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US Politicians: Let's Save the Auto Industry, but We're Driving Imports

US President Barack Obama might favor American cars but people in his administration certainly don't. If you take a look at what American politicians drive you'll reach the same conclusion as we have: definitely not domestic vehicles.

The Detroit News managed to make a list with the cars driven by those politicians who claim they want to save the domestic auto industry but the real surprise is that only few of them drive American-made vehicles. However, the list is not fully complete as information was not available on all of the officials and records for some states were not complete. But let's see what we've got so far.

Barack Obama is among the few US politicians who used to drive Detroit-made cars. You probably remember he traded his Chrysler 300C for a more fuel-efficient Ford Escape hybrid during the 2008 presidential campaign.

Another politician who finds American motors popular is Edward B. Montgomery, senior adviser to the Labor Department, who owns a 1991 Harley-Davidson and previously owned a 1990 Ford Taurus L station wagon.

Yet, the list with domestic vehicles is not very long as other politicians have made their choice upon foreign brands. In the case of Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, the choice for a 2008 Toyota Prius is somehow justified, but she could have opted for a domestic Ford Escape hybrid in case she wanted a bigger car...

But what's the justification in the case of the co-chairs of the task force - Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner and White House National Economic Council Director Lawrence Summers - who both own foreign vehicles? Geithner owns a 2008 Acura TSX and in the past he owned a 1999 Honda Accord and a 2002 Acura MDX, while Summers owns a 1995 Mazda Protege.

Volvo seems to be a popular foreign brand among US politicians as Office of Management and Budget Director Peter Orszag owns a 2004 Volvo S60 and Heather Zichal, deputy director of the White House Office of Energy and Climate Change, drives a Volvo C30.

It's not that we comment upon people's freedom of choice but we can not refrain from saying that if not even American politicians favor Detroit-made vehicles, how on Earth do they expect to save the domestic auto-industry?
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