Romney would disappoint dad
11/4/2012The year 1997 was challenging for Toledo. Bob Eaton, chairman of Chrysler Corp., had announced that the old Jeep plant on North Cove Boulevard no longer served Chrysler’s needs. He said Chrysler would build a new plant wherever it made the most sense — perhaps not in Toledo.
Gov. George Voinovich, the United Auto Workers, and I worked to find 300 acres adjacent to the interstate highway system, Chrysler’s criteria for its new site. We found in North Toledo what Chrysler was looking for.
Today, Chrysler has invested more than $3.8 billion at its North Toledo campus. There are 2,600 men and women working there, with 1,200 to be added in 2013-14.
Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney recently stated that Chrysler is moving Jeep production from Toledo to China. Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne responded: “I feel obliged to unambiguously restate our position: Jeep production will not be moved from the United States to China. It is inaccurate to state anything else.”
I knew Mr. Romney’s father. George Romney was a champion of the American automobile industry. The GOP presidential nominee is a shadow of the courageous man his father was.
The son has spoken mistruths repeatedly in this presidential campaign. His most recent lie was meant to put fear into the hearts and minds of hard-working Toledoans.
Mr. Romney’s father would not be proud of him.
CARTY FINKBEINER
Townley Road
Editor’s note: The writer is a former three-term mayor of Toledo.
Blade backs wrong nominee
I was disappointed to read your endorsement of President Obama for a second term (“Re-elect the President,” Oct. 28). The editorial makes the false claim that President Obama's leadership and policies have “served the nation well.”
We need a new direction, and the person to lead us is Mitt Romney.
After four years of stagnation and broken promises, he is the kind of change we need.
MARY JO WEISENBURGER
Deepwood Lane