Presidential hopeful John McCain not completely against Big Three bailout, supports electric car tax credits
07/18/2008, 3:35 PM
By Drew Johnson
Although the Detroit automakers are convinced that they won’t need a government bailout despite the hard times, Presidential hopeful John McCain revealed on Thursday that he would not be against such an action. The Bush administration has already said that it would be against a government bailout for the Big Three.
“I hope GM does not require it, but if it looks like it is approaching that, everyone has to consider every option,” McCain told the Dow Jones Newswires.
However, McCain’s bailout plan would not include large sums of money for the automakers but rather an incentives package that would encourage the production of more fuel-efficient vehicles.
In addition to a possible bailout plan, McCain is also in support of a tax break for those who purchase green technology vehicles such as the Chevrolet Volt. Under McCain’s plan, anyone who purchases an electric car that was developed in the United States would be eligible for a $5,000 tax rebate. General Motors has been quite vocal about the need for a tax break on vehicles like the Chevy Volt as the development costs have far exceeded what was originally expected.



07/18, 3:39 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Obama and McCain can both blow me. As a voter I “consider every option” – not just the two lousy ones the two major parties of sheeple throw my way.
07/18, 3:53 PM
posted by:
t-ak-box
why can’t they give the same tax break that some SUV owners got in the past. The one that let them get $25 grand or half the cost of the vehicle or something like that. I believe those breaks had to do with farmers or something but ordinary people got the breaks too as long as the vehicle was used toget and from work.
07/18, 4:09 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Not quite, Tak. I think the big hulks had to have a legitimate business requirement. The issue as I understood it was that farmers were buying Escalades as farm trucks or something.
07/18, 4:16 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
How about a McCain/Lutz candidacy?
07/18, 4:24 PM
posted by:
VictorRaikkonen
^^^ would burn faster than the Hindenburg.
07/18, 4:28 PM
posted by:
desertdweller
I think we need a “do over”. It’s a matter of lesser of two evils, I don’t know of anyone that really wants to vote either of these two into office.
07/18, 4:37 PM
posted by:
shaver
These guys cant say anything useful right now their words are disected to a level that any minor gesture or utterence can be the end of everything they have achieved. The media is running this election now.
07/18, 4:48 PM
posted by:
xyunya
All politicians are selling themselves like prostitutes during salesman convention.
In contrast to Bear Sterns takeover by JP Morgan, there is no “white knight” to take over GM. Ford can not buy it: it is on respirator itself and vice verse. The only entity left to perform the task is federal government. If you think Ford and GM are doing poorly now, just wait till Uncle Sam start driving those. Right now it is investors who get screwed (they asked for it), once those companies are “saved” taxpayers will get screwed (I reckon we are asking for it as well).
07/18, 5:13 PM
posted by:
howsmydriving
Why should taxpayers subsidize GM’s Volt? How come Toyota made Prius successful without a taxpayer subsidy?
07/18, 5:38 PM
posted by:
The Stig
There will always be a group of people (the “white knight” if you will) who believe they can do a better job (and make a buck at it) than the current incumbents. InBev buys Bud for $52B. Cerberus buys Chrysler, etc. In a free market it’s always possible. McCain is really saying that the bank is still open for business [especially if you donate to his campaign].
07/18, 5:48 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
F*ck McCain and all republicans in general, you had your chance and your homeboy Duh- bya ****ed it up for everybody.
07/18, 5:57 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
Howsmydriving the japanese did subsidize the Prius, the government should help, remember they want to reduce dependency on foreign oil right ?
07/18, 5:57 PM
posted by:
jumpoffit
i’d vote for Bruce Wayne if i could
07/18, 6:04 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
If I remember correctly the feds were offering a few thousand $$ tax credit for the purchase of hybrids, which effectively subsidized Toyota on this end while the Ministry Of Finance And Trade in Tokyo subsidized development in Japan.
.
But US corps dont get the advantage of a level playing field, as evidenced by howsmydriving’s idiocy above.
07/18, 6:11 PM
posted by:
Random Jerk
“But US corps dont get the advantage of a level playing field, as evidenced by howsmydriving’s idiocy above.”
You can’t get a tax credit for a product that you don’t offer.
07/18, 6:55 PM
posted by:
mayer_ray_nagin
Random, true, but the US gov gave tax breaks to make hybrids a sales success. Before Toyota had a product, though, it was getting development subsidies from the Japanese government. There’s your playing field.
07/18, 7:01 PM
posted by:
ktulu
what is “The Bush administration”
it was a pershon whi saud trhgey’re against a government bailout for the Big 3? what is that tperson’s bame?
McCain is thinking rite. I’m still 4 obama. I wan’t neither 2 blow me.
the two major parties usually give U lousy choices, and this in no exception. No ricahrdson? NBo Romney>
“consider every option” – not just the two lousy ones of sheeple throw my way.
The SUV tax break was 2 pertend these wer work trux. Duallys for jeytcshkis, but I own a hardware stor, so I can deduct mu dually — theat sornt o’ thing
McCainshould pick cheney, and obama should pick wight
I think if we got a do-over, we swoould still go these jerks.
touyota xcab take over GM, but would tey want 2/
The federal government messes everything up.
Prius = japanese taxpayer subsidy?
The average 5th grader can do a better job then dxc mabagement. a 9th-gtader for Fors and a senior for GM.
Cerberus is stupid.
all republicans are worthless
Bruce Wayne would never make it, he cares Aboutworking people.
07/18, 7:11 PM
posted by:
beatusmongous
I don’t know if this is true everywhere, but most Prius owners I know kicked themselves in the butt when I told them they could have received a tax benefit for buying a Prius. Only one guy even knew about it. I don’t really think the tax credit helped the Prius sales as much as we’d like to think, especially since it’s now all gone, and Toyota still has a waiting line.
07/18, 7:48 PM
posted by:
DrFill
Question is who is in more need of help for survival?
The Big 3 or McCain?
DrFill
07/18, 9:46 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
The American Presidential race is like watching NASCAR from the pre-race show to the last lap of the race: it starts way too early, goes on way too long, and when the checkered flag finally drops you can argue that it was rigged from the beginning.
07/19, 10:18 AM
posted by:
injunraiv
In the beginning, I believe most did buy because of the incentives (I remember it being a big deal). Then the ‘fad’ started, and the incentives wore off. If you bought a Prius, were elligible for the incentive, and didn’t take it? You are a dumbass!
07/19, 10:21 AM
posted by:
injunraiv
Johnny, insightful as usual! Imagine being on our end of it though. You have almost no say in who is chosen to run, then you have to figure out which one will do less harm for 4 years until the next group of idiots run again. Someone on another forum asked why no real leaders are stepping forward. My answer is there are some really tough choices we need to make, and the american public doesn’t want to hear it. Hell, Obama is being criticized for telling people they need to take responsibility for their actions. Criticism? WTF?!?
07/19, 1:09 PM
posted by:
murderedout
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEtZlR3zp4c
07/19, 1:53 PM
posted by:
fuk-u-asshole
stupid,grump,miserable old man just heal over and die already
07/19, 3:02 PM
posted by:
ihustle
The only companys seem to need bailing out is GM and Chrysler. There the only one ive heard rumors of bankruptcy anyway
07/19, 8:05 PM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
Holy JEsus Christ Ktulu, get a goddamned spell checker. Insane.
07/20, 4:41 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
How about we all just agree that all we’ve had for the past 20 years as Presidential Candidates have been crap. It’s a media game.
Chuck Norris for President!
07/20, 11:52 PM
posted by:
injunraiv
Chuck Norris? No way I’m voting for another Texan!!! How about Vin Diesel?
07/21, 11:22 AM
posted by:
400horseSS
Vin Diesel looks like a penis.
07/21, 12:59 PM
posted by:
injunraiv
Maybe, but Chuck Norris is no beauty either… AHve you seen his combover?
07/21, 11:23 PM
posted by:
02WRXPSM
McCain is in approval of anything that’s electric, because he never knows when he might need a quick jolt to jump-start the ol’ ticker. Just reach under the hood and grab that capacitor, POW oh yeah, that’s the stuff…