By What does President Barack Obama have against Korea as he has once again in his speech to a joint session of Congress decided to point out :
“new plug-in hybrids roll off our assembly lines, but they will run on batteries made in Korea.” [CNN]
He has consistently bashed Korean automakers and now is taking on Korea’s battery industry that has signed contracts to provide batteries for the Chevy Volt.
Setting aside the fact that President Obama warned against protectionism during his recent visit to Canada, which is he is now once again advocating for; how come he didn’t bash the French who are producing the batteries for Ford’s new plug-in hybrids? Why did he instead decide to point out Korea? Could it be because Korea is an easy target to go after then the French who are sure to respond?
7:45 am on February 25th, 2009 1
Be glad he has not yet asked Americans to google American beef, South Korea. Guess he was one of the few who actually paid attention to the 6 year build up of anti-Americanism that culminated into a frenzy last year.
7:58 am on February 25th, 2009 2
First of all, "bash" is a little too strong. His point was clear and it wasn't bashing. Seconly, I think his battery comment was more of an "America can do it, too" type thing. Don't be so sensitive. I'd say it's a bit early to worked up about this.
9:45 am on February 25th, 2009 3
Where's the controversy? I don't see what the controversy is. I think the GI is trying to make trouble and stir something up where there isn't anything there. It's just his wishful thinking that Obama slap on economic sanctions and boycotts against Korea.
12:03 pm on February 25th, 2009 4
There is an upside to this, which is that he'll have a harder time destroying the KORUS FTA, as he's implicitly allowing the trade. Maybe he'll even notice that Detroit's objections to the treaty also contradict the energy-efficiency theme.
12:34 pm on February 25th, 2009 5
He did not bash Korean battery-makers. He simply mentioned it to make the point that our country is taking steps to have a more effective energy policy, but is still falling behind other countries in that regard. Taken in context, it is plain to see he was trying to show the irony that we are producing electric hybrids, but don't have the infrastructure in place to provide all that they need..in this case, the batteries that are made in Korea. As was mentioned earlier, it was more of a "call to action" by American manufactures to get the job done.
1:16 pm on February 25th, 2009 6
Korea loves to whine .. It's always seems to be their perceived lack of respect for their importance. Why don't they do something about the disparity amongst their own people. I see lots of people around that aren't benefiting from the Korean miracle. They like to project that sophisticated image, but in reality, I think 16 people control most of the wealth. Things are going to get bad here. Look at all the ads on TV promoting 49% loans, with smiling, happy girls and that really stupid one with the radish getting a loan for soju & partying. Do you really need to keep up with the Kim's at 49% or higher ?
There is a large reality check coming.
2:18 pm on February 25th, 2009 7
France doesn't demand trade with the US like south korea. I haven't even looked up the trade deficit between the USA and France, but I would bet it isn't nearly that as between the USA and south korea.
2:23 pm on February 25th, 2009 8
President Obama on the campaign trail repeatedly went after Korean auto manufacturers and I think it is no coincidence he went after them again instead of the French as I have shown.
The reason he brought up the battery issue is because he is about to give $1.8 billion to a company to build hybrid batteries:
The owner of the company David Vieau who is a Barack Obama supporter lost the initial contract to build the batteries to LG Chem just this January:
So the American company that the government is prepared to give $1.8 billion to will not be making 100% American made batteries anyway.
Additionally if you read the rest of the article you can see that LG Chem plans on opening a plant in Michigan to assemble the batteries creating American jobs. This is much like the Korean auto manufacturers with their plants in the American South putting people to work.
This is called a global economy and people need to get used to it and make better products to compete in the global marketplace.
2:44 pm on February 25th, 2009 9
I don't think Korea has figured out that a Global Economy works in both directions. You know full well, that Korea does not allow imports in if they can keep them out. They impose harsh duties, even on products they don't make. Look at the duties on fresh veggies/fruits. It's all about not letting it in.
And when I hear that Korea's car emission standards are stricter than the USA, all I have to do is look out the window, and see just how tough they really are. A bunch of old heaps, bongoes, and such, that look like they are connected to a smoke stack. Korea green – ya right
7:18 pm on February 25th, 2009 10
Have you ever compared the price of Korean garlic and Chinese garlic at a Korean grocery store??
Chinese garlic is less than half the price.
Actually, there are many fruits and vegetables that are cheaper if you buy the Chinese product. Even though the price of a Korean veggie or fruit costs a lot more, they are still able to sell them because many Koreans are convinced that Korean fruits "are sweeter" and Korean garlic doesn't "taste as bitter" etc., etc.
11:22 pm on February 25th, 2009 11
Guitard- bing cherries, oranges, and apples, but then again the almighty rice
3:02 am on February 26th, 2009 12
"Actually, there are many fruits and vegetables that are cheaper if you buy the Chinese product. Even though the price of a Korean veggie or fruit costs a lot more, they are still able to sell them because many Koreans are convinced that Korean fruits “are sweeter” and Korean garlic doesn’t “taste as bitter”"
No, we just don't want to get poisoned by toxic fake vegetables from China which are half the price. That's all..
Anything wrong with trying to preserve your health and life?
3:06 am on February 26th, 2009 13
"I don’t think Korea has figured out that a Global Economy works in both directions"
Sorry, but Korea isn't the country that's sinking in debt because they spent on too much consumer goods from other countries and not make nearly as much to pay for them.
And you want Korea to follow the US to the ruins?? Sorry no can do.
3:32 am on February 26th, 2009 14
Korea is about to go in debt there draft dodger TOM. It will happen, it's about to happen. Korea is weaker than you can even comprehend.
I hope Koreans are going to get what they want-less of America-and that's what it should get.
Koreans like TOM don't want anything American in their country, then I hope Obama gives it to them. Koreans are the worst of America's allies.
America doesn't need you Korea. Korea has been riding on the US wave too long. Koreans hate the US and it's time to say goodbye and leave them to their own devices.
3:36 am on February 26th, 2009 15
KOREA is the country that has to accept that it's a globalized world, not America. America has it's problems too, but I don't see 70% of foreign companies planning to leave or have already left the US like they have in Korea.
Lonestar anyone?
9:36 am on February 26th, 2009 16
This site is drifting towards irrelevancy again.
10:15 am on February 26th, 2009 17
Just wait for the bubble to burst on the housing market. The value of all these 2-3 million dollar apartments – are going to drop like dead flies. Korea's economic crisis is coming – probably sooner rather than later.
2:32 pm on February 26th, 2009 18
You are wrong. Korea has been implementing control measures to control the bubble since the IMF incident, so this is not an imminent problem for now.
6:07 pm on February 26th, 2009 19
Really?
If there are control measures in place, why are exchange rates again approaching IMF levels?
11:14 pm on February 26th, 2009 20
The common man was becoming too wealthy so the rich made up the global economic crisis so they could buy the common man's stock for a low price, reduce worker benefits, take their property, cut wages, and then use tax money to pay the bankers – result higher taxes for the next 30 years that the poor man and their children must pay.
10:23 am on February 27th, 2009 21
Maybe Tom is a member of the operational department of the North Korean Workers Party.
11:11 am on February 27th, 2009 22
Here is a good explanation on what is going on with the exchange rates:
http://rokdrop.com/forums/topic.php?id=42