That media with a slight bend to the right in the US is making much political hay out of the revelation that President Obama is currently touring around the American countryside selling the merits of a made in the USA campaign, all the while cruising the highways in a foreboding looking motor coach, that er, uh, ahem, is Made in CANADA.
The apparent new standard for political coach luxury hails from the Prevost bus factory in Quebec.
The coach, which was ordered by the Secret Service in order to provide better protection for the President (and as it will turn out the Republican nominee after convention day). It features the latest in security technology and offers up much the same kind of capabilities for the President and the Secret Service that Air Force One has, though we imagine miles to the gallon might be an issue that Al Gore might have a problem with.
At any rate, for the moment, the fact the President is travelling the highways and apparently on occasion tying up traffic for the little people has the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck all up in arms. Collectively, bemoaning the fact that the President is travelling in the style or rock or country stars and of course, the fact that the bus was made north of the border, the apparent byproduct of the long running free trade agreement between Canada and the USA.
Seems in the growing protectionist era of American politics these days, the prospect of the President ensconced in a bus not made in America is going to make for poor optics.
Indicative of that mood is this little gem from something called Autoguide.com, which features the rather harsh headline of "President Obama Hates America: Travels the Country on a Canadian Bus", really, that's where the debate is going to go?
As though to reinforce their point, the article mentions three rock bands that also use the style of bus, Rush, Nickleback and Loverboy, for those Americans not up on their cancan these days, all of which would be Canadian. Clearly, Geddy Lee, Mike Reno and Chad Kroeger are all part of the overall bus conspiracy thing.
Though at least the Auotguide story does advise the America First congregation, that the upgrades as per Secret Service specs, took place at a Tennessee plant.
One thing though America, it seems that Republicans and those in the media that seem to take their side on the issues have short memories, as the Chicago Tribune reports, President Bush also used a Prevost bus, and not much seemed to be made about that back then.
Regardless of the kerfuffle, the Secret Service which have wanted to purchase such a vehicle for a number of years now, is adamant that it's the best vehicle available for protection of the President, so who's to argue, right?
Not to mention, as we outlined before, the Republicans will have their own shiny black bus to ride around whenever they nominate their next candidate for the Presidency.
As Paul Simon might say, just get on the bus Gus, don't need to discuss much!
It will be interesting to see if the fellow travellers of Limbaugh and Beck make as big a stink about that bus, or will Republicans decide to forgo the Secret Service transportation, leaving a nice shiny black bus up on the market, ready to go to a good home outside of the American 50 states!
Should things not turn out as the Secret Service might like, we should point out that Prevost has a Pre Owned Coach section on their website, just in case...
Globe and Mail-- Obama's $1.1 million 'made-in-Canada' tour bus draws fire
Toronto Sun-- Obama's bus is made in Canada: Reports
New York Post-- Canucklehead Obama busted!
AFP-- Obama debuts monster campaign bus
Photo appears from New York Post website.
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