In Michigan, an Endorser in Chief

[Pirate Smile]

In Michigan, an Endorser in Chief
By PETER BAKER



Luke Sharrett/The New York Times
President Obama, right, with Kurt Dykstra, the mayor of Holland, Michigan.

HOLLAND, Mich. — Movie stars might make good television pitchmen, but there is no substitute for the endorser in chief.
President Obama made sure to put on a virtual commercial for American cars on Thursday after speaking at the groundbreaking for a new factory that will manufacture batteries for electric vehicles.
“It’s pretty comfy,” he said as he slipped into the driver’s seat of a Chevrolet Volt.
“I’m telling you guys, I recommend it,” he said after sitting in a Ford Electric Focus.

-snip-
The president was here to mark the construction of a Compact Power plant that will provide lithium-ion battery packs for General Motors’ Chevrolet Volt and Ford’s Electric Focus when it opens in 2012. The $303 million plant, about half of which is financed by money from Mr. Obama’s economic stimulus program, will employ about 400 workers.

Mr. Obama used the opportunity to try his skills as celebrity endorser, but also reminisced about the days when he actually could drive a car. As president, of course, he is generally not allowed behind the wheel of a moving vehicle, although he joked that during a visit to the Secret Service training facility in Maryland he once was allowed to try a sharp, high-speed “J-turn” taught to his drivers to get the presidential limousine out of danger.

Taking a last look at the Ford and Chevrolet at the end of the brief photo shoot, he sounded a wistful note. “My first car didn’t look like these,” he said. “I wouldn’t have minded tooling around in one of these when I was 20 years old.”

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/15/in-michigan-an-endorser-in-chief/?hp

[Clio the Leo]

1. kick! nt

[livetohike]

2. K & R

:kick:

[Peacetrain]

3. K&R

[Fire1]

4. Ok. What's the price sticker? n/t

[Phx_Dem]

5. I'll buy it if he comes with it!

:P

[azmouse]

6. Obama looks good in that car.