Obama for America

Fact Check: Detroit Auto Audience Was "Stunned Into Silence" By Obama's Call for Higher Fuel Efficiency

Detroit News: "Obama Was Greeted With A Standing Ovation As He Began His Speech, But He Received Only Polite Applause During The 35-Minute Lecture." "Obama was greeted with a standing ovation as he began his speech, but he received only polite applause during the 35-minute lecture. He acknowledged that he picked a difficult venue to deliver his opinions on fuel efficiency, but he said he wants to be consistent - not telling his Detroit crowd what it might have wanted to hear." [The Detroit News, 5/8/07]

Newsweek: After Obama's "Scalding Speech" the Audience Was "Stunned Into Silence After Greeting Him With a Standing Ovation." "This week, Sen. Barack Obama attempted to fuel his presidential run with a scalding speech to the Detroit Economic Club, castigating Motown's big wheels for driving our dependence on foreign oil. 'For years, while foreign competitors were investing in more fuel-efficient technology for their vehicles, American automakers were spending their time investing in bigger, faster cars," Obama told an audience stunned into silence after greeting him with a standing ovation."Whenever an attempt was made to raise our fuel efficiency standards, the auto companies would lobby furiously against it, spending millions to prevent the very reform that could've saved their industry. Even as they've shed thousands of jobs and billions in profits over the last few years, they've continued to reward failure with lucrative bonuses for CEOs.' What played as an act of courage in the rest of the country, is being seen as political suicide here in Detroit." [Newsweek, 5/11/07]

Chicago Tribune: "The Applause Was Light At Times, But [Obama] Pressed On." The Chicago Tribune reported, "Obama billed his visit to Detroit as tough love. The applause was light at times, but the candidate pressed on, saying the nation's 'oil addiction' is a threat to national security because it helps fund terrorism. 'For the sake of our security, our economy, our jobs and our planet, the age of oil must end in our time,' he said." [Chicago Tribune, 5/8/07]

Chicago Sun Times: "The Audience Was Cordial And Offered Polite Applause, Nothing More." "Obama's speech was a step toward putting some more substance on his energy and economic policies. Considering the crowd, he didn't draw cheers or bring anyone to their feet as his stump speeches often do. The audience was cordial and offered polite applause, nothing more." [Chicago Sun Times, 5/8/07]

Detroit Political Consultant: Obama's Speech In Detroit "Didn't Get A Great Reception." Eric Foster, a political consultant with the Detroit-based Urban Consulting Group, said, "It may have been uncomfortable for some people to hear that speech and Obama didn't get a great reception…But it took a lot of guts for him to say it." [Detroit Free Press, 5/8/07]