GM Shutters Michigan Plant, Further Eroding McCain-Palin Support

In a smoke-filled bowling alley in Wyoming, Michigan, Laura Burns unofficially acts as the Wednesday women's league spokesperson: "I'm leaning toward McCain," she says. "But I'm leaning toward the old McCain."

In the wake of news that General Motors will shutdown its metal stamping plant here and leave close to 1,500 workers unemployed, Burns' comment is especially revealing: voters in traditionally Republican Wyoming continue to favor McCain, if not enthusiastically.

The plant closing dropped like a bomb last week, and as Karen Pennock of Wyoming says, there's still plenty of time for the dire economy to influence the polls. "I think it's gonna affect a lot," she said. Pennock, a Democrat, had previously supported McCain, especially after the Palin pick.

"I was all for Sarah Palin because she's got everything I think that people can relate to," Pennock said, "but John McCain hasn't really put anything forward." Meanwhile, she says, "We're losing the middle class."

Although the majority the women I spoke with are supporting McCain, their reluctance and -- above all -- dissatisfaction is unmistakable.

"People are angry and they want a change," said Burns. "Overall, I just think people are angry."

The anger in the room was palpable, and directed at both parties.

"Not one person can get you in this much trouble," said one woman, who asked not to be named. "This took a whole mess of people."

I asked her bowling team what they thought of Sarah Palin. The response was mostly enthusiastic, but one of the woman's face had ballooned, her lips tightly pursed, eyes wide, as if holding an explosive secret.

"No comment?" I asked.

"No comment," she said, exhaling sharply. She shook her head and laughed, but it was obvious she had more to say.

"Really, no comment?" I asked. "Really?"

She threw a hand down on the table. "I think she'd make a good friend," she said, nodding sarcastically. The table erupted in laughter. "She could come bowling with us."

"Throw one back," exclaimed another.

Not everyone was laughing, though.

"I don't think you want to hear what I have to say," another woman told me. She didn't respond well to a second try.

"No," she said forcefully, "I mean it."

Comments

[sandals]

I live here in Michigan and I can tell you it is people like that woman at the GM plant that are voting against their own interest, it is unbelievable and why wasn't she asked what have the Republicans done for her and why would she continue to vote against her best interest!
Does she not get that it has been the policy of the Republicans to dismantle the unions, give everything to the corporations on the belief of trickle down economics, well I would like to as her how that has worked out for her?

[Jules1]

They need to have their leashes on and be led to Obama's website and then to McCains, they would vote Obama then, sad the one womean had it right about Palin, but as so may afraid to speak her mind or vote what is right for her future.

[hecate31]

Now why in the world would I want someone to run the country who is just like me?

The person in charge of the US needs to be smarter than me--a lot smarter than me! How many people voted for George Bush thinking he was a good guy? Who wanted to have a beer with him? I recall many people voting on the grounds of his personality rather than his smarts! What a mistake that was.

George Bush doesn't know what it is like to make the paycheck last to the end of the month. Yes, I know this isn't about Bush, but I would hate to see anything "Good Guy" get into office because someone wants to have a beer with them. I am frightened for this country!

[lagumbo]

This what happens to people who keeps voting against their own welfare. They are fooled into beleiving they will be taken care of, time and time again., and they keep getting their head bashed.
I quess it takes some people a longer time to realized things. They have all been brainwashed.

[Gotcha54]

Yeah but many lived before them that worked at these iconic company's that provided for their retiree's who were then able to retire with their dignity. That equation changed when many already had years in and there had been no "history" to think the company's would not fulfill their end. Then it spead like an epidemic and now very few company's can be counted on to fulfill anything they may have promised when hired.

[alwaysme]

I have people all the time say that they are voting for McCain because they always vote republican. In the same breathe they are complaining how they are struggling to pay bills. We need to look at the candidate that will help us and this country, not this repetitive "I always vote this way". Start looking at the facts.

[Gotcha54]

I was raised in Detroit from 1954 until 1975! I worked in the factory and lived in a middle class enviroment and look back with gladness at the experience. Working in the factories next to people of every color and ethnic group never really mattered as we seemed colorblind.

I left in 1975, entered the military, and upon my discharge settled in Arizona and rarely went back. Over the past decade have I made 3 trips back and it's sad. The gloom seems everywhere big citie's and the country side. A generation of workers who devoted their lives to an iconic company and now find their hopes dashed.

My mother is one who worked at GM for over 30 years and never called in for a sick day. She wasn't a union member she worked in administration. After retirement she moved to Arizona and every year like clockwork she'd receive a benefits pkg reducing benefits. This last pkg gave her a slight raise and told her GM would no longer be involved with her medical benefits - she was on her own - as her health was crumbling at 78 years old, the company she devoted her life to turned their back on her.

Something should be done to aid this state in their dispair. If we can bailout Wall Street and the million dollar a year people we should have something, some kind of plan for a state that had so much to do with middle class development throughout

[firewmn]

I am sorry to hear about your mother and her struggles. Too many people have simular stories. America was not to be thi way. I agree we should help the factories as I believe these factories are the backbone of America.

I hope your mother finds a way to have peace and health.

Good Luck

[Gotcha54]

Thank you so much! I only mentioned her because she was an absolutly great employee to GM and was there threw snowstorms and went to work sick. It just doesn't seem right.

[Tommygun264]

Talk about willful ignorance. You can't tell me that race has nothing to do with these people's inability to consider voting for Obama.

[jerseymaiden]

""People are angry and they want a change," said Burns. "Overall, I just think people are angry."

The anger in the room was palpable, and directed at both parties."

Pathetic bunch of losers. This is the "real America" we're supposed to worship and emulate?? They're being lowered in a coffin and still can't vote their way out of a paper bag!

[Lagniappe]

Lowered in the coffin? Hell, they first helped to dig their own damned graves by voting TIME and AGAIN against their own interest!

[Chillinout]

Just one question here. Why is a town in Michigan named after a western state?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Lagniappe]

Wanted to make sure they were considered one of the pockets of REAL America.Now they've got EMPTY pockets!

[Protoguy]

I'm sure it's somehow "Obama's fault"

[CabaretArtist]

of course...you know it will spin that way ... apparently everything that has ever happened is Barack's fault.

[justobserve]

Voting someone for President and Vice President because they are just like you and they an relate to you ? You better run for President yourself!

[feo]

These people are scary. Ronald Reagan told them he hated unions, that he thought union members should be imprisoned and they still voted for him. What was Reagan's first act of business as president? Kill a union. Wake up, working class America. These Republicans have always hated yout guts and will continue to do so.

[RRonin]

Guess Ronnie never told these people he not only once was a dues paying union member but had been PRESIDENT of his union.

[emcd]

The Rep party believes in trickle down, like raindrops falling from the sky

The Dem party believes "a rising tide lifts all boats"

Pay attention the next time you witness these natural events.

To see the Rep theory at work: Stand in the rain and see how long it takes raindrops to fill your bucket.

To see the Dem theory at work: Stand at the seashore as the tide is coming in and see how long it takes for your bucket to float higher.

Now all we need is a lot of Dem voters to bring in the tide!

[breakingnews]

Not that Michigan isnt solidly for Obama at this point, but this GM Chrysler Merger talk has evryone here REALLY REALLY on edge. They are figuring that about half of Chryslers plants could close. I cannot tell you how devastating that will be to an already devastated economy.

[BassMent]

There's been talk in a number of comment threads recently about Republicans who are openly "supporting" McCain in public, but will likely cast their vote for Obama. I think some of these people are represented here in this article.

And then there are those who, although they can't bring themselves to vote for a Democrat (especially a black Democrat), will find that they can't vote for the Republicans either. And I suspect that most of these will simply stay home due to a lack of enthusiasm for either ticket.

Eh, but what do I know!

Just remember what Barack said when his crowd was booing McCain: "Now, now, we don't need that. We need you to go out and vote!"

[LMurphy418]

I've been thinking much of the same about those R's who are secret Obama voters. With all the talk of the "Bradley Effect," we may end with a "McCain Effect" come November 4th.

[Snwbnny9]

"...if by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people -- their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties -- someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal," then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal."

JFK