost her health coverage from GM. She gets Medicare but that doesn't cover everything, like dental. Luckily she was good with her money (she was a saver like most people from her generation) so this won't devastate her financially. But the idea that unions and retirees are some how to blame for the problems is crazy.

[KamaAina]

12. How about aligning pay and benefits upward at the competitors?

How would that be? It worked well enough for Henry Ford. His idea was to pay his workers enough so they could afford to buy their own products. And he would hardly be described as a progressive. Imagine that. :eyes:

[Alcibiades]

14. Good

I hope he loses the primary. Romney is the Republican who scares me most, not because he is the craziest, but because he seems to be the one best positioned to win in 2012, assuming he can get the nomination, which is doubtful so long as his party is run by fundies.

[Strawman]

15. Mittens makes it sound so simple. As if there is no cost to the community

to defaulting on those retiree benefits. Alot of nursing homes and assisted living facilities would be shtting down in MI. That's for sure. Grandma and grandpa would be moving in, or if they had no kids to take them in, out on the street when all the nursing homes that take Medicaid patients were full with waiting lists.