We Listen!

Monday’s American Morning audience awakened to the bankruptcy of General Motors. While the event was not unforeseen, many remained confused about the bankruptcy in conjunction with the government bailout and presented questions on numerous topics related to the filing.

• Joe: The U.S. Government already bailed out GM. The Hummer was designed for the military, it was the new 50K+ Jeep. The Government already supported GM by buying Hummers, Suburbans and Blazers at inflated prices, with billions of tax payer dollars. How many Government owned Hummers and other GM vehicles (running and in scrap yards) do we the people have in countries all over the world? No really, what is the price of this GM bailout?
• Andrew: I think that GM needs to cut down their prices on cars and trucks not a lot of people are buying new cars and trucks people are buying used cars and trucks now because new cars and trucks are too high
• 5XXXXXXX1: The auto execs had an opportunity to change their business practice years ago and didn't; they were getting their outrageous salaries.

How do you feel about the General Motors’ bankruptcy? How will it affect you? What is your opinion about GM’s future? What questions do you have about the bankruptcy?

The GM bondholder/school teacher was very heavily criticized for her naïveté and her seemingly alternative agenda against President and Mrs. Obama.

• Angus C: I am disgusted that you would bring that ditzy teacher on this morning whose only agenda was to try to bash Obama. I don't believe she was genuinely upset about the bonds. I expect this kind of nonsense from Fox News, not CNN. The very last comment about Michelle Obama was telling of her real position. If the government did not intervene with GM her bonds would be worth zero.
• L.T.: GM bondholder crying about not having a say, is wrong. When she and America voted G. Bush pres. she and they BANKRUPTED the U.S. and GM. creating the failures from surpluses to deficits and gave TAX breaks for Hummers.
• Bob: Today, Monday, on breaking news, a women was interviewed that invested $70,000 in GM six years ago. She was complaining about losing some of her money in the GM reorganization. Your reporter should have taken a few minutes to ask her if she understood that stocks and bonds all have a risk and that is the reason they generally provide more return than CDs or the money market. Please don't have that air brain on again – I am happy that she isn't teaching my grandchildren.
• Gwen: This is the first time I've ever written in but felt I should do so. First, this is regarding the so-called teacher who was on TV at approx. 5:30am Central time. She was upset about losing most of the $70,000 in GM investment and I understand her frustration. Many people have lost money during these economic problems. This lady readily wanted to blame the President for her lost, but no one explains that the President is working as hard as he can for the country with what he was handed when coming into office. If GM had not received the stimulus money, the GM retired workers would not have continued to receive their retirement, pension, and other benefits. I feel this needs to be explained to the American people, since there are so many criticizing the president every move he makes. Secondly, I was very upset with the comment she made regarding Michelle Obama's comment during the campaign about being proud of being an American only after her husband was campaigning for the presidency. She made a comment about how would Michelle feel if she was her children's teacher. This woman was out of order; these kids should never be mentioned in any political manner. This lets us know what type of teacher she really is. It appeared to be an attack on these sweet little Obama girls. She needs to come back on TV and explain her comment. I want to know what she was meaning.
• Rod: Where did you get that Gm bondholder you interviewed this morning from? And what may I ask was your purpose in talking with her? Mr. Obama just did a humane act. He pulled the plug on a life support patient that was never going to make it. Where has this bondholder been for the past decade? And she teaches our children? Now that in and of itself is a very scary thought.

What did you think of the interview with the schoolteacher/bondholder? Was she right to blame the government for the failure of GM?

The Lansing, MI, mayor was also lambasted by viewers, who felt GM only had itself to blame for its demise.

• Tony: The mayor you just had on talks alot of smack. If he was educated at all about GM he would know that free trade is not the issue. It's GM and the rest of the American car makers, wasting billions of federal money to develope altnative fuel solutions, trying to develope hydrogen fuel cells while killing the solution of today THE ELECTRIC CAR which they had developed. Instead of putting their dollar behind the electric car the presude the HUMMER.They had the technology and threw it away. You can't blame the foreign car makers for taking the technology and running with it and chipping away at their market share. Greed is why they killed the ground breaking alternative because GM would loose all the extra revenew from replacing oil filters, cumbustion part, etc. If you and your viewers want to really know why GM and Chrysler are in this situation watch the documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car" and really get the facts
• Willis: If I had to be around this guy for more than five minutes I would be assaulting him. You can place him in the category as that of the Mayor of San Francisco – "whether you like it or not". This person should be making info-commercials on TV, WORKING FOR OXI-CLEAN and having their name on his shirt. He will submerge still not getting the idea that you can't pay out more than you make
• Joey: When I heard Mayor Bernero saying the American people did not support GM, I had to write. GM truly for years has supported the building of huge vehicles, and that is why they are where they are at. GM has terrible customer service in dealerships and has just within the past few years begun to build fuel efficient and smaller cars. These manufactures have got to stop crying over what people did and look more at what they did.
• Sheldon: I just watched the mayor of Lansing. Talk about pointing fingers everywhere except inwards. The playing field is fairly level. He raises health care provided elsewhere but not in US as an example. Perhaps he would like to come to Canada and pay our tax rate. Our health care doesn't come without a price. He is a poor example of someone that should be representing that city.
• PG Mom: Just wanted to say I'm a hugh fan of Lansing's mayor Verge Banero. He speaks the truth about what has plunged and keeps America in the horrible place it is in presently. I hope he aspires to higher political office. He would have my vote. There's a true american. I own a Chrysler, and when a problem arose and I called Customer Service, I realized it was located in another country. They want americans and american money to purchase cars, but where will the money come from if they outsource customer service and other jobs to foreign countries. The Banks and Credit card Companies are also on this band wagon. Lately, if I have to speak with any customer service reps and they are not located here in the USA. I let the representative know that I did not do business outside the US and I would like to have an american call me if there is a problem... then I just hang up. By the way.. a family friend in Italy tells us that Fiat has not paid any of their suppliers in about 6 months, how can they purchase Chrysler when they are not paying folks in Europe. I thought CNN would have had some news about this but nothing so far. Please let the american public know more about Fiat and its credibility on the European market.

Is the Lansing, MI mayor right in his beliefs that GM’s failure is a result of “free trade?” How do you feel about the American auto industry in general? Do you believe the industry has the ability to resurrect itself in light of its past mistakes?