On the road to the White House

Now that the presidential fight card is set, we at Up to Speed decided to check out the candidates' transportation choices.

The tale of the tape:

Barack Obama (D): Drove a Chrysler 300 with a V-8 engine (18 mpg) until last summer, when he switched to a Ford Escape hybrid (30 mpg) after getting bad press about driving a gas guzzler.

John McCain (R): Cadillac CTS sedan (19 mpg). Reportedly, his first car was a 1958 Corvette (no mpg rating — it predated the rating system — but probably not too great).

Joe Biden (D): Although his main vehicle of choice is the Amtrak Acela from D.C. to Delaware, he is known to drive a 1967 Corvette (again, no mpg rating).

Sarah Palin (R): As governor, she drives a Chevrolet Suburban (16 mpg) owned by the state of Alaska. In July, she was involved in a multi-vehicle accident on the way to work. The SUV sustained several thousand dollars in damage. She also has been known to drive her husband's snowmobiles.

These are going to be a hard-fought couple of months. But there's clearly one thing both tickets can agree upon: If you want to run for high elected office in the U.S. of A., you'd better drive an American car. Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) drives a Toyota Prius, so we know why McCain passed him over.

Then again, with Secret Service escorts, none of the candidates will be doing any driving anytime soon.

—Ken Bensinger

Photo: Gov. Sarah Palin and her daughter Piper with Sen. John McCain and his wife, Cindy.

Credit: Stephan Savoia / Associated Press

Comments

[Maggie Knowles]

It wouldn't bother me at all if the candidates were driving foreign cars if those cars were energy efficient. Our auto companies are not competitive in the global economy. They need to design cars for better fuel efficiency and they've had 30 years to do it - why haven't they?

Barack Obama will reinvest in the U.S. auto industry and get them to retool their factories and manufacture cars that get 150 miles per gallon - that's fuel efficiency that will make a difference and help reduce our dependence on foreign oil and increase national security.

[Mike Barker]

Hey...what happened to the girl with the motorcycles?

[mark]

Maggie Knowles, How does fuel efficiency improve national security? Did you just copy & paste this from one of Obama's speech?
There are plenty of American cars rated at 30+ MPG. GM is the 2nd largest auto manufacturer in the world. Why are you so negative of the US. You don't sound very "proud" of your country... if you're even an American.
You like many other lemmings, you see this exotic Obama as some messiah. He's just a fancy speaking politician backed with zero experience.

[Robert NO longer in LA]

WHY for gawd's sake, spend TAXPAYER money on the useless, inept, brain-dead Detroit Rust-bucket brigade? THEIR Greed and Stupidity got them where they are, where they DESERVE to be and I see NO reason to BAIL them out!!! We NEED light rail and CLEAN, efficient public transport. We NEED, much better vehicle than Detroits has dumped on us for over 30 years.

Mark: you NEED to get some FACTS: UAW clowns sat in a room, doing NO WORK, and still collected $60-75k a year. Do you KNOW who PAID for that? Every poor, dumb sucker who purchased a Pig 3 garbage scow! Even the Insurance industry's Highway Safety Institute tests showed, Ford's bloated profit margin winner - the F150 - folded up like a CHEAP soda can in head-on crashes. Bail out, my ARSE!!!

[Chris Cullen]

Bring Susan Carpenter back!

[ibti]

It's very interesting that Sen. Barack Obama is criticized for driving a gas guzzler but not Sen. John McCain for his gas guzzling Cadillac.

[HGH]

All US carmakers need to do is bring THEIR OWN existing diesel technology from Europe back to the US.

While in France and Spain this summer, I enjoyed 40-60mpg in numerous US badged or US-owned cars - Opels, Fords, etc. Why all the hoopla about hybrid technology when our own cars, with diesel engines, can achieve mileage at least as good.

Finally, the only "reinvestment" Obama would make in any industry is taking profits from the corporate level and dispersing them among the workers. Good for the people but not so good for innovation, corporate growth, or the consumer.

[ferenc]

barrack obama will revive the us car companies and make them build their plants in the usa(not canada & mexico. obama will also demand that the new cars get 200 mpg by 20010. goodie.

[Ronbo]

I judge a man not by what he drives, but by what drives him.

[Randy Hunt]

The auto industry is actually a giant pension fund that makes automobiles. It will collapse under its own obligations. Let them fail.

[J. Rob]

(reply to Maggie Knowles) Maggie seems to believe in the "hope" Obama gives without any question to how he will pay for these generalized dreams she shares with him. Did Maggie suggest that Obama is going to invest gov funds into the auto industry? Oh it's ok since he is going to raise the taxes on the rich only - YEAH RIGHT. GREAT solution toots. You people better ask yourself before it's too late. Will Obama define RICH??? Is a husband and wife making 60k each, own one house and a multi-unit apartment rich or just smart enough to manage their money? The multi-unit was inherited without the heavy inheritance taxes the Clinton administration had in place - thank you Bush. During the Clinton years it would have had to be sold (to pay for the taxes) - so in an Obama administration are they considered rich? Are they the evil rich who should pay for the auto industy failings and whatever program Obama wants to throw money at? Should you even try to own two properties if you will be considered "rich" and hammered with taxes. You will not be able to transfer your accomplishments to your children because of the democratic tax feeding frenzy on those who they consider rich. All becuase Obama never defined rich until he was elected. The American dream will be a joke except for those(not all) on Welfare, Social Security, and food stamps who choose to sell crack and SIT AROUND while I work to pay higher taxes. Windfall government profits from taxes will be handed to more people who can not manage their own money (great idea Obama) - great ideas from a great speaker who can not define anything except what hope is. But hope is nothing without ability.

[S. Kurney]

Wow! Maggie, I feel for you. Looks like you are being attacked when you are simply sharing your opinion. This is what is meant by "more of the same". It seems as if we can't agree to disagree or simply have a difference in opinion. Does friendly debate not exist between intelligent people any longer?

It is sad how we blast one another in truly critical and demeaning ways when we are all entitled to our opinion. I happen to be a supporter of Obama. Yes I believe in the "hope" that he speaks of. As a Christian, I have faith that God will always provide a way out of challenge....I am trusting and believing that he has ordained Barack Obama to lead and guide this nation in these challenging times. I look at the candidates' worth and preparedness for this high office based on their works! Obama is prepared for this position. We need someone who is going to move forth in truth and honesty, with a cool and measured tongue and pen rather than hasty words and signing bills based on the "right now"! Speaking to this country's fears and continuing to operate with a high hand and as overlord rather than "we the people" needs to be a practice retired when our current president leaves office in January...we are fighting a war that should have never ever been waged!

I am an American (just as I am sure Maggie is - this comment directed at whomever made that ugly quip earlier in this blog) and I deserve to EXPECT my 8 year old son to grow up and live a life of prosperity and longevity not one already predesting him to join the battle over oil and lies! John McCain and George Bush aren't losing children in this war! Keep it going for as long as it takes? I think not! If McCain's VP choice was any indication of how he will lead, you too, better wake up and cast your vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden!

[UWorlds1]

Look at how McCain is looking at Palin. Seems like disgust.

[MW]

To J Rob - I too own an apartment and a house. And I consider myself rich.
Beyond what Obama considers rich (and he has given some very good indications of what he will consider rich as related to taxation), "rich" is in the eye of the beholder. And since we are important observers of our own selves, and the way we observe ourselves is extremely important - I long ago made the decision that I am rich. Beyond financial concerns, I am rich, but as related to finances I most certainly am very rich. I am barely making mortgage payments for the properties, but I enjoy a high standard of living and when compared to the human population, I rank in the top 0.72 percentile in terms of income. Should I be complaining (or dare I say, 'whining')? Hell no. And I don't think you should be either.

BTW, nobody said the rich were 'evil'. Nobody said that to atone for their wickedness, they have to pay to bail out the auto industry. It tells me a lot about you that you should resort to such displacing of the debate to absurd notions of good and evil. Those of us with more means should be responsible for more. Pure and simple. And it should be an honor, not something to whine about. We have done better than the average citizen, and have the honor of being able to contribute more.

What our tax money is spent on is another matter entirely - and yes there is often a lot to complain about in that domain - the stupid war your buddy Bush conned us into would be a good place to start. While he was being helpful with regards to your little inheritance situation, he was also busy knocking this nation back thirty years in foreign relations, blowing our nations budget through the roof, and causing the death of tens of thousands of people who had NOTHING to do with 9/11... just to name a few of his most blatant short-comings. But I suppose all that matters is your inheritance...

When we vote from the 'me' instead of the 'we', should we be surprised to see our greatest collective attribute - OUR COUNTRY - falling apart?

M.

[jill fanceuax]

If I make $500,000 per year but pour 90% of it back into my company, I'm not rich. Foolish, maybe. But not rich. While I may be on my way to riches, I could be broke tomorrow if my company doesn't make a breakthrough soon.

[Randy Hardin]

We live in a free country; therefore, we can drive the vehicle we want and buy the fuel to go where we want. It's our choice! I don't care what President McCain or Vice President Palin drive, I just want them to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

[CommonSense]

J Rob. you are sooo right! It is NOT the governments job to redistribute the wealth...That is communism...Programs either take money from the Americans who are contributing the most or the government prints more money which devalues the dollar and effects everyone...There is no Santa Claus!

We must quit rewarding those who break our laws to be here and those who milk our system. We don't have the resources and soon here there will be nothing left! A politician who promises everything is just trying to buy your vote! Promises, promises! No one wants to hear the truth that if we keep spending money that we do not have the dollar will collapse...No politician except for the visionary Ron Paul will run on the truth. Basing our money on the gold standard is paramount and we can't do that with programs filled with pork!

[Frank Nguyen]

Driving foreign cars or driving American cars, is that really a question??? How about American cars made in Mexico v.s. Japanese cars made in USA ???!!!

[Jerome]

18, 19, 30 mpg.... this is shocking!!! When will the USA stop contributing to the oil rise/demand/earth pollution?! All our cars in Europe run at an average of 40mpg! and yes we have BMW, Mercedes, Audi VW.. Some of the Japanese and French cars even go to 60 mpg! American cars don't seel over here.. wonder why?! Come one people... WAKE UP!!

[Paris]

OK....the new prez pushes a magic button and detroit starts pumping out 250 mpg cars that cost $15,000 a piece then tells China to start treating us fairly on trade balance and copyright issues.

Next he waves the magic wand to get everyone worldwide to forgive us for selling them junk bonds rated AAA,,,,(see housing bubble fiasco)...by wall street crooks.

Now for a dose of reality....the next president of the US will be the equivalent of the captain of the titanic 5 mins before SLAMMING into the iceberg.

Every american had better find the OFF button on your TV remote and get involved with your country and the political process that is going on.
The Elitist...aka Bilderbergers and Trilaterals crooks have gutted your constitution and replaced it with Treaties like NAFTA and Executive orders that will imprison you for sneezing in the future if they so desire.

They did it while you were watching the boob tube after a gruling day slaving at your job to pay taxes to the federal reserve which is owned by Private banks...Get it..??...you better start fighting for your rights ....they are vanishing faster than your paycheck...

[c. orr]

Obama is at best a socialist in the true Marxian sense of the word. He believes in the redistribution of wealth through programs disguised as being designed to help those who are willing to vote him into splendor, and his ideas of 'making' industry follow his lead in making things that are 'green' borders on the fantastic. After all, we do live in a free market society where there is supposed to be the old capitalist notion that the market determines what is produced. Government is not 'Daddy' regardless of what those who dream of Utopia imagine. To believe the slight of hand illusions of a person who has never run a business talk about changing the way business is done is beyond daft and is rooted in total denial of what the chief executive of a consumer society actually does with his power. Automobiles were invented to fill a basic need. The definition of that design has changed from utility to a kind of fashion statement on wheels. I rather doubt that anyone would actually buy a vehicle that would be able to drive 150 miles on a gallon of gasoline because of the very narrow strictures that physics plays in how energy can be converted into motion. There is only so much 'work' in matter and here the periodic table is king. What is wanting in America is a better understanding of our needs to express our ideas of what private transportation is, in terms of where we go and how we manage it. We have not seen through the construct that transportation can be more efficient if it is more open to interpretation. Cars are not the answer. Public transportation that works better suits our needs for the future, in that it creates less of a burden on our dwindling energy stocks. To talk about cars for the future is just one more of those blind alleys political thinkers lead the blind voters down. Obama is just another piper with a following on their way to nowhere. I have not heard one 'real' idea come out of his mouth, and he claims to be spending money like water and cannot hire someone to come up with even the vapor of one, what does that tell you about his vision?

[pfk]

I agree with HGH - all American car companies need to do is bring their foreign made cars back home. I currently live in Asia and there are plenty of compact Fords here with high-mileage standards. Why don't we get the same at home?
Mark - higher fuel efficiency increases national security b/c it decreases the amount of oil we need (foreign or domestic) to run our economy. Oil is not a renewable energy source and will run out one day, and probably in our lifetimes. Why be stuck on yesterday's energy when you can invest in tomorrow's.

[Orvile]

WM, I love this idea liberals have that the war has hurt our standing with the world or the world "hates" the US. If that is so true why did France, German, and Italy kick out their anit-American presidents for pro-American? Because the world doesn’t actually hate us, despite what CNN says. Taxes are like a tic on a dog(stay with me on this one). The more blood the tic draws from the dog, the weaker the dog gets. So when you raise taxes you hurt our economy and the hard working people. Obama wants to pull us out of the war, stop spending money on defense research, repeal the tax breaks of Bush, then some how add 40+billion to the buget?!!? Are you crazy? Obama is going to make us less secure, have a weaker military, and for what? So he can spend more money on redisturbing the wealth(communism/Socialism). What people don’t realize either is when you tax the rich, they have to means to leave this country and not pay taxes here. By taxing them, you give them a reason to leave. And if enough of them leave, we won’t be able to pay our taxes. Remember the top 1% of tax payers pay 40% of our taxes. Why should the rich be punished for your poor life decisions mistakes? If you can’t handle your money well or make good life decision, why should the rich have to give you money you didn’t earn?

[Chiva]

You have all made some interesting comments about Bush, McCain, and Obama. To CommonSense though, the value of the U.S. Dollar has already fallen when compared to the increasing value of the European Euro. This is mainly due to the deficit that our "All American President", Mr. George W. Bush, has placed us in. When Clinton was in office, we did have this $400 trillion deficit that continually cuts into other programs aimed at helping our elderly and children survive.
I am from one of the poorest states in the nation and understand what it means to have the assistance of the government available when nescessary (no I am not a welfare reciepient, SSI disabled person recipient or nothing of the sort). I am an Accountant. I do work with many of these people in volunteer programs (AmeriCorps VISTA) to aid people in becoming homeowners, college graduates and productive citizens. That's the American Dream. Allowing others to be independent is what America is all about.
I don't want to sound harsh or anything of the sort but a rich person is one that sustain a lavish life while all of the jobs are moving to Mexico, Japan, and India. That's getting rich at the expense of others that depend on hourly jobs. Why shouldn't they be taxed to keep the jobs in the United States? Everybody wants to make money (including me), but I don't want to drive down the street and see children and families living under a bridge because mom or dad's job has moved over to China and they have lost their home. These are issues that Barrack and Biden are talking about. McCain is talking a little about it too. However, he has a perspective that these people are not trying hard enough. How hard should they try? They have worked 25 years on the jobs and suddenly it is moving because the government is rewarding businesses and corporations to go to Mexico and pay the workers a little bit of nothing while they are in the United States living lavishly. It sounds crazy. With the help of the government, we should be able to keep the jobs in the United States. It would be something similar to the taxes they impose on exporters to get them to sell their products in the United States. The aim is the same, keep business in the United States.
As far as the oil is concerned, it is ridiculous. Bush nor McCain care about it though because they have almost a 90% stake in the oil companies anyway. They don't care how much gas is. They profit regardless. However, that little man that makes $60,000 a year and lives in one house in Chicago hears the cry and wants to do something about it even if he has nothing to gain. Ler's stop being selfish people and consider our neighbor. The more we make the more taxes we should have to pay. The more we make, the more deductions we have to take anyway.

[Nerjo Machiavelli]

You're all missing the point of this article. If Sarah Palin wins, she'll be able to fit all of her children and grandchildren in an American-made car and no other. You can't get yourself, your husband, your five kids and their kids into a Honda Civic (not to mention your bodyguards). It just ain't going to happen. I am so tired of reading about these Japanese companies, who have deceptive sales practices and even worse crash ratings. At the end of the day, Randy Hardin's got it right, though. This election is referendum on the will of the American people and let's not forget that we have to protect our shores from Korean companies invading our turf too. A Hyundai Elantra?? Are you kidding me??!!