April 11th, 2011
Amidst all the government shutdown talk last week was a remark from President Obama that deserves a second look. Taking questions from a friendly audience, Obama was asked about gas prices:
“If you’re complaining about the price of gas and you’re only getting eight miles a gallon–(laughter)–you may have a big family, but it’s probably not that big. How many you have? Ten kids, you say? Ten kids? (Laughter.) Well, you definitely need a hybrid van then.”
A lot of people have pointed out that there are no hybrid vans. But the really telling part of this remark is the gas mileage. There are no consumer vehicles in production that get 8 mpg. According to fueleconomy.gov, the worst performing vehicles sold today are the Chevy Suburban 4WD and GMC Yukon 4WD, which get 10 mpg–a full 25 percent more than Obama alleges. How could Obama have possibly known? Well, because fuel economy is in large part dictated by CAFE standards imposed by the organization which Obama is in charge of.
Is it fair to expect Obama to know every little nuance about something as obscure as CAFE standards? Well, yes. After all, he’s the one who told people,
“I think that I’m a better speechwriter than my speechwriters. I know more about policies on any particular issue than my policy directors. And I’ll tell you right now that I’m gonna think I’m a better political director than my political director.”
The cherry on top, however, is that Obama is just projecting. Because it turns out that there is a car which only gets 8 mpg–the limo for the president of the United States.
Update: In the comments, Steve Sailer leaves this little nugget:
“A Chrysler 300C owned by Obama until 2007 is currently for sale on eBay. The list price? Well, it’s a little over the $15,100 Kelley Blue Book says a 2005 300C in good condition should fetch. About $85,000 over.
“The listing’s starting price sits at $100,000. As of this morning, there are no bids.
“The seller (eBay username stdrum5) explains, “As stated in the title, this 300c was previously driven by Barack Obama 2004 through 2007.” The car features a leather interior, a navigation system, a sunroof and, the listing helpfully points out, is still under warranty – you know, in case you total Barack Obama’s old car.
“Obama sold the car, we should point out, shortly after he began to run for President. It seems that the 300’s 5.7-liter V8 struck some Democratic primary voters as a bit excessive, and dependent on foreign oil.”
The 2005 300C weighed 4066 pounds and got 15 mpg city / 23 highway (and I think that was on the old, exaggerated mpg rating system).
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I watched that clip and finally understood why so many people adamantly dislike our president. I’ve never really bought into the “Obama-as-alien” narrative, but this clip perfectly encapsulates how he feels about average people. The man speaks with utter disdain for people who might want to have large families and have a need to transport their 2+ kids in something other a hybrid. Did you see his response to “10-kids”? He’s literally shocked. As in, “who the fuck wants 10 kids, what is wrong with you, I didn’t know people like you still existed.” I’ve never been more insulted by a president in my life. I half expected Obama to respond “get a vasectomy.” The man shows contempt for how much of this country lives.
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I would have loved if Obama had responded, “I mean, shit, if you’re going to have that many kids, do what my dad did: have 6, 7, 8 kids with a bunch of different women in several different countries and never care for any of them. No need to buy a fancy SUV, just love ’em and leave ’em”
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From USN&WR in 2008:
“A Chrysler 300C owned by Obama until 2007 is currently for sale on eBay. The list price? Well, it’s a little over the $15,100 Kelley Blue Book says a 2005 300C in good condition should fetch. About $85,000 over.
“The listing’s starting price sits at $100,000. As of this morning, there are no bids.
“The seller (eBay username stdrum5) explains, “As stated in the title, this 300c was previously driven by Barack Obama 2004 through 2007.” The car features a leather interior, a navigation system, a sunroof and, the listing helpfully points out, is still under warranty – you know, in case you total Barack Obama’s old car.
“Obama sold the car, we should point out, shortly after he began to run for President. It seems that the 300’s 5.7-liter V8 struck some Democratic primary voters as a bit excessive, and dependent on foreign oil.”
The 2005 300C weighed 4066 pounds and got 15 mpg city / 23 highway (and I think that was on the old, exaggerated mpg rating system).
Galley Wife April 11, 2011 at 3:35 pm
I like SkinsFan. I thought you were going to go the 10 kids route at first too, JVL. That’s a whole other post. : )