<![CDATA[Jalopnik: John Mccain]]> http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/base/img/thumbs140x140/jalopnik.com.png <![CDATA[Jalopnik: John Mccain]]> http://jalopnik.com/tag/john mccain http://jalopnik.com/tag/john mccain <![CDATA[Why Do Republicans Hate American Automakers?]]> A German company is battling with a Japanese one to become the world's biggest automaker. Italians own Chrysler. It's like World War II except we're losing. So why are Republicans suddenly on the side of the automotive Axis powers? More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5405935&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[McCain: "Why Not Cash For Refrigerators?"]]> John McCain, don't be silly. How would you drive a refrigerator? [The Hill] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5330577&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[CEO Says “Fundamentals Of Harley-Davidson Strong” As Earnings Drop 91%]]> Remind you of anyone? Brand new Harley CEO Keith Wandell insists "the underlying fundamentals of the Harley-Davidson brand remain strong," as second quarter earnings drop 91% year-on-year. [Hell For Leather] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5316996&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[McCain Tweets Ford Fusion Hybrid Purchase Plans]]> The election is over, but Senator McCain is still wooing the eco-patriotic-tech-literate crowd by tweeting his purchase of a Ford Fusion Hybrid. Maybe they'll forget he bought his daughter a Toyota Prius six months ago? More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5292510&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Nikkei Hits 26-year Low On GM Concerns]]> Nikkei hits 26-year low on GM concerns. [MSNBC] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5167256&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[The Best And Worst McCain Vs. Obama Get-Out-The-Votemobiles]]> Although we'll know who the next president will be by tomorrow night (barring any shenanigans from swing states — we're looking at you Florida), we can learn something about each campaign's supporters right now by looking at their cars. Anyone can donate their money and time, but it takes someone special to convert their car into a portable billboard. Fans of both Senator John McCain and Barack Obama have, in some cases, permanently altered their cars in an attempt to sway voters. Below, and just in time for this week's SEMA show, we look at these rolling works of political art (we guess) in order to see what we can glean about their supporters.

Barack Obama

 The Saturn Mural This particular Saturn sedan has an incredibly detailed mural dictating all sorts of morals and lessons. The paint on the top clearly indicates a support for gay rights. The background image appears to be a giant of some sort walking around a Florida coastline damaged severely by drilling and, just for good measure, the Saturn's got a message about health care costs tacked on. It's quite the commitment of a newish vehicle and an indicator of just how committed Obama supporters are. [Photo Credit: Flickr] The Be-Stickered Subaru Rather than invest time and effort into a clever and didactic mural, the owner of this Subaru Forester decided to spare the effort and instead cover the vehicle with as many bumper stickers as could reasonable fit. This vehicle is pro-Obama, though it seems to also be strongly anti-Bush. John McCain may be a maverick, but as this car shows, he doesn't seem to be able to get through to those who've had a problem with the last eight years. [Photo Credit: Flickr] Volvo-Driving Liberals, Indeed When people picture the cliché "Volvo-driving liberal" we don't imagine they meant Annie and Samantha Woods of the Obama Mobile. The two sisters covered their Volvo with stickers and sold t-shirts and other items out of the back to collect enough money for travel to the Democratic National Convention and back. Of course, one of them does live in San Francisco... [Photo Credit: STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images] Is The Governator In The Tank For Obama? There's nothing more confusing than a Hummer H1, the largest one the up-for-sale brand ever made, done-up in "Yes We Can" blue and supporting the omnipresent Obama logo. Is Arnold Schwarzenegger, a big fan of the vehicles, secretly supporting the Democratic president? Even if this isn't at all related to the California governor, the site of an Obama Hummer shows his crossover appeal. As far as we can tell, the driver wasn't daring enough to attempt the "no blood for oil" bumper sticker. [Photo Credit: Flickr] McCain-Bush Lincoln Town Car From what we've observed, Obama-supporting cars tend to be more positive than negative. This bright yellow Lincoln Town Car proves that this isn't always the case. If you look closely, the images on the top of the vehicle are making the "four more years of a Bush term" argument with photos that are half-McCain and half-President Bush. While we can't be 100% sure that this isn't a McCain supporter that sees it the other, this is a net negative for his campaign. [Photo Credit: Flickr]

John McCain

 A Suburban, Of Course Polls seem to indicate McCain is going to need votes in the more moderate suburban precincts in Philadelphia if he wants to win the state of Pennsylvania and have any hope at coming away with a win in the election. This photo was taken in Arizona so it has no bearing on that region, but it is an indicator that he will do well among people who actually drive a Suburban. Though not as dramatic as some of the Obama cars, it's part of a larger trend of McCain supporters not wanting to damage their vehicles in an irreversible way. [Photo Credit: Flickr] A Tastefully Done Cherokee This particular Jeep Grand Cherokee is perhaps the most professional-looking job yet. Perhaps the owner makes car wraps? Seriously, we imagine it was a pretty penny to get this custom job done for the rear and sides of the car. Check out the detail on John McCain's head. This owner is putting their money where their mouth is. [Photo Credit: Flickr] Stop The Radicals! The driver of this GMC Envoy picks up on the "drill now" theme. McCain's strong support for offshore drilling may explain why most vehicles we saw support him were either trucks or SUVs (an observation supported by polling). This particular driver seems to think that Barack Obama is a radical, but only believes it enough to get a couple of small signs printed. [Photo Credit: Flickr] An Oh-So Grand Marquis Picking up the idea that every politician from Chicago is a crook, the driver of this Mercury seems inclined to make this message with a bit of shoe polish. The vehicle has Florida plates, meaning that this is one more voter firmly in the McCain column. Since the vehicle in question is a Grand Marquis, the official vehicle of old people, we can also assume the driver is elderly and therefore disproportionately more likely to vote (and disproportionately more likely to not understand how voting machines work). [Photo: Flickr] McCain's Answer To The Hummer Of Hope If Obama can have a Hummer H1 why can't John McCain have a Toyota Prius? Bucking all preconceived notions of who should drive what, this eco-minded driver still supports the Republican enough to drape their car with a McCain flag. The sign also works as a nice heat shield, reducing the driver's need to use air-conditioning when they step into vehicle. Could this be the swing voter McCain's campaign needs? WIll they let the driver hang out with all the Suburbans and Jeeps? [Photo Credit: Flickr]

Conclusion

 Though none of this tells us who will win, we can at least say something definitively about those who want to see a certain candidate win. In this informal survey we've turned up far more Obama voters who feel inclined to turn their vehicles, irreversibly, into campaign materials. There are two theories for why this is the case. It could be that Obama supporters are more excited about their prospects and more enthusiastic about seeing things go there way, thus they're more likely to attempt something lit this. Or more likely, McCain supporters have nicer cars. Whatever the reasons behind all this, a lot of people are going to wake up on November 5th and wonder what they're going to do next with their cars. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5074567&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Study Shows McCain Winning Over Hummer Moms, Obama Cleaning Up With Hatchback-Owning Gay Art Students]]> A survey of more than 11,000 car owners and likely voters by Kelley Blue Book shows that Senator John McCain does better than Senator Barack Obama among owners of domestic brands and full-size SUVs, while Senator Obama does better with owners of import brands, hybrids and hatchbacks. Though this doesn't come as a shock to anyone with a brain, it does seem to explain why McCain is getting hosed in the polls lately. His base is shrinking. The financiapocalpyse combined with higher gas prices has meant people moving away from big trucks and towards Corollas and Camrys and Civics (oh my!). The choice of Mustang Grande-driving, big truck-loving Sarah Palin has associated McCain with the largesse of the Bush years. Obama is the change represented by former truck owners who just bought a crossover. The full report from KBB below the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5067833&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Innovations In LeMons Penalties: McCain's Uphill Slog, Obama's Change We Can Believe In]]> We thought of a bunch of new penalties for the 24 Hours Of LeMons Texas, and the zero-tolerance attitude of the black-flag crew meant that we needed every one of them. Because we're in election season, it seemed like our patriotic duty to provide punishments based on the presidential candidates. Hey, we even included Hillary Clinton, so her supporters wouldn't feel left out! Make the jump to see how the McCain, Obama, and Clinton penalties worked out in practice. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5067497&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Barack Obama Spends Portion Of The Debate Talking Up Detroit]]> Barack Obama used part of last night's debate to tee off on aiding the domestic auto industry. Obama took nearly a full minute talking about the automaker bailout and the need for more efficient cars, and the democratic presidential candidate made a reference to "retooling" plants in the heartland. Of course, he's talking about three important swing states: Ohio, Michigan and Indiana. Good thing the car companies aren't based in California. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5064487&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Barack Obama Advertising Inside Online Racing Video Games, Attempts To Pick Up Crucial Xbox 360 Vote]]> Barack Obama has begun advertising on billboards within the virtual world of an online video game in what appears to be a first for a presidential campaign. Players of the online racing video game Burnout Paradise on the Xbox 360 Live network noticed billboards promoting Barack Obama and the website VoteForChange.com, which helps people determine how to register to vote and where to vote. This was later confirmed by a representative for the game's publisher, Electronic Arts, who said: More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5062960&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Watching Tonight's Presidential Debate?]]> If you're watching tonight's Presidential debate — and why wouldn't you be as energy policy will affect the price you pay at the pump — head on over to Gawker's live-blog of the debate. Who knows, it could be fun! [Gawker, Photo Credit: Chron] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5055646&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[UAW, Obama Riding McCain On Owning Foreign Cars Like Rest Of Country]]> Sen. John McCain took heat yesterday from UAW president Ron Gettelfinger for three of his thirteen vehicles being foreign-made. Now McCain's taking heat from the Obama campaign in a new attack ad so heavily protectionism-flavored, it's a good thing the ad's just running in the Great Lakes state. Yes, Michigan, a land that unlike the rest of the nation, remains a magical place where American cars still outsell foreign cars. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5053555&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Presidential Candidates Accused Of Automotive Flip-Flopping]]> This just in: Barack Obama is a filthy polluter. Thanks to in-depth research into his controversial past, we can exclusively reveal that the Democratic candidate once drove a V8 engine-equipped Chrysler 300 before switching to his greener-than-thou Ford Escape Hybrid. But what does Joe “Pinko” Biden drive? And what about everyone’s favorite Real American Hero, John McCain, and his national security expert, mom-of-the-year VP, Sarah Palin? More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=5044215&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Car And Driver Editor Csaba Csere Deflates Obama's Tires, Huffs McCain's Tailpipe]]> Car und Driver Editor-und-Chief Csaba Csere spent a few moments in front of the camera yesterday rebutting the hot political non-issue of "tire pressure" fuel savings. Let's be clear here, we happen to agree with Csaba that Obama's numbers may not be fully accurate. But interjecting and glossing over ANWR without discussion while trying to "deflate Obama's tire pressure theory," is the kind of equal-handedness that makes us think Csaba should stick to the manual print press and stay out of the national energy debate. But, if Csaba wants to get into the ring, then by all means. In fact, we've got a question for him. Considering the U.S. Energy Information Administration tells us "the main impact...on the amount of oil actually recovered from ANWR is likely to occur after 2030...", will his magazine still be in print when all that gasoline finally gets to the market? While we wait patiently for an answer, hit the jump to see Csaba in action. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=400116&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Paris Hilton Responds To John McCain's Anti-Celebrity Ad With Reasonable Energy Policy]]> Noted car washing and star SLR-egressing celebutard Paris Hilton aired a web video lampooning a negative campaign ad by Sen. John McCain (R-Colonel's Chicken) trying to pin Sen. Barack Obama (D-Paparazzi) as a "bigger celebrity" than Paris or Britney Spears. The tongue-in-cheek video lampoons John "old dude" McCain and Barack "hope machine" Obama through actually proposing a sensible energy policy that merges the energy policies of both campaigns that would include "limited offshore drilling with strict environmental oversight while creating tax incentives to get Detroit making hybrid and electric cars...creating new jobs." Sounds reasonable to us. Full video after the jump. And look, we even managed to not make a "that's hot" joke. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=399939&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Obama Endorses $4 Billion Automaker Aid Package]]> Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-Second Coming), in a letter to UAW officials last Friday, endorsed a plan to push through $4 billion in aid to prop up the Detroit Three. The package of tax credits and loan guarantees is a proposed part of a second (and real) economic stimulus package working its way through congress for a September vote. Those billions would then be used to secure up to $25 billion in loans, which now starts to look like some real big-boy money. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=399062&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Obama Camp Nixes NASCAR Sponsorship Rumors]]> Following a recent Sports Illustrated story stating the Obama campaign was in talks with BAM Racing about sponsoring a Sprint Cup car, spokespeople for the Senator now claim no deal was reached. BAM Racing, a part-time outfit that hasn't fielded a car in recent weeks, made similar overtures to Sen. John McCain and at least one third-party candidate, raising hopes among Southerners for the first U.S. presidential contest to be decided on a NASCAR superspeedway. Rationale and potential pitfalls for Obama after the jump. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=398452&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[McCain To Offer $300 Million Prize For Developing New Super Battery]]> Presidential candidate John McCain (R-Old) is expected to unveil a new proposal today offering $300 million in prize money to the first automaker that can demonstrate significant improvements in battery technology. The targets to secure the prize include a 30% cost reduction, along with "substantial improvements" in size, capacity and technology. Additionally, McCain announced a "Clean Car Challenge," offering U.S. automakers a $5,000 tax credit for every zero-carbon-emissions car developed and sold. Apparently, McCain thinks the market's delivery on a 100-mile-per-charge battery won't be coming as he predicted without some helpful handouts incentives. Hmm, we've been flipping through Wealth of Nations for the past hour, and can't seem to find the page on contests, raffles and sweepstakes. Was that section before or after the chapter on the national progress of opulence? [Detroit News] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=396784&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[John McCain Thinks We'll Have 100-Mile-Per-Charge Batteries By Election?]]> So we had the Today Show on in the background this morning while getting ready to run over to NPR when we heard some story about gas prices. We glanced up and noticed a guy who looked exactly like John McCain talking to Matt Lauer. We mean, it looked like McCain, it sounded like McCain — he even moved his cheeks like McCain! But the words coming from his mouth were like those from a crazy man. This nutty doppelgänger told Lauer he thought the possibility existed that we could have a car battery capable of running a car for...wait for it...100 miles on one charge. By November. And, of course, that this new "magic superbattery" would change the gas prices game. Huh? Wait. What? Does he know something we don't? Who is this crazy old coot? We've got the transcript below from the above clip — judge for yourself. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=395779&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Brian Williams Launches Into Bizarre Racing Tangent After Obama's Speech]]> After Obama's victory speech last night you'd expect the pundits to discuss meaning, rhetoric and intent. Instead, NBC's Brian Williams launched into a discussion of short track racing in rural Montana. Ignore, if you can, that Brian Williams is apparently an aficionado of a form of racing that makes NASCAR look like the symphony, and try and focus on the fact that Brian Williams would "give anything" to have a focus group of those people to see how they would vote. Although we'd hoped to leave the term "NASCAR Dads" behind after last cycle, are dirt trackers this year's Evangelicals? If that's the case, how come none (neither?) of the candidates are hitting up tonight's NASCAR Prelude to the Dream race? [MSNBC] More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=394957&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Proposed Gas Tax Holiday Panned As Gimmick; Also, Water Is Wet]]> Floating around the policy wonk-o-sphere and on the front page of most of the news dailies today is this idea of a temporary holiday on Federal gas taxes for the summer driving season. Presidential candidates Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-copycat) have hopped on the "good idea" bandwagon, while Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) rides on the "not-so-good idea" wagon-for-one. Analysts at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, along with Greg Mankiw, former chairman of George W. Bush's Council of Economic Advisers are both saying "Not so fast!" Heck, even Bush's spokeswoman Dana Perino is saying it's a bad idea. Seems these economics experts think that something crazy called "Supply and demand" will cause consumption to rise as prices fall, and since capacity is at a peak, prices will just go back to where they were before the tax holiday. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=385751&view=rss&microfeed=true <![CDATA[Motor City Mitt Leading Among Auto Execs]]> Those involved in the automotive industry, known for having a firm grasp on the future, have backed Mitt Romney nearly 2-to-1 in donations compared with other Republicans and Democrats. This is no surprise, as Mitt Romney's dad, George Romney, was the former head of American Motors and governor of Michigan (two enterprises that have really prospered over the last four decades). Giuliani came in second with $228,000, and McCain third with $151,000. On the Democratic side, Clinton beat Obama $123,000 to $112,000. More »
]]> http://jalopnik.com/index.php?op=postcommentfeed&postId=349582&view=rss&microfeed=true