Car Czars: Buy What We Say, Not What We Drive
Apr 5, 2009 7 Comments ›› Pat Dollard
Amid talk of confidence in U.S. auto industry, what does the administration drive?
By Amie Parnes & Carol E. Lee
Politico
With President Barack Obama showing the ailing U.S. auto industry some tough love Monday, Politico wondered — what’s in the driveways of White House aides? A lot of foreign cars, as it turns out.
A survey of West Executive Drive, where White House staffers park, revealed only five American cars out of 23 — a Dodge Grand Caravan, two Ford Escapes, a Jeep Cherokee and a Cadillac.
The lot was sprinkled with BMWs, Mercedes, Hondas, Toyotas, Saabs, Audis, Volkswagens and a Volvo.
Obama himself owns a Ford Escape Hybrid (apparently sitting in Chicago), according to his press secretary Robert Gibbs, who said he drives a gray Ford Escape.
As for Obama’s presidential task force on the auto industry, the Detroit News reported what many of them drive when the task force formed. The News said:
Timothy Geithner owns a 2008 Acura TSX and once owned a 1999 Honda Accord, as well as a 2002 Acura MDX.
Larry Summers owns a 1995 Mazda Protege and previously owned a 1996 Ford Taurus GL.
Peter Orszag owns a 2008 Honda Odyssey and a 2004 Volvo S60, and he previously owned a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 1982 Datsun.
“Climate czar” Carol Browner has recently said she doesn’t own an automobile, although she used to own a 1999 Saab 9-5 SE.
Energy’s Steven Chu’s wife told the Free Press that he doesn’t own a car.
The vice president’s economist, Jared Bernstein, owns a 2005 Honda Odyssey.
Obama’s economic adviser Austan Goolsbee owns a 2004 Toyota Highlander.
Midwest recovery chief Ed Montgomery owns a 1991 Harley-Davidson and previously owned a 1990 Ford Taurus L station wagon.
Gene Sperling, counsel to the Treasury secretary, owns a 2003 Lincoln LS, and previously owned a 1993 Saturn SL2.
A search by Politico on Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood shows he owns a 1997 Buick Regal and a Ford Escape Hybrid. He previously owned a Cadillac Deville.
Records could not be found for Christina Romer and Gary Locke.
