Obamateurism of the Day
posted at 7:53 am on March 23, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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William Amos and HA reader Xiphos send today’s entry, where President Barack Obama waxes nostalgic for the days when cars were truly fuel-efficient. Both the San Francisco Chronicle and the Detroit Free Press reported this late last week:
In his first few months, President Barack Obama has proven an ardent booster of the U.S. auto industry’s future — but he keeps screwing up its history.
Last month, Obama mistakenly called the automobile an American invention, surprising the Germans who claim that mantle. And in a speech in California today, Obama revived an inaccurate jab against the industry that Ford Motor Co.’s original Model T burned less fuel than modern sport utility vehicles. …
“The 1908 Model T — think about this — the 1908 Model T earned better gas mileage than the typical SUV in 2008,” Obama told the crowd. “Think about that — a hundred years later and we’re getting less gas mileage, not better, on SUVs.”
Well, except it didn’t, as the Freep explains:
But according to Ford the first Model Ts built in 1908 could go 13 to 21 miles on a gallon, depending on the particular variation. The automaker and Model T clubs say typical Tin Lizzies averaged 15 m.p.g.
What remains unclear is how it makes sense to compare a fabric-roofed, four-seat car to a seven-passenger truck stuffed with high-tech accoutrements.
Those first Model Ts weighed about 1,200 pounds, lacked windows, rode on wood wheels and could ease up to a top speed of 45 miles per hour. A modern SUV tips the scales at 4,600 pounds, hits a top speed of 140 m.p.h. and has to meet a bevy of laws for crashworthiness.
The Chronicle includes this pithy quote from the CEO of the Model-T Ford Club of America, emphasis mine:
But with an array of modern regulations, he noted, “You couldn’t build a Model T today because the government wouldn’t let you put it on the road.”
Maybe Ford should check with Obama to start applying for waivers ….
Got an Obamateurism of the Day? If you see a foul-up by Barack Obama, e-mail it to me at obamaisms@edmorrissey.com with the quote and the link to the Obamateurism. I’ll post the best Obamateurisms on a daily basis, depending on how many I receive. Include a link to your blog, and I’ll give some link love as well. And unlike Slate, I promise to end the feature when Barack Obama leaves office.
Illustrations by Chris Muir of Day by Day. Be sure to read the adventures of Sam, Zed, Damon, and Jan every day!
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Lying lies and the liars that tell them.
Grafted on March 23, 2009 at 7:55 AM
What are they talking about? Back in 1908 Henry Ford had a prime time documentary on TV. I know he did, Joe Biden told me.
bloggless on March 23, 2009 at 7:57 AM
Good News: We’re going to bypass the democratically-elected Karzai to install a Prime Minister of our choice in Afghanistan. That should stabilize the country, right?
amerpundit on March 23, 2009 at 7:58 AM
This may top them all.
Ed, have you seen this yet? Is it possible?
rightside on March 23, 2009 at 7:59 AM
FINE.
I accept Obama’s challenge (and idiotic logic):
At the time of the Model T (1,200 pounds, 15mpg), the government was pretty effective.
NOW, we’ve got a 4,600 pound, 140mph government which still gets crap mileage.
“Any questions?”
Lockstein13 on March 23, 2009 at 8:01 AM
Ahhh, the good old days of silent television.
The came a long way by
1930,1937,1911, 1920-something when FDR was able to give his speech in color.reaganaut on March 23, 2009 at 8:02 AM
Hey Ed, you rock! I’m really going to enjoy this segment.
Love the Easter Island Obama Teleprompter Image.
A shout out to the artist.
Amadeus on March 23, 2009 at 8:03 AM
I thought this MPG tale was a little off when I first heard it.
The new Obamateurism logo is very good.
myrenovations on March 23, 2009 at 8:03 AM
Barack Obama: like a rock, only dumber.
He’s an air-headed Hollywood actor….when off-script he’s a flaming moron. Like Tom Cruise bouncing on a sofa, or Matt Damon (spit) talking politics.
Thanks again news media for vetting the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES…not.
ex-Democrat on March 23, 2009 at 8:04 AM
As I always say to Liberals with Ideas, “you go first”.
bloggless on March 23, 2009 at 8:04 AM
Uh, uh… uh, he meant relative to the p&e of gas and confronting the abundance of oil and because of fewer cars as to how they faced global warming, and besides, Henry took care of his workers health thanks to the unions. Or something.
TinMan13 on March 23, 2009 at 8:05 AM
And do you know why the Model-T got better gas mileage? Government regulations, that’s why. I hear Taft was quite the “green” president and was very concerned about CAFE standards and emissions. And don’t even mention the healthcare benefits Henry Ford was paying to his retired employees before World War I. I think it must have been a workers paradise. One hundred years and we’ve made no progress, right, Mr. President? Maybe we could even things up by putting rumble seats in Denalis and Suburbans.
trubble on March 23, 2009 at 8:05 AM
obama forgot that the Model T had wooden wheels, so inflating the tires a bit more was out of the question.
keep the change on March 23, 2009 at 8:06 AM
I am beginning to think that America is a downright mean country…. hmmmmmmmm…..nevermind.
bloggless on March 23, 2009 at 8:08 AM
Yeah, but the Model T had a lot more cupholders.
rbj on March 23, 2009 at 8:10 AM
You might need a separate blog exclusively for Obamateurisms. It’s be thick as an encyclopedia in no time.
Buy Danish on March 23, 2009 at 8:11 AM
Remember he is selling this to the 60% or so of Americans who thought the GOP ran Congress the past two years. They are not too smart and they do not challenge him. Whatever happened to “Question Authority”?
Jamson64 on March 23, 2009 at 8:15 AM
Great commentary by Chris with the logo for this. Big props!
beatcanvas on March 23, 2009 at 8:17 AM
“But with an array of modern regulations, he noted, “You couldn’t build a Model T today because the government wouldn’t let you put it on the road.””
Well , that will change when the pelosi Gtxi roles out.
the_nile on March 23, 2009 at 8:18 AM
Tomorrow’s Obamateurism: Obama upsets Sarkozy
Chaz on March 23, 2009 at 8:27 AM
The Boychurian Candidate always reveals his hand. He wants us all to start driving outdated, outmoded cars (think Havana), and thank goodness they get better gas mileage. This will buy us time before we get to the flying Deloreans that run on those worthless dollar bills and other trash. Where we’re going we don’t need roads; just an oxen and a plow.
EMD on March 23, 2009 at 8:28 AM
Like the Easter Island graphic.
R.J. MacReady on March 23, 2009 at 8:29 AM
Would love to see a bobblehead doll of the new logo for my Model-T. When you reach the top speed of 45 mph, you’ll hear the unmistakable, “Yes we can!”
EMD on March 23, 2009 at 8:30 AM
I heard that quote last week and had wondered at the time how that could possibly be true. Now I know it was just another convenient lie.
It’s an Orwellian thing…. you wouldn’t understand. Things said in real time are all that matters. There is no history.
PrincipledPilgrim on March 23, 2009 at 8:32 AM
I bet there will be enough for a book by the end of his 1st year.
becki51758 on March 23, 2009 at 8:39 AM
It’s a good thing we have the brilliant, well-educated, “first-rate intellect” Obama in the White House.
Imagine if we had elected that ill-informed dunce Sarah Palin. Americans would have been constantly embarrassed at the dumb things coming out of her mouth. Thank goodness we don’t have that worry with Obama./
AZCoyote on March 23, 2009 at 8:41 AM
A first rate intellect who knows nothing about the advancement in engineering in the auto industry.
Good to see we have a certified genius in the Presidency.
good thing.
benrand on March 23, 2009 at 8:43 AM
Keep a changin’ history to push your agenda. Next week: “I think it’s amazing that it took us until the 60’s to abolish slavery”
funsutton on March 23, 2009 at 8:43 AM
I’d give almost anything to see his Columbia Transcript.
funsutton on March 23, 2009 at 8:43 AM
This thread is posted way too early in the morning. bambi has all day to screw up…
and yeah, the protocol office in the White HOuse needs some help. don’t they keep up with who is president of what country?
kelley in virginia on March 23, 2009 at 8:45 AM
a better kept state secret than plans for our MIRV technology….ponder that.
sven10077 on March 23, 2009 at 8:45 AM
And a horse got…
right2bright on March 23, 2009 at 8:50 AM
And the Model T did not run on lead-free gas, have an effective noise pollution-suppression muffler, a catalytic converter and probably spewed out more pollution than 10 SUVs.
albill on March 23, 2009 at 8:59 AM
Where was The Official TelePrompTer of the United States? This is no time for the presidents brain to be off duty!
lanesmerge on March 23, 2009 at 9:03 AM
Ahhh… the good old days when you could re-vulcanize your tyres and top off the tank with petroleum distillate of the horseless carriage for under 10 cents. Plus you didn’t have to get out of the carriage because they had four service attendants each making 5 cents per day working on your vehicle. Ahh…the GOOD OLD Days!
Infrastructure like China and vehicles (circa 1910) NoObama’s Utopia!
Caper29 on March 23, 2009 at 9:03 AM
Obama just makes sh*t up. Arrogant narcissist’s are like that I guess.
anniekc on March 23, 2009 at 9:04 AM
Barry’s been searching for the video tape of Mr. Ford building the first Model-T.
kingsjester on March 23, 2009 at 9:08 AM
Obama’s giving sainthood to the Model T’s? Really?
Why Honda and Toyota are kicking the Big 3’s arses, part 563….
LOL. It’s very sweet that you think Obama actually knows anything about vehicles. (and excellent point, my internet friend)
mjk on March 23, 2009 at 9:11 AM
New White House directive, all secret service agents required to ride along in caravan of refurbished Model T’s, President will be upgraded to Stutz Bearcat.
hip shot on March 23, 2009 at 9:19 AM
For the most brilliant individual who has ever existed and who will ever exist, Obama sure is stupid.
Even I didn’t think this guy would turn out to be this lost and bumbling.
Once again a Democrat fails to meet my bottom of the barrel expectations. Another high in low.
NoDonkey on March 23, 2009 at 9:28 AM
Great narcissistic egg-head telepromter Easter Island logo–seasonal timing noted as well as the cannibalism reference.
Obama was never a Law Professor, nor was he ever an authority on the Constitution, nor has he ever argued the Constitution in court. All positive references as such are fraudulent. He was a guest speaker engaging students in conversation. On the Constitution, he DID weaken the nation and broker a crooked deal that enabled ACORN with judicial backing to sue any bank that would not play ball by Obama’s corrupted court rules that have put our nation into bankruptcy today.
I envision another Obama illustration as the infested maggot of pestilence, he eats the flesh of the Constitution while laying parasitic eggs that hatch and devour, boring into the American brain.
maverick muse on March 23, 2009 at 9:29 AM
Punch drunk doesn’t even begin to touch The One’s position.
maverick muse on March 23, 2009 at 9:31 AM
The fn idiot doesn’t know is that the model T only put out 20 hp at peak rpm. That is going 45 miles an hour.
TheSitRep on March 23, 2009 at 9:36 AM
He knows it doesn’t matter. What matters is HE said it. Millions of zombies will repeat it from now until doomsday.
Limerick on March 23, 2009 at 9:38 AM
It is so nice to have an intellectual in charge after eight years of stoopidity. W. was so embarrassing after having smart people like Gore that invented the internet and global warming;)
Ed, thanks for the laugh of the day; I really need this.
Laura in Maryland on March 23, 2009 at 9:59 AM
qestout on March 23, 2009 at 10:06 AM
He probably wrote to Chirac to apologize for his Special Olympics remark. Chirac has a mentally disabled daughter!
Obama, a true Citizen of the World. Ich bin ein Beginner!
Steve Z on March 23, 2009 at 10:14 AM
Steve Z on March 23, 2009 at 10:16 AM
Here you go, amigo:
Corruption A+
Terrorism B
Coke B-
Insurrection A
Oh, I thought you meant Barry’s Colombia grades.
Laura in Maryland on March 23, 2009 at 10:35 AM
I’m beginning to wonder if he’s smoking something stronger than ciggies…
….especially after the inappropriate laughing during the 60 Minutes interview.
That was soooo disturbing. It’s as if he finds this whole financial meltdown hilarious.
tru2tx on March 23, 2009 at 10:43 AM
http://www.modelt.ca/background.html
From Specifications for the Model T:
Only 20 horsepower from a 2.9-liter engine? A modern engine that size could easily deliver 150 horsepower, while burning less gasoline!
Model T Fords didn’t have catalytic converters either. Next time Barry O wants to open his big mouth, let him stand behind an idling Model T near the exhaust pipe, and let him take a deep breath! Modern SUV’s will seem rather “green” in comparison!
Steve Z on March 23, 2009 at 10:45 AM
The One, The All Knowing Messiah…strikes again.
Sarkozy is President of France. Jacques Chirac is no longer President of France.
Obama looks forward to four years of working together with Chirac?
coldwarrior on March 23, 2009 at 11:04 AM
I hope he’s advocating a return to that era. A buddy of mine has a 32 Ford with a ZZ4 small block in it. I think it gets like 10 mpg, but will do 130 mph in the quarter mile…I like old cars.
Wyznowski on March 23, 2009 at 11:11 AM
…more brains than this administration?
Snowed In on March 23, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Ed,
This is a great thread, but I think it deserves its own page/site.
You not only need to have the daily entry, but you need to list the prior incidents. (All of them)… Maybe even 2 or 3 a day if that’s the creation speed.
A look at the whole thing would be truly impressive.
CrazyGene on March 23, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Figures, same guy waxed poetic about inflating tires and saving millions of gallons of oil.
GarandFan on March 23, 2009 at 11:23 AM
Er ist ein sheissekopf, if my high-school German serves me.
mr.blacksheep on March 23, 2009 at 11:34 AM
I doubt seriously that that type of language was present in your high school German class.
Snowed In on March 23, 2009 at 11:36 AM
One of the car makers should make a demonstration SUV without all the emissions crap and extra safety features, and demonstrate how fuel efficient they can be when you take a few hundred pounds of excess but required crap out of them and make them breathe better.
Canadian Imperialist Running Dog on March 23, 2009 at 11:42 AM
.
Wooden Wheels, rubber Tires. Punctures were to be expected, not the exception.
darktood on March 23, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Just the Easter Island logo with the teleprompter is worth a look very day.
Not sure why you should stop doing this when Obama leaves office, though. But keep promising it anyway. It’s just words, and hopefully when he leaves office, you will get to say “we won”.
connertown on March 23, 2009 at 11:56 AM
Strangely enough, I think it was, although it’s too long ago to remember the context or logic of it. Maybe my memory’s filling in the blanks and I picked that up from “unofficial” sources, and was just enough of an idiot at the time to try to slip that into one of the weekly 2-minute talks in German we had to do in front of the class.
mr.blacksheep on March 23, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Ed:
This is an outstanding feature. I am looking forward to what each new day may bring. I hope you have plans on collecting all the Obamateurisms in one location, perhaps with a link on the side bar on the main page. It would be handy to be able to direct others to the page. I can think of some liberal friends that I would like to see a massive collection of Obamateurisms to help correct the image of Mr. Can’t-Do-No-Wrong.
Thanks.
Mallard T. Drake on March 23, 2009 at 12:15 PM
I wonder what kind of gas mileage most SUV’s would get if you kept them under 45mph. (Of course such a low speed would get you pulled over pretty quick on most interstates.)
I might also mention that the Model T had narrow, solid rubber tires, that would be completely illegal today.
MarkTheGreat on March 23, 2009 at 12:18 PM
You all are just jealous ’cause you never got to dance with Ellen on her TV show.
Doug on March 23, 2009 at 12:34 PM
More to the point, an ‘08 Model T had a 2.9 Liter engine that produced 20 HP, no safety equipment to speak of, a crank starter, cable actuated brakes that worked a single brake band on the transmission, no heater or defroster.
Obama’s ignorance about industrial history is manifold. He compared a Model T to a SUV, but the T was the cheapest car available in 1908. A more appropriate comparison would be to Ford’s cheapest car in North America, the Focus. An ‘09 Focus weighs about 2600 lbs, a bit more than twice as much as the Model T. A lot of the difference in weight is due to safety engineering, like high strength steel passenger cells, and engineered crush zones. Materials science has advanced so far in the past century that when Ford had six reproduction Model Ts made for their centennial celebration in 2003, and they attempted to make the reproductions as accurate as possible, they could not “accurately” reproduce Model T engine blocks because you simply cannot get casting iron in as poor quality as was used by Ford 100 years ago.
Side intrusion beams also add to weight as do the 6 airbags that the Focus has. Heating, ventilation and cooling add weight as well. The Focus comes with a 2.0 liter engine that produces 140 HP and the car can be driven safely at all highway speeds. It comes with power disc brakes up front and ABS as standard equipment, and you can order the car with 4 wheel discs.
The ‘08 Model T got between 13 and 21 mpg, with T enthusiasts and Ford saying that 15 mpg is an avg result. The Focus is EPA rated at 24/city, 35/Hwy, so an average result should be close to 30 mpg, about double what the Model T got.
In 100 years we’ve been able to make cars that weigh twice as much and use half the fuel, while making quantum leaps in performance, safety and comfort, and the President, a historical ignoramus, believes that no progress has been made.
Obama may be smart, but outside of politics he’s an ignoramus.
rokemronnie on March 23, 2009 at 12:41 PM
Revisionist history is how all libs gain/keep power.
Christian Conservative on March 23, 2009 at 12:52 PM
This Obamateurism was not only reported but challenged by the San Francisco Chronicle? Pres. Obama is in worse shape than he thought if the major daily paper for the San Francisco Bay Area is starting to question him.
Either that or Will Hearst is trying to save the Chron from extinction…
March Hare on March 23, 2009 at 1:13 PM
Yes, but miles were shorter back then. How else do you think your grandparents were able to walk 10 of them each way to school?
Brilliant!
Rosmerta on March 23, 2009 at 1:24 PM
The vast advances in automobile technology and technology over the last hundred years has been nothing but amazing. If mileage is all that we are interested in increasing take out all the safety equipment that is today’s cars and put a governor on the engine that will only let the driver go 45 mph.
SC.Charlie on March 23, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Erhh….his well-rounded education apparently didn’t include a course in physics.
BobMbx on March 23, 2009 at 3:51 PM
It makes sense because the unstated question that he’s asked is, “What does a type family of four drive?” Obama’s not upset about the slow pace of technological progress alone, but the very fact that we’ve driving way more car than we need. You can argue that government should or shouldn’t take a role in this, but his point remains: Many families — on average smaller than those in 1908 — will have to use more gas to go 100 miles than a family from 1908. If gas use is a problem, then this is a problem, too.
calbear on March 23, 2009 at 9:03 PM
From Obama’s “love me” speech Feb 25 2009
“I understand that on any given day, Wall Street may be more comforted by an approach that gives banks bailouts with no strings attached, and that holds nobody accountable for their reckless decisions.”
Uhm could signing a bill that gives 170 Million in to the folks that caused this mess without reading the frigging bill be considered a “reckless decisions”?
“This time, CEOs won’t be able to use taxpayer money to pad their paychecks or buy fancy drapes or disappear on a private jet. Those days are over”
Okay, technically this is true, and yes he has accomplished this.
Note: the CEO’s didn’t “pad their paychecks” Obama him self “pad their paychecks”
“I understand that when the last administration asked this Congress to provide assistance for struggling banks, Democrats and Republicans alike were infuriated by the mismanagement and results that followed. So were the American taxpayers. So was I”.
And then along came AIG
DSchoen on March 23, 2009 at 11:41 PM
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