Obama slams McCain's $300 million battery prize

Posted Wed Jun 25 2008 12:38 PM by Alex Kaufmann

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has slammed Senator John McCain's proposed $300 million prize for the creation of an advanced car battery, calling it a “gimmick” designed to grab attention but offer little aid for the fuel crisis. Despite the latest remark, Obama has already proposed cash incentives in his own scheme for improving fuel economy and reducing carbon emissions but pointed out that his own proposals offer a more realistic solution.

Obama differentiated his own fuel economy policy from McCain's by his focus on immediate action. "I have a plan to raise the fuel standards in our cars and trucks with technology we have on the shelf today," Obama told reporters in Michigan. One of the democrat senator’s proposals includes a doubling of fleet fuel-economy requirements by 2027 to 50mpg.

Obama also likened the current fuel crisis to the race to land on the moon - a goal that cannot be realized by a prize for one company or individual to create an advanced battery. Its solution requires the entire effort of the nation and the full resources of the government, he explained.

The democrat senator now plans to meet with auto executives and factory workers, including Ford CEO Alan Mulally later today and GM chief Rick Wagoner on Thursday, reports The Detroit News.

Reader Comments

Wed Jun 25 2008 1:33 PM
Knight3058 says

50 MPG?! With 32 to 35 CAFE already driving the Big 3 nuts, what is he thinking?
Wed Jun 25 2008 3:11 PM
Gus says

Obama doesn't think, he just tells people what he thinks they want to hear, inbetween sh****g on other's ideas.
Wed Jun 25 2008 4:00 PM
NCyder says

Poser.
Thu Jun 26 2008 7:15 AM
chris says

yeah I was just going to say... horrible move on his part. horrible. he slams probably the best idea for the automotive industry in this entire presidential campaign, and then doesn't offer something in return.

and then he equates it to the race to the moon, which was the government throwing all of their money behind any contractor that could make any piece of equipment that fulfilled ridiculous specifications that no one thought would be possible 7 years previous to the moon landing when the initiative was proclaimed.

bad move obama, bad move.

MotorAuthority