GM, I think you made a huge mistake when it comes to playing Washington politics

[Oracle of Delphi]

I didn't know quite where to put this, so admins feel free to move it.

I don't think GM knows how to play the game of Washington politics, and by not knowing has made a huge mistake. Yeah we all know they shouldn't have flown to DC in their corporate jets, we also all know they are not looking for a bailout, but instead are looking for a loan, but what I'm talking about transcends even that. What I'm talking about is this:

GM is being outflanked by the Germans, Koreans, Japanese and very soon by the Chinese and Indians. What I mean by that is for every plant/site GM shuts down outside of Michigan, they lose their two US Senator's and their US Representative's VOTES, they have from said state. GM should have kept the plants in NJ, GA, OK, MA, PA, etc, and kept those federal legislators on GM's side. GM is on the verge of losing votes in MN, LA and DE too. All the while their foreign competition, builds plants/sites in new states to garner the votes of those federal legislators in those new states they have set up shop in.

Instead of GM pulling back to its central core of Michigan/Ohio/Indiana, GM should have taken steps to keep plants and sites alive and well in other states too, by doing so, GM could have had more help in Congress than it currently has, and may have been able to turn the tide in it's favor last week when it went there to seek a loan.

Instead we see it's competition setting up plants in SC, AL, MS etc, guess who those federal legislators will be pulling for? Well it's not GM!

I know in my home state of Delaware, we have a Chrysler plant and a GM plant, our US Senators and lone Congressman always fought tooth and nail for those plants, but once those plants are gone, do you really think they will fight for GM and Chrysler? Not a chance.

Delaware's Chrysler plant shuts down 12/31/08.

GM loses a shift on 12/8/08 and I fear for that plant after 2011 or even sooner.

Sad really sad!

[poly]

I know in my home state of Delaware, we have a Chrysler plant and a GM plant, our US Senators and lone Congressman always fought tooth and nail for those plants, but once those plants are gone, do you really think they will fight for GM and Chrysler? Not a chance.

Delaware's Chrysler plant shuts down 12/31/08.

GM loses a shift on 12/8/08 and I fear for that plant after 2011 or even sooner.

This is so depressing. I know that if they support GM with the loan and GM closes Wilmington, they'll lose many ,many votes. I've emailed my concerns and told them I expect them to support Delaware and our plant above all else.