GM’s Bob Lutz Challenges Media on Past Global Warming Statement
A few weeks ago, we told you about Bob Lutz’s colorful denial of global warming. Now, on the GM FastLane Blog he has taken time out to explain his comment.
He said, “My beliefs are mine and I have a right to them, just as you have a right to yours. But among my strongest beliefs is that my job is to do what makes the most business sense for GM.
Comments
Ducati Minor
I respect Lutz and his opinion, though I do not agree with him; but he should understand the consequences of his remarks. I attended an environmental presentation two weeks ago. The speaker remarked highly of Honda and Toyota, with an image of the Prius being accompanied with applause. Once he spoke of General Motors, the audience reacted with booing.
A lot of this is media-driven perception, but perception has some bit of truth behind it. GM, Ford, and Chrysler are corporations whose North American production and sales are dependent on light trucks which achieve poor mileage--more so than their foreign competitors.
Our press is not a public institution to be admired, however. A free press can be as dishonest as a state press. The way that our news media flocks from crisis to crisis is pathetic. Sometimes they are legit, as with air pollution in the 1970s and AIDS in the '80s. But then you have the hysteria over any little thing from prescription medication with a 0.1% chance of causing ill or an easily curable bird flu. Global warming has become eco-chic with news writers and celebs--for better or worse.
Bob Lutz understands that and has said so well before the global warming remarks. This was a gaffe on his part, one he needs to make up for.
Steven T
This gaffe illustrates how Lutz, like Bill Clinton, may be a relic of a rapidly ending era. His new eco-friendly pitch isn't credible when held against his obviously passionate personal views to the contrary. And that hurts GM, particularly in comparison to Toyota.
It isn't fair to blame the media for reporting far and wide Lutz's comment. It was, in fact, news. To many of us it displayed why GM is behind the curve.
Clearly GM's p.r. folks realized this and pushed Lutz back out in front of the cameras to "clarify" his remarks. Alas, the damage is done.
It also seems dangerous that GM should promise so much for the Volt. This reminds me of Ford's pre-launch campaign for the Edsel. Raise people's expectations too high and it could backfire once they actually see the production car.
fstst56
Mr Lutz may be right! Do your own research. You can begin @ www.weatherwars.info You can then link onto www.cheniere.org Remember when Nikita Khruschev came to the States and took his shoe off and banged it on the table? He was trying to tell us something. Something our Government probably already knew. Anyway, it all goes back to Tesla. That's right, the same Tesla they are naming the car for!
Human powered
“. . . among my strongest beliefs is that my job is to do what makes the most business sense for GM.
southern
Bob gets the print, but the fact that the ice is back in the Arctic get no ink, because it doesn't fit in with the agenda..........
Bob does need to be careful.
No, you can't trust reporters. They are just below used car salesman on the trustometer.
dan
Come on people. The US uses a majority of the world's resources. It is sad under the present political leadership a decade of waist and we now have millions of gas hogs that wont go away any time soon. We'll soon get on the green track but don't fool yourself America your sheep to be lead by guys like our the VP who is in charge. Sad Country! USA! I love it thought. I got rid of my 64 Chevy with a 327. But the car still runs! I don't try and justify my gluttonous behavior. Admit it we've been wrong and 10 years went by knowing it!
james
I agree with Bob. The fight against global warming is a bunch of bull made up by people who want to re-shape the world to their advantage. He also has the right to beleive and say whatever he wants.
I think it was foolish for him to speak his mind on it though. Perception is sometimes more important than reality and history is full of losers who were right. Speaking out against global warming to the press today is like telling people in the South during the civil war that slavery was wrong. You would have been right but you'd also be dead.
Ducati Minor
I'll let Bob praise Stalin and Mao if it means me getting Bill Mitchell's '71 Firebird Pegasus.
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