43
Obama in Lordstown
‘The Lordstown GM plant represents the future of the auto industry and Ohio manufacturing,’ a U.S. senator says.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
Obama at GM Lordstown
Video
President Barack Obama's complete speech at GM Lordstown, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009
President Barack Obama at Lordstown
Gallery
President Barack Obama gears up Lordstown for the Cruze.
LORDSTOWN — President Barack Obama’s speech at the Lordstown General Motors complex — touting the facility as an example of American automakers making a comeback — is a proud moment in Mahoning Valley history, elected officials at the event said.
Though there is a long way to go, U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan said after Obama’s speech Tuesday that the Valley is showing signs of economic recovery.
“Every time the rest of the economy is moving forward, our area is always playing catch-up,” said Ryan of Niles, D-17th. “Now, the rest of the economy is not going, and we’re starting a kind of growth here ... Finally, we’re starting to lead the recovery, which I think after 30 years is about time.”
Obama, a Democrat, spoke for about 20 minutes to an audience of about 1,000, primarily workers at the GM plant.
“Because of the steps we have taken, this plant is about to shift into higher gear,” Obama said. “One hundred-fifty of your co-workers came back to work yesterday. More than 1,000 will be coming back to work in less than three weeks as production of the Cobalt ramps up. And next year, this plant will begin production of the Chevy Cruze, a new car that will get more than 40 miles per gallon.”
Obama added that “our economic troubles are far from over. I don’t want to overpromise here. We’ve still got a lot of work to do.”
Meanwhile, behind the scenes, local politicians lobbied Obama to do something about retired Delphi salaried workers who are losing health care and retirement benefits as the bankrupt company organizes.
After participating in a live televised health care forum in Youngstown, Ryan drove Monday night to Washington, D.C., so he could fly with Obama on Air Force One. He took advantage of the flight to lobby on behalf of the Delphi retirees.
“I had a chance to bend the president’s ear on health care and Delphi salaried workers,” Ryan said.
Also on Air Force One was Ed Montgomery, Obama’s car czar. Ryan said he spoke extensively to Montgomery about the Delphi issue.
The Delphi retirees filed a lawsuit Monday against the federal Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. over the issue.
Warren Mayor Michael O’Brien, a Democrat, who greeted Obama at the GM facility, also asked Obama to help the Delphi retirees.
O’Brien said Obama is trying to help, but admitted saving the benefits is “a tough road.”
As for Obama’s speech, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Avon, said the president is correct that “the economy is still in bad shape,” but “this [visit] gives people hope.”
Obama’s speech “confirms what many of us have been saying, the Lordstown GM plant represents the future of the auto industry and Ohio manufacturing,” Brown said.
The Mahoning Valley has been “hit hard by bad economic times for too long,” he said.
Obama’s visit, along with the rehiring of GM workers and production of the Cruze next year, increases people’s confidence that the Valley is emerging from the recession, Brown said.
“The great thing is, this is a national story,” he said. “It’s a place that had hard times, [and] is coming back. The auto industry will lead us out of the recession, and that’s what this shows.”
Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams, a Democrat, was “very impressed” with Obama’s speech.
“The president reiterated the fact that the battle for the future economy of this country is going to be fought in places like Youngstown, Pittsburgh, Warren and the Mahoning Valley; it sends a very clear and strong message,” he said.
U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson of St. Clairsville, D-6th, said of the event: “It was great. I’m glad to see 1,000 jobs back to Lordstown. I’m excited about the opportunities for this new car we’re building. This is huge for the Valley. He knows where Youngstown is. He knows what we’re all about. We’re working families.”
Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman David Betras said Obama’s visit shows the importance of the Mahoning Valley.
“It’s a big morale boost to GM, Delphi workers and the community in general,” he said. “We’re important, and not just from a voting standpoint. We’re the backbone of America.”
Betras said he was thrilled with all of Obama’s references to parts of the Mahoning Valley.
“He even gave a shout-out to The Vindicator,” Betras said.
During Obama’s speech, he said, “So if you picked up a copy of the Youngstown Vindicator back in January, you would have seen a headline that read: ‘Worries mount in wake of layoffs.’ A couple weeks ago, you would have read a different story: ‘Good news at Lordstown is good news for all.’ And [Tuesday], you made, by the way, some more good news: I understand that the one-millionth Cobalt rolled off the assembly line late” Monday.
While discussing the $787 billion economic stimulus package, Obama specifically pointed to a bridge repair contract in Canfield on state Route 11, profiled in an article last month in The Vindicator.
“We awarded a competitive contract to a local company [Marucci and Gaffney Excavating Inc. of Youngstown] to repair a bridge on Route 11,” Obama said Tuesday. “That allowed them to avoid layoffs they were otherwise going to make. That allowed local folks to keep coming to work, doing the work America needs done. We’ve got projects like that all across Ohio and all across the country.”
Republicans were less than impressed with Obama’s speech in Lordstown.
“President Obama promised Ohio families that his $787 billion stimulus bill would create jobs, but more than 150,000 Ohioans have lost their jobs since he assumed office,” said Kirsten Kukowski, Republican National Committee spokeswoman. “The president also promised he would turn GM around after his $30 billion ‘Government Motors’ takeover, but sales have dropped 20 percent with President Obama at the helm.”
Closer to home, Mark Munroe, Mahoning County Republican Party vice chairman, said: “It was nice that Obama chose to come here to show support for the Valley, but some of his comments are just not credible.”
Munroe pointed out that job losses continue even after the government took over GM, and “with unemployment rising to 11.2 percent, there was not a lot to cheer about.”
skolnick@vindy.com