[QUOTE=Moonlight J;100365There is PLENTY of stuff that the GOP could run on in this election cycle but this is yet another desperate attempt to use lies and distortion to score points with the base. Ryan is being 110% intellectually dishonest here using random dates to make a point. I expect this from some posters, but not you, Chancellor[/QUOTE]
Uh, no, you're still missing the point. Merely because employment was down doesn't indicate the plant was shuttered or non-operational. Yes, GM announced they were planning to shut the plant in 2008. Yes, by the end of 2008, all but one line was down (my apologies for mixing up the SUV vs truck lines). However, all other lines were still available for retooling.
While campaigning, Obama did commit to retooling the Janesville plant if he was elected. Direct quote, Janesville Gazette, 2008:
Bold mine. Had the Obama administration agreed to retool the plant, it would still be open today. Keep in mind that while the GM bankruptcy didn't happen until June, 2009, the restructuring plan had been in place by mid-March, and CEO Wagoner was forced to resign by the end of the month. However, the restructuring plan did not actually include anything for retooling the plant, and they produced their last vehicle in the April/May 2009 timeframe and shuttered the plant.
The time when the plant was actually shuttered is key, as that's when the other GM plants are able to scavenge equipment from the closed plant, at which point the plant can't easily be restarted.
Ryan's points are accurate - Obama committed to retooling the plant if elected, the plant was still ready to be retooled after he was elected, the government led restructuring did not include Janesville, and the plant was shuttered in April/May 2009.
What's critical here was Obama's commitment to the Janesville UAW union that his administration would retool the plant. Admittedly, believing any politician is a fools errand, but many did, and after Obama was elected, many chose to stay in the area after the first lines were shut down in December, 2008, and declined transfers to other GM facilities. It wasn't until four months later they found out Janesville wouldn't be included in the government led restructuring.
Uh, no, you're still missing the point. Merely because employment was down doesn't indicate the plant was shuttered or non-operational. Yes, GM announced they were planning to shut the plant in 2008. Yes, by the end of 2008, all but one line was down (my apologies for mixing up the SUV vs truck lines). However, all other lines were still available for retooling.
While campaigning, Obama did commit to retooling the Janesville plant if he was elected. Direct quote, Janesville Gazette, 2008:
Reports that the GM plant I visited in Janesville may shut down sooner than expected are a painful reminder of the tough economic times facing working families across this country. This news is also a reminder that Washington needs to finally live up to its promise to help our automakers compete in our global economy. As president, I will lead an effort to retool plants like the GM facility in Janesville so we can build the fuel-efficient cars of tomorrow and create good-paying jobs in Wisconsin and all across America
The time when the plant was actually shuttered is key, as that's when the other GM plants are able to scavenge equipment from the closed plant, at which point the plant can't easily be restarted.
Ryan's points are accurate - Obama committed to retooling the plant if elected, the plant was still ready to be retooled after he was elected, the government led restructuring did not include Janesville, and the plant was shuttered in April/May 2009.
What's critical here was Obama's commitment to the Janesville UAW union that his administration would retool the plant. Admittedly, believing any politician is a fools errand, but many did, and after Obama was elected, many chose to stay in the area after the first lines were shut down in December, 2008, and declined transfers to other GM facilities. It wasn't until four months later they found out Janesville wouldn't be included in the government led restructuring.
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