Hotline After Dark -- Wheelin' and Dealin'

"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with Pres. Obama's auto industry plan and featured interviews with GM CEO Fritz Henderson.

Much of last night's TV focused on Obama's auto industry plan and the firing of GM CEO Rick Wagoner.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI): "You would have to call this tough love. ... I believe that this president and the auto task force are committed to a stronger, viable auto industry. ... And I also very much believe he's committed to working with us in communities where plants have been closed, where there's a lot of work that needs to be done to create new jobs in those communities. I think he's going to do that" ("1600," MSNBC, 3/30).

MI Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D), on whether the WH consulted with her ahead of firing Wagoner: "No, they didn't consult with me about Rick Wagoner. I've been talking with them and beating the halls of the Treasury and burning up the phone lines about making sure that whatever is done, that there is a response for communities and families and people. And that's what I was pleased to hear, that the president looked us in the eye and said, I will fight for you" ("Situation Room," CNN, 3/30).

Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), on the Obama admin.: "They got rolling late. The plans were submitted on February the 17th, and they were dead on arrival. They were not aggressive. And they've waited around. There were no real negotiations taking place. ... So they fired Rick Wagoner this weekend to make it look as if they were taking action. And then in the process, they've taken over the company. So yes, I think that very much is a power grab" ("On the Record," FNC, 3/30).

More after the jump.

(KATHERINE LEHR)

Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), asked if there's a double standard between the automakers and the bailed-out banks: "I think so. I think we in Michigan have seen it. We've never begrudged going through the process to show that we were viable in the first place with the bridge loans. That's what had to be done. But we've also seen how other institutions that have received 10 times the amount have not had to do so, and we've also seen the treatment of Mr. Wagoner versus how the Wall Street financial institution CEOs were treated and pledged the cooperation of the administration" ("1600," MSNBC, 3/30).

Dick Morris: "Colin Powell said when we invaded Iraq and toppled Saddam Hussein, if you break it, you own it. And we own Iraq. Well, he's now broken GM, and he now owns it. And if General Motors continues to crash, which I think it will, and it runs through this money, which I think it will, who is going to be responsible for laying off 100,000 auto workers? President Barack Obama" ("Hannity," FNC, 3/30).

WH Council of Economic Advisers' Austan Goolsbee, asked if there's a double standard between the automakers and the bailed-out banks: "I don't think that's an accurate description. ... They're facing different challenges. The president acknowledged that today. Then if you compare them to banks, they're in totally different lines of business."

Goolsbee, asked if there are a lot of financial institutions that have not had any change in management: "Yes. The question I thought is, in what ways are they similar or different? The similarities of GM that they need to have a change of leadership because they've got to do something fundamentally different, make themselves viable, is similar in that sense to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac or AIG or any of the other companies, where they said, look, you've got to have a fundamental restructuring, and it takes new management" ("1600," MSNBC, 3/30).

Goolsbee, asked how Henderson signals a big change: "He has experience in the auto industry, but he's clearly embodying a different approach. And what we're going to see coming out of the next 60 days is, they've got to get to being viable enterprises. And to do that, there needs to be fundamental restructuring" ("NewsHour," PBS, 3/30).

Detroit News' Finley: "The issue ... really isn't whether Rick Wagoner deserved to go or didn't deserve to go. General Motors is still a private company. ... This is an extraordinary reach by the president in to a private company to remove the head of the organization. And it stands in stark contrast to the way he's treated the banks. The banks have received 35, 40 times more money than these auto companies have asked for. And they have gotten it with no questions asked, no rules" ("No Bias, No Bull," CNN, 3/30).

ABC's Klein, on the $20M Wagoner is supposed to receive: "It sounds like it's hush money, in a way, with the way that it gets broken down. But I think he's entitled to this money on pen and paper, the same way the contracts with AIG entitled those executives to the money. We'll see, when public opinion comes to bear, whether it ends up happening or not" ("On the Record," FNC, 3/30).

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Meanwhile, newly-named GM CEO Fritz Henderson made the TV rounds.

Henderson, asked if 60 days is enough time for GM: "We've done a lot already. So it's not as if we need to recreate a plan from Day One. I think the clear findings of the task force was we need to move faster. ... We're going to do what it takes to get this job done. And a 60-day period is what they outline for doing this out of court. And if we're not successful doing it out of court, we will do it in court" ("Evening News," CBS, 3/30).

More Henderson: "We will do what it takes, and I think what the government was saying is that we will help this company do whatever is required in order for us to emerge from the situation and be successful in the future" ("Nightly News," NBC, 3/30).

Henderson, asked if it was appropriate for the gov't to ask Wagoner to leave: "I personally worked for Rick for my entire career, 25 years, a mentor and a friend, had been my boss. Tough day for all of us. But, candidly, the government said they felt the changes were required of the leadership. They outlined those. And Rick being the person that he is said this is much more about General Motors than it is about Rick Wagoner, and he stepped aside."

Henderson, asked how long he thinks he will last: "Well, my job is to work with the men and women of General Motors to get this job done, take care of customers, make sure that we justify what the taxpayers are investing in our company, and ... do whatever it takes to make sure General Motors can be successful. Then somebody else is going to worry about that" ("Evening News," CBS, 3/30).