Monster Limo!
Sounds like it could be a heck of an arena event. But it’s also a policy issue for Climate Czar-in-waiting Al Gore to sink his teeth into. “Cadillac One.” Obama’s, now being built … more “monstrous” than Bush’s. Boston Herald:
President-elect Obama has stressed the need for energy independence - but he’ll be chauffeured around in a gas-guzzling Cadillac SUV limo that could pose a symbolism problem similar to the car controversy that dogged his friend and ally, Gov. Deval Patrick.
Obama’s presidential ride, dubbed “Cadillac One,” will reportedly be a mammoth, custom-made Cadillac limo built like a GMC truck that sits on 19 -inch wheels. The vehicle will also have 5-inch-thick bulletproof windows, cell phone-jamming gear and blast-proof armor.
Presidents have been riding in Cadillacs - and some in Lincolns - for decades, going all the way back to Woodrow Wilson in the early part of the 20th century. But Obama’s vehicle will reportedly be a much beefier version than President Bush’s Cadillac DeVille stretch.
U.S. News and World Report reported that the vehicle shares “the same chassis and tires” as a GMC 2500 series truck, “indicating that it is far heavier than a civilian Cadillac.”
Obama frequently spoke during the campaign of the need to slash reliance on foreign oil and pledged to put 1 million hybrid vehicles on America’s roads by 2015. He personally drives a Ford Escape Hybrid.
But a standard Cadillac DTS limo, which is a low-level version of Cadillac One, gets just 12 miles per gallon in the city and 18 on the highway and costs $47,000.
Several political and automotive blogs have pointed out the vehicle’s fuel inefficiency, including U.S. News and World Report, which called it “the most monstrous Presidential limousine yet.”
“Fuel-efficiency clearly isn’t on the mind of its designers,” the publication wrote on its “Rankings and Reviews” Web site.
But Boston College political science professor Kay Schlozman said security concerns are likely behind the vehicle’s design.
“I don’t know if the president can get away with driving a hybrid vehicle like a Prius,” Schlozman said.
Maybe not, but the younger Gore might be able to speak to the Prius’s capabilities as a getaway vehicle. Meanwhile, the elder Gore might have some helpful suggestions in how to green up monstrous conveyances.
On second thought, Gore’s noblesse oblige climate change philosophy (emphasis on the “no” and the “lesse oblige”) may not work if the Obama administration is actually interested in setting examples. May want to put the new car czar on it.
Topics: Obama, cars, warmalism
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 1:37 pm on Wednesday, November 12, 2008
One Response to “Monster Limo!”
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November 12th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
In this day and age, I can see the need for security, so I can’t really quibble with Cadillac One. However, let’s please also dispense with the faux concern over the environment and the double standards re the big people vs the little people.