boards of FL wrote:alecto, what do you feel was the purpose of Ryan mentioning the GM plant? What was your honest interpretation of why he mentioned that?
The part of the speech in question.
"President Barack Obama came to office during an economic crisis, as he has reminded us a time or two. Those were very tough days, and any fair measure of his record has to take that into account. My home state voted for President Obama. When he talked about change, many people liked the sound of it, especially in Janesville, where we were about to lose a major factory.
A lot of guys I went to high school with worked at that GM plant. Right there at that plant, candidate Obama said: “I believe that if our government is there to support you … this plant will be here for another hundred years.” That’s what he said in 2008.
Well, as it turned out, that plant didn’t last another year. It is locked up and empty to this day. And that’s how it is in so many towns today, where the recovery that was promised is nowhere in sight."
Honestly I believe he mentioned it to illustrate to the people watching another broken promise from Obama and to remind the people in Janesville and Wisconsin that Obama did not help them. I do not believe Ryan was accusing Obama of closing the plant, he quoted Obama's own words.
Obama gave a speech on Feb 13th at the Janesville plant where he said
"This can be America’s future. I know that General Motors received some bad news yesterday, and I know how hard your Governor has fought to keep jobs in this plant. But I also know how much progress you’ve made – how many hybrids and fuel-efficient vehicles you’re churning out.
And I believe that if our government is there to support you, and give you the assistance you need to re-tool and make this transition, that this plant will be here for another hundred years. The question is not whether a clean energy economy is in our future, it’s where it will thrive. I want it to thrive right here in the United States of America; right here in Wisconsin; and that’s the future I’ll fight for as your President."
Did Obama close the plant? NO. Did Obama have any say in which plants closed? NO. Obama did offer support and assistance to try to help the plant stay open, that did not happen and the plant closed.