June 7, 2009
Posted: June 7th, 2009 01:51 PM ET

From

(CNN) – A trio of mayors whose cities have been hit hard by the troubles of General Motors said Sunday that they were happy the federal government had intervened. But they also faulted politicians in Washington for the partisan bickering over supporting the struggling auto industry.

“Well, certainly somebody had to do something,” Mayor Michael Brown of Flint, Michigan told CNN’s John King.

“This isn’t just about the auto industry,” added Brown, “the credit markets dried up. We’ve got a housing industry in crisis and certainly the federal government had to do something here ... Obviously, we want GM to be running their own business as we go forward but I think there was no alternative at this point in time as far as I’m concerned.”

Wilmington, Delaware Mayor James Baker agreed with Brown but took issue with the constant fighting in Washington over helping the auto industry.

“What we’re seeing is just a stack of cards or a domino effect where things have just gone awry,” Baker said Sunday on CNN’s State of the Union. “And we’re all suffering, we’re all trying to deal with loss of revenues. I mean, it was just like our revenues went off the cliff.”

“I know there’s people that don’t want to see the government involved,” Baker continued. “And you get the dumb argument down there in Washington about the conservatives and the liberals. Who needs it? We need the country working together on our problems.”

“I’ve got to agree with both my colleagues here,” Mayor Michael Dinwiddie of Spring Hill, Tennessee told King. “I don’t think this is a Republican issue or a Democrat issue . I think the worst thing that we could possibly do is turn this into a political battle. This is an American issue. . . . This is a nationwide issue. I think that we need to do everything possible to come together and solve these issues now.”

All three men run cities who have been adversely impacted by the closure or possible closure of GM manufacturing plants as the once-great auto giant restructures in bankruptcy with substantial assistance from the Obama administration.

Filed under: General Motors • State of the Union • auto bailout


elizabeth halloway   June 7th, 2009 3:41 pm ET

Certainly these mayors are right. I have to say that the Republicans come across like petulant children when it comes to the issues. All we understand from them is that they hate Obama, but we get no solutions or cooperation. The important thing is that we ALL pull together, not fight like school children.

Andi   June 7th, 2009 3:13 pm ET

Of course, they are right. Many of us have been saying it all along. Most in Washington who are slowing the progress of the aid to the rest of the nation just happen to be Republicans, though. They are posturing for some future 'election' they think is going to sweep them back into their glory days and could care less about the actual nation.

Ramesh Kaushal   June 7th, 2009 3:12 pm ET

Sotomayor often used words became political controversial racial issue to hold law chair. Her legal sanity and ability actually based on physical slam-problems to present status in comparison rich society gander never crossed that path. And have only experience on hear saying or under law defined, are far from realities. For fair justice, needed wisdom, experience and understanding which Sonia Sotomayor has. Don’t waste law enriched and experienced ability in political tug-of-war People never spare stain -filter.

Henry Miller   June 7th, 2009 3:07 pm ET

What makes these mayors think the rest of us have any interest at all in propping up their cities?

GOPer   June 7th, 2009 2:59 pm ET

Exactly, Mayor's are where the rubber meets the road! The Congress and Senate members are on the WWF Political Shows every night complaining about the other side. All the while the President, Governor's and Mayor's are getting the job done day to day.

We need the GOP to come up with solutions, not oppostional thoughts based on the daily fare in Washington!

Kevin B   June 7th, 2009 2:51 pm ET

What ever happened to true patriotism? not the cartoonish stuff doled by cable news and radio.

Kevin B   June 7th, 2009 2:49 pm ET

The mayors are right, the whole liberal/conservative debate in DC and on the cable news and talk radio is nothing more than a ratings grabber for the simple minded american electorate.

This issues facing the country and world cannot be distilled into the petty sound bytes the media and talk radio love. All this does is cheapen the discoures and polarize any actions that could actually benefit all americans.

What ever happened to true patriotism? not the cartoonish stuff doled by cable news and radio.

America Shrugged   June 7th, 2009 2:39 pm ET

GOP is dysfunctional and irrelevent at this point. Until they can figure out that they lost last Nov and start focusing on the needs of every citizen in this country, they will continue to lose elections. I agree that this shouldn't be about Dems and Republicans, but the GOP want it that way. From day one, they haven't worried about putting folks back to work, they worry about what Obama had for breakfast and gripe about him using teleprompter for speeches. I mean, who really thinks that is going to give them a big win in 2010? When challenged by the President to submit an alternative budget plan, they submit a plan approx 2 weeks later with no numbers and they want to be taken seriously? They need to quit listening to all the pundits and get a new RNC leader. Maybe Meagan McCain can run..She seems to be the only one who still has her act together.

Randall in Torrance - Desert Storm Veteran - Welcome to the end of the era of dumb ass Republicans and Stoopid Retards like Cheney and Bush in power   June 7th, 2009 2:32 pm ET

MOPAR = Mostly Old Parts and Rust
FORD = Found on Road Dead and Fix or Repair Daily
GM = from General Motors to Government Motors

SHIRLEY "60"   June 7th, 2009 2:28 pm ET

King I can't watch you or your biased interviews after attempting to watch your first two outtings, but watched a little of this interview on video, and was able to see that you were not getting your desired effect. Hooray! You are still just as ridiulous as the rest of those who represent you and your GOP party. CNN should bring back the reporting of Wolf Blitzer to this spot because he has much more gravitus than King, who I am certain, is losing viewers on Sunday.

InlandEmperor   June 7th, 2009 2:13 pm ET

Thank you. These three gentlemen reflect the feelings of the vast majority of Americans.

John H.   June 7th, 2009 2:11 pm ET

Lets face up to it gentlemen. Globalization has not brought up the living standard for the rest of the world. It has brought down the living standard for the industrialized countries. Imagine – Americans and western Europeans trying to compete against southeastern Asians. There, with BILLIONS of underemployed people with no rights, clamoring for jobs paying pennies per hour, have a tremendous advantage against the industrialized countries.

The future for the working class in the industrialized countries is indeed bleak – jobs outsourced to Asian countries and politicians too spineless to open their mouths lest these Asian countries shut off their purchases of our debt. Sad!

Republican Nonsense   June 7th, 2009 1:49 pm ET

Hopefully John King learned something from these mayors – since he is also, ironically given he is an anchor, involved in "partisan bickering!"

girlymen love the GOP   June 7th, 2009 1:29 pm ET

John King has lost all credibility with me.I would never watch the show now.

Comments have been closed for this article

subscribe RSS Icon
About The Ticker

The latest political news from CNN's Best Political Team, with campaign coverage, 24-7. Sign up for our twice daily Ticker emails. Got a news tip or feedback? For complete political coverage, bookmark CNNPolitics.com.

CNN=Politics Screensaver

CNN=Politics ScreensaverTap into the power of The Situation Room. Download this powerful new tool that keeps you posted on the latest political news from the campaign trail.
Download (4.1 MB, PC only)

twitter
@wolfblitzercnn: Trifecta -- NOT. My Redskins, Bills and Packers all lose this weekend. Very sad.
Updated: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:40:09 -0800
@HornickCNN: RT @andersoncooper: Interactive: The top 10 Health-Care-Reform Players http://bit.ly/6C3OlX
Updated: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:47:50 -0800
@HornickCNN: RT @cnn_oppmann: CNN.com: Mexico City approves same-sex marriage. http://bit.ly/5RyMnk #mexico
Updated: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:46:26 -0800
@HornickCNN: Rudy's reportedly not running for NY SEN or Gov ...
Updated: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:43:48 -0800
@wolfblitzercnn: Redskins-Giants always exciting. Both teams have a lot to prove. And Giants can still salvage playoffs. Skins just need a win.
Updated: Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:19:36 -0800
Categories
Powered by WordPress.com VIP