Jalopnik: Barack Obama

Presidents And Cars: The Answers!

Jason Torchinsky — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:30:00 EST

Yesterday, I gave you ten fascinating facts about Presidents and cars. And by "facts" I mean half were a special type of fact many experts would term a "lie." So, as promised, today I'm revealing which ones were true, and which were imaginary. More »

The Truth About Presidents And Cars

Jason Torchinsky — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST

President Obama's well-documented production of a Presidential boner over a Shelby GT500 at the Washington D.C. Auto Show makes for an excellent reason to bring up some fun facts about Presidents and cars. More »

Barack Obama Thinks The Shelby GT500 Is "Sick"

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:12:00 EST

President Barack Obama took time out from watching the Republican field eviscerate each other in Florida to visit the Washington D.C. Auto Show. He sat in roughly six cars, but seemed to focus on the 2013 Shelby GT500, which he apparently called "sick." Right on, Mr. President. More »

Barack Obama and South Korean President planning Rush Hour sequel?

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EDT

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President Barack Obama welcomed South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to the U.S. and the GM Orion Assembly Plant in Lake Orion, Michigan on Friday to tout a new trade agreement. From the hilariously goofy photo set it looks more like they're planning the fourth Rush Hour film. More »

Five NASCAR drivers reject White House invitation

Jim Newell — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 13:30:00 EDT

President Obama, like he does with all top sports teams or athletes, has invited last year's NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson and the 11 other drivers who competed for the championship to a White House reception next week. Usually this is an invitation that you accept, always, unless you're deathly ill in bed with athlete's butt or whatever it is people catch these days. And yet only seven of the 12 will be attending. Hmm. More »

Is Obama manufacturing czar Ron Bloom looking at this auto worker's ass?

Ray Wert — Thu, 26 May 2011 10:00:00 EDT

Here's a shot of Assistant to President Barack Obama for Manufacturing Policy Ron Bloom watching a female auto worker on the assembly line during a tour before yesterday's announcement of the repayment of the remaining $5.9 billion of Chrysler's $10.5 billion loan from the U.S. Government at the Sterling Heights Assembly Plant May 24, 2011 in Sterling Heights, Michigan. More »

— President Barack Obama

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 16:30:00 EDT

President Barack Obama, noted Jeep Grand Cherokee afficionado, responding to an interview question today about kicking the SUV habit. He's right. SUV sales are up 19% year-to-date 2010. Americans do like their cars big... like their men. [via @DavidShepardson] More »

President Obama's Trip To Detroit: A Live-Blog

Ray Wert — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:45:00 EDT

If you're interested in a live-blog of President Obama's trip to Detroit, go here. More »

Pres. Obama Gets Into The Best Car Government Money Can Buy

Ray Wert — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:20:00 EDT

U.S. President Barack Obama gets out of a Chevrolet Volt following a groundbreaking ceremony in Holland, Michigan today. He reportedly asked "When can Americans buy one?" We already did, Mr. President. We already did. More »

Zach Galifianakis Is "The Agent"

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 03 May 2010 11:00:00 EDT

One man. One unpronounceable name. And one goal: to save the President. He is... Secret Service Agent Galifianakis. (Photo Credit: Mike Theiler-Pool/Getty Images) More »

Obama Doesn't Care About Car People, Won't Attend Detroit Auto Show

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST

President Obama will not be coming to the Detroit Auto Show because, even after investing billions of our dollars in the auto industry, because only a crazy person would fly into Detroit in January... [Detroit News] More »

Obama Goes "Boom-Boom Pow" On South Korean-U.S. Auto Trade Agreements

Ray Wert — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:15:00 EST

President Obama asked South Korea yesterday to renegotiate auto trade clauses in the South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement due to vast differences in scale of auto exports between the two countries. More »

Chicago's Olympic Light Goes Out, But Cadillac One Keeps Shining In Copenhagen

Matt Hardigree — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EDT

We didn't know it was the Secret Service's job to clean Cadillac One, but an agent's shining this older limo for the same reason the Yankees always win; the other team can't stop looking at the pinstripes. Yeah, didn't work. More »

Step Aside, New Yorkers, The President Is In Town

Peter Orosz — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EDT

Here’s President Obama rolling in Cadillac One through NYC on his way to address the UN General Assembly, where he wielded his lightsaber to teach shady Third World characters a lesson. Photo Credit: András Király More »

Cry For Me Argentina and Socialist Indoctrination: The Penalties Of The 24 Hours Of LeMons South Fall 2009

Murilee Martin — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 15:00:00 EDT

The LeMons Supreme Court always thinks of some location-specific penalties for each race, and South Carolina politicians Mark Sanford and Joe Wilson provided a rich vein of material for us. More »

New York Airspace Closed Due To Walter Cronkite. Also, President Obama.

Ray Wert — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EDT

NYC Airspace to close tomorrow because of Walter Cronkite. Seriously. [Mediaite] More »

President Obama: Time To Lead On Energy

Matt Hardigree — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:15:00 EDT

President Obama today announced support for the energy bill in Congress, stating we have an obligation to future generations to deal with the crisis and, you know, create some jobs in the process. How? More »

REPORT: Obama Administration Turns Down Supplier Aid Request

Ray Wert — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:10:00 EDT

The Obama administration's reportedly turned down auto-parts suppliers request for $10 billion in aid. [WSJ] More »

Lewis Hamilton Portrait Painted With Motor Oil From His F1 Car

Peter Orosz — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:30:00 EDT

Parsons graduate David Macaluso proves there's other ways to depict motorsports than with crayons: he painted his corporate-commissioned portrait of Lewis Hamilton with the very oil from Hamilton's McLaren he drove to a 2008 F1 title. More »

President Obama, Congress Reach "Cash For Clunkers" Agreement

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:00:00 EDT

We're told the White House and Democrat Congressional leaders have reached an agreement on the so-called "Cash For Clunkers" bill, sending lovers of Malaise Era steel into a complete panic. [Reuters] More »

REPORT: Obama Orders Chevy, Dodge Out Of NASCAR

Ray Wert — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:30:00 EDT

Our highly esteemed colleagues at CarandDriver are reporting this morning that President Obama has ordered GM and Dodge to cut all sponsorship of NASCAR effective immediately, deeming it an "unnecessary expenditure." More »

CAFE: Fuel Economy Standards To Increase 8% To 27.3 MPG For 2011

Ray Wert — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 08:40:00 EDT

The U.S. Transportation Department today will mandate the first passenger car fuel economy increase since 1975. The 2011 model year will require a fleetwide 8% increase above 2010 model year requirements to 27.3 MPG. More »

President Obama Laughs While U.S. Automakers Cry

Ray Wert — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EDT

Last night on 60 Minutes, President Obama introduced a bit of laughter-as-the-best-medicine Gallows humor into the Carpocalypse. Here we thought we're the only ones laughing just to stop the heart-wrenching sobs. [CBS News] More »

Obama Drives Past Tesla Showroom, Doesn't Crack Automaker Special Olympics Joke

Ray Wert — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 09:00:00 EDT

Yes, that is "Cadillac One" driving past Tesla's West Los Angeles showroom yesterday and no, President Obama did not stop in for a test drive. [Green Car Advisor] More »

Obama Thinks America Invented The Automobile

Ray Wert — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:57:27 EST

In tonight's mini-State of the Union, President Obama said the "nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it." One problem. We didn't. That would be Karl Benz, in Mannheim, Germany. Just sayin'... [NYT] More »

Obama's Auto Industry Task Force Drives Imports Like Everyone Else

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST

Of the 10 members of President Obama's Auto Industry task force, only two are known to own American cars, two don't own a car, and at least one has a French car in the family. More »

President Obama's Blackberry Does Not Really Transform Into A Car

Ray Wert — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 08:00:00 EST

Despite comments last night to NBC's Matt Lauer, we wanted to clear this up — President Obama's new super-secure blackberry phone does not transform into a car. More »

Chrysler Australia "Yes We Can" Sale Uses Obama Imitator To Sell "20-Inch Rims"

Ray Wert — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 08:30:00 EST

Chrysler Australia's getting in trouble with their newest ad using an Obama-imitating voice-over to try and sell a Dodge Nitro. The ad campaign's name? The "Yes We Can" sale. Seriously. More »

REPORT: Obama To Allow California To Set Auto Emissions Standards

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 07:30:00 EST

President Obama plans to remove federal opposition to statewide automobile emissions standards today, allowing California and other states to regulate emissions above-and-beyond federal guidelines and possibly putting political expediency above good public policy. More »

Obama's New Presidential Limo: The Features

Ray Wert — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:40:00 EST

President Obama's new Presidential limo's been nicknamed "The Beast" by the Secret Service. We call it "Cadillac One." Either way, here's the low-down on the features inside this armored Cadillac-badged beast of burden. [via Telegraph] More »

Top Seven Presidential Limousines

Ray Wert — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:30:00 EST

In honor of today's love-fest on television today toward "Cadillac One," Popular Mechanics put together a list of the top seven Presidential limousines since the advent of the internal combustion engine. [Popular Mechanics] More »

Obama's New Presidential Limousine: First Video!

Ray Wert — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:40:00 EST

Here's the first video of President-elect Barack Obama and his Cadillac-emblemed, truck-platformed, GM-built new Presidential limousine from this morning. That circular depression on the door? Later today, the Presidential seal will be affixed there. More »

Presidential Gatling Gun-Equipped Suburban Badder Than New Cadillac Limo

Andrew Didorosi — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST

Barack Obama's getting a Cadillac-styled new Presidential Limo tomorrow. While nice, we're more interested in the Gatling gun-equipped Suburban that follows Cadillac One. Here's video of the bullet-spraying Chevy in action. More »

Obama Appoints Ray LaHood Transportation Secretary

Ray Wert — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 12:20:00 EST

Clueless hack tapped to be Obama's Transportation Czar. [BoingBoing] More »

Barack Obama's Chrysler 300C Auction Getting Scammed On EBay

Ray Wert — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 08:30:00 EST

Obviously someone's playing games, but the EBay auction for President-Elect Barack Obama's Chrysler 300C has rocketed up to an astonishingly fraudulent $99,999,999.00. Somebody missed out on that "Buy It Now" price of $1,000,000. UPDATE BELOW. More »

GM Sucks Up To Obama. Hard.

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:20:00 EST

Rather than announce a new model or another plan to save their business, GM invited the 2009 Detroit Auto Show press corps to watch a biracial expression of joy for Barack Obama. More »

Nice Pipe Or Crack Pipe: Barack Obama's Hemi-Powered 300C For $100,000?

Murilee Martin — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST

Yesterday's low-mile Mazda RX-4 got our highest Nice Price Or Crack Pipe approval rating yet, with a landslide 78% of voters going with Nice Price. Today we're going to ask a question we haven't asked here since the Tin Man's Fleetwood: how much extra does fame add to a car's value? More »

President-Elect Obama: No Blank Check For Automakers

Matt Hardigree — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:30:00 EST

One of the first questions President-Elect Obama received at a major economic press conference held today related to the auto industry and, after stock comment about the importance of the industry and the responsibility of the government to assure it doesn't vanish, Obama makes the point they can't simply write a "blank check" to an industry so historically "resistant to change." Obama essentially echoes the Congressional Dem's request for a not-awful plan and expresses disappointment with the no-so-Big Three for putting on a bad show in their testimony, which wasn't much better than the SNL sketch mocking it. Sadly, there was no mention of saving the shrinking auto journalism industry. [CNN] More »

Barack Obama Will Not Meet Rick Wagoner Without Preconditions

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:30:00 EST

Barack Obama took time away from talking about his mother-in-law and a college football playoff system to talk about the automaker bailout in an interview on CBS' 60 Minutes. While admitting Detroit needs help, he said it's important to make sure it's conditioned on the stakeholders (labor, suppliers, execs) coming up with a plan for a sustainable domestic auto industry as opposed to just giving out "a bridge loan to nowhere." Oh, yes, he went there. This was taped before the scary GM video, which at the very least we're hoping, convinced him to buy a Save GM t-shirt. More »

President Bush Rumored To Consider Handing Over $25 Billion Loan Program To Automakers Like, Now

Matt Hardigree — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:50:00 EST

MSNBC is reporting (UPDATED with video) President-current Bush has said he'll consider amending the $25 billion automaker low-interest loan guarantee program to allow the automakers to get the money right now and use it for whatever they need. The decision is being made because many economists say helping US automakers is a big part of preventing the economy from going even further into the hole. This comes a day after would-be Detroit savior President-elect Barack Obama, who has said an automaker bailout is super important, met with President Bush to discuss steps he'd like to see taken, including part two of his three-part economic strategy — help for the auto industry. Why the sudden change from the Bush administration? More »