Thread: Obama Labor Boss Buys Canadian-Built Car

Says purchase was to show support for American workers

To show her support for American workers, President Obama's labor secretary, Hilda Solis, has junked the standard black limo and purchased a new Chevrolet Equinox to ride around Washington in. The problem: the crossover SUV is built and assembled in Canada from parts also made in Canada.

Solis proudly arrived at a media breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor today in the shiny silver vehicle, which she has dubbed the "bullet." She was asked about why she traded the standard-issue limo for the SUV. "What better example could I set if I encouraged my staff to go and purchase and seek how we could acquire a vehicle that would for me would send a signal that we're for supporting our American workers, American-made products, fuel efficient as well," she told the Monitor's Dave Cook, who provided this video of her answer.

[Check out political cartoons about the economy.]

Solis added that she was inspired to buy the Chevy because of the pride she saw in American auto workers during trips to U.S. car and truck plants. She said that she was wowed by "the pride that they take making our automobiles here in America."

The car is made at two Canadian plants and has been so popular that General Motors has been hiring more workers in Canada to keep up with demand. [See who's in Obama's inner circle.]

A company official noted that the profits do come back to the United States.

Solis did note that the Equinox, which she's driven once, is a nice ride. "It drives well. It's a good family car. Its not too big and I think women really like it."

Update: When Whispers notified her office that her “American-madeâ€

Isn't she too short to see over the steering wheel?