If we learned one thing from last week's meeting of the well-heeled and the well-jowled, it would that it's not always easy to tell the two apart. If we learned anything else, it would be that CEOs of Ford, Chrysler and General Motors love their private jets --possibly more than they love their businesses.
"It would be insane if this country stopped designing and building automobiles and trucks," said Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA). "It would also be insane if the top executives from the three automakers came here on private jets. I'm going to ask the three executives here to raise their hand if they flew here commercial. Let the record show no hands went up. Second, I'm going to ask you to raise your hand if you're planning to sell your jet in place now and fly back commercial. Let the record show no hands went up. I don't know how I go back to my constituents and say the auto industry has changed if they own private jets which are not only expensive to own but expensive to operate and expensive to fly here rather than to have flown commercial."
"There is a delicious irony in seeing private luxury jets flying into Washington, D.C., and people coming off of them with tin cups in their hand, saying that they're going to be trimming down and streamlining their businesses," Rep. Gary Ackerman, (D-NY) told the CEOs.
"It's almost like seeing a guy show up at the soup kitchen in high hat and tuxedo. It kind of makes you a little bit suspicious...couldn't you all have downgraded to first class or jet-pooled or something to get here? It would have at least sent a message that you do get it."
Watch full video of CEO testimony before the House here and the Senate here.
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