President Obama raises the ire of US boating industry
by Jeni Bone on 6 Feb 2010
What better place is there than on the water to enjoy time off work and bonding with family? MIAA
Blame it on a throwaway phrase or naive speech writers, but a recent speech by President Barack Obama has incensed the US boating industry, implying that in tough times, buying a boat is a rash and irresponsible decision, like throwing money away at gambling!
'When times are tough, you tighten your belts. You don't go buying a boat when you can barely pay your mortgage,' the president said in the speech announcing his Small Business Lending Initiative in New Hampshire.
'You don't blow a bunch of cash on Vegas when you're trying to save for college. You prioritise. You make tough choices. And it's time your government did the same.'
President Obama has already apologised to a Nevada politician about his Vegas comment and now the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the US recreational boating industry's largest trade group, has written him a letter asking him to 'clarify' his remarks about boat buying.
In it, the NMMA says, 'By associating buying a boat with irresponsible spending, you send a very negative and unfortunate signal to boatbuilding workers, marine dealers, marina owners, marine suppliers and the thousands of marine industry employees in the United States.
'We cannot over emphasize how important it is to fuel American middle class recovery and growth with confidence and through responsible spending, rather than calling out an industry that is trying to work alongside your administration to support job growth and US manufacturing.'
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