Slog - Comments on Re: How John McCain Rolls

Comment by NapoleonXIV

NapoleonXIV — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:14:46 -0800

Okaaaaayyyy...that ad's not politically transcendent.

Comment by DOUG.

DOUG. — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:21:22 -0800

That's stupid. But stupid works.

Comment by COMTE

COMTE — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:24:04 -0800

Yeah, I do feel like this one is scraping a bit. But whatever. It's the sort of ad that would get the attention of some of my relatives, although fortunately, none of them bother to vote anyway.

Comment by Jane

Jane — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:25:27 -0800

That was totally pathetic. Is that the best we can do? Seriously?

Comment by Balt-O-Matt

Balt-O-Matt — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:27:57 -0800

As a former Michigander, I'd just like to say that this speaks to Michiganders (which is where it's playing, I believe). Not only does it get to the "can you believe him?" issue. But it also brings up his wealth and being out-of-touch.

That said, y'all might be surprised how buying cars made by non-American companies STILL to this day makes people in Michigan angry. Like, honk at you on the street (in Ann Arbor!) angry. Write letters to the editor angry.

Is it silly? I guess. But it's real.

Comment by w7ngman

w7ngman — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:31:42 -0800

I own a Honda. American cars suck.

Comment by monkey

monkey — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:46:46 -0800

The Honda Accord is built in Ohio and is considered a domestic because more than 51% of its parts are from the US and is assembled in the US.

Please don't think I'm defending Grandpa, I still hate the fucker but this is not a good thing to dwell on. It makes us look petty. It makes us look like HIM.

Comment by max solomon

max solomon — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:56:04 -0800

i've owned 1 american car: never again.

this ad means nothing to me. anyone who has a 1960 Willys is unimpeachable on the car front.

Comment by sepiolida

sepiolida — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 09:58:20 -0800

That was a weak add. And 10/13 domestic cars is a pretty good ratio.

Hey, Michigan. That guy bought ten of your cars! What a supporter!

That Obama guy only bought one...

Comment by monkey

monkey — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:02:18 -0800

As for the rest of them, in case anyone cares...

The VW Beetle convertible is assembled in either Pueblo, Mexico or Germany, depending on the trim level.

The Cadillac CTS is assembled in Lansing, MI.

The Ford truck Assembled in either Kansas City, MO; Norfolk, VA; Dearborn, MI.

The Jeep Wrangler assembled in OH.

The Lincoln assembled in MI.

The GMC SUV was assembled in Canada.

And I don't know which Lexus model Cindy drives so it's either built in the US or Japan.

Comment by superyeadon

superyeadon — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:09:03 -0800

at least he didn't call grandpa a pedophile.

Comment by mattymatty

mattymatty — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:09:11 -0800

What country built the family airplane?

Comment by w7ngman fan

w7ngman fan — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:19:42 -0800

w7ngman's car makes me wet.

Comment by WTF

WTF — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:21:40 -0800

This is stupid and dangerous. It makes it look like the Obama campaign is "looking for dirt" and straying from the issues.

Who cares if McCain owns a few foreign cars? I sure don't, being someone who only buys Hondas. Anyway, I don't think he ever said he EXCLUSIVELY buys American.

Comment by Greg

Greg — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:43:33 -0800

Lame ad. This is exactly the wrong thing to be running when the economy is falling into the abyss.

Comment by w7ngman

w7ngman — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:43:37 -0800

#13, it's true. I keep some wipes in the glove box for just such an occurence.

Comment by Greg

Greg — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:44:58 -0800

Better angle: You think Mr. 13 cars and 7 houses gives a shit about you and your mortgage? Are you willing to bet your house on it?

Comment by Jesse

Jesse — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:57:00 -0800

I believe 100% of Honda's are made in the US, and the majority of Toyota's are as well. Buying American cars just means you're okay with wasting your money on an inferior product for an arbitrary reason. That's a poor quality to have if you want to become president.

Comment by w7ngman

w7ngman — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:16:49 -0800

#18, actually, for cars sold in the US, a certain percentage of the parts are made in Japan, some in America, then the car is assembled in America or sometimes Canada. They have the exact breakdown of parts and where the car was assembled on the sticker.

Comment by Sad Comment

Sad Comment — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:20:43 -0800

Well I can understand where they're going with this ad. It is targeted at autoworkers in Michigan.

All the posts here about how you can't necessarily tell where a car is made reminds me of an argument that I got into with my Father-in-law in Illinois. He has insisted all his life that he would never own a foreign made car. When I pointed out that most US companies manufacture their vehicles in either Mexico or Canada while companies like Toyota and Honda manufacture in the US it just pissed him off. He even has a Mitsubishi auto plant in his town. Still in his mind those are foreign made vehicles and US companies make only US vehicles. He is in major denial. I would guess this mindset is not unique.

Comment by Reverse Polarity

Reverse Polarity — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:50:33 -0800

It saddens me that this is probably an effective ad.

This is such a red herring. There isn't a single car made by the "Big 3" that is 100% American with 100% American parts. Not one. And all of the Japanese companies now have American assembly plants. So no matter what car you buy, you are supporting a blend of American and foreign workers and companies. Some more than others, of course. But it just doesn't make all that much difference any more.

Still, this will probably play well in Michigan, and in other heavy manufacturing states who's mindset is still stuck in the 1960s.