Critics Claim That Allowing A Toyota Truck To Haul The Shuttle Into Retirement Is Offensive

"Barack Obama acts as if he single handedly built the U.S. domestic auto industry, meanwhile, a symbol of American greatness will be towed to its final resting place by a foreign competitor, forever cementing the image of a Toyota truck towing a retired space shuttle," said Matt Frendewey, director of communications for the Michigan Republican Party on Monday.

"The symbolism of this PR stunt should be offensive to every red-blooded American with vested interest in the success of the U.S. automotive industry."

chewy - 9/18/2012 2:27:15 PM

+12 Boost

Isn't the Tundra practically all american made in Texas?

vdiv - 9/18/2012 3:31:58 PM

+5 Boost

One indeed could argue that a Tundra made in Texas or Indiana is as American as a Silverado made in Mexico or Ontario.

It would be much more impressive if they got a few of the astronauts who flew on Endeavour to tow her a couple of miles, after she has carried them a couple of hundred million miles around the Earth.

CarCrazedinCali - 9/18/2012 2:56:25 PM

-4 Boost

I don't care where it is made, it is a Japanese owned company that is getting the spot light with NASA and that just seems odd...

chewy - 9/18/2012 3:11:09 PM

+5 Boost

I think they have some sort of partnership with the space museum, or at least someone said that. The US isn't a country that decided which pickup leads a PR stunt.

Agent009 - 9/18/2012 3:11:51 PM

-1 Boost

I still don't understand this one. The shuttle represents the pinnacle of American technology and we are letting a product of a foreign company have the honor of towing it to retirement? Just doesn't seem right.

800over - 9/19/2012 12:00:21 PM

+3 Boost

009 if you think the Shuttle existed without some Japanese tech you are losing your mind.

vdiv - 9/18/2012 3:11:18 PM

+5 Boost

Dunno, where is the outrage for the nearly 400 trees being cut down to get Endeavour through?

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0918-shuttle-trees-20120918,0,6631776.story

Who cares what is towing it? NASA/JAXA, we are all on the same team.

Agent009 - 9/18/2012 4:16:19 PM

-1 Boost

Yep the Greenies don't like that one either.

wcbrown - 9/18/2012 4:46:48 PM

-3 Boost

And THE CRITICS ARE RIGHT!!!!! NO TOYOTA should be towing the shuttle anywhere for any reason! GM, Ford, Dodge...that's it.

85bmw745i - 9/20/2012 10:22:43 PM

+1 Boost

Before the "Italians" were building them in Mexico, they were still being made there by Chrysler. In fact they made a Ram Charger 2 door full size SUV version of the first Ram with the big rig styling from the late 90's. Ive seen them in San Antonio. They also made 4 door Jeep Wranglers long before they offered them here.

Designer1 - 9/18/2012 6:14:36 PM

+3 Boost

I agree with the critics, but to to lighten the air, is it possible that none of the big 3 trucks were able to tow the shuttle that's why they had to go with the Tundra? lol

F1_Driver - 9/18/2012 7:01:14 PM

+5 Boost

Is it possible that all of the big 3 trucks broke down and so the next best option was to let a Tundra tow the shuttle?

Steve - 9/18/2012 8:30:27 PM

+6 Boost

Personally, I was offended when (American) NASA executives gave the order to launch a shuttle against engineers' recommendations to hold, and it blew up during take-off.

I guess different people are offended by different things.

MorePower - 9/18/2012 11:04:23 PM

+4 Boost

If Toyota is also paying for the opportunity to tow the shuttle into its final resting place and saving my taxpayer dollars to be mismanaged by my local government, then so be it!

MorePower - 9/18/2012 11:06:14 PM

+1 Boost

While I appreciate the vehicle and all of astronauts that have had the privilege of serving on her, none of the shuttles have ever been the pinnacle of American design or ingenuity. I'm sure there are some truly amazing vehicles stashed away at some of America's finest undisclosed military facilities.

theman440 - 9/19/2012 12:02:06 AM

-1 Boost

IMO - It doesn't matter where the truck was made, pure and simple - the icon of the AMERICAN Space Program should be towed by an AMERICAN Truck.

wins555 - 9/19/2012 12:27:58 AM

+1 Boost

IMO, its up to NASA, who is in charge of the shuttle, to give it to whoever will get the job done efficiently, instead of endlessly discussing who, what, when, where, how and why like a bunch of politicians.

Tritonx - 9/19/2012 5:36:14 AM

+3 Boost

Actually, the decision to use Toyota rested with the California Science Center (CSC), which is taking possession of the shuttle. Seems bizarre to criticize the Obama administration for a decision taken by CSC, a non-profit in need of support, and only got it from a foreign brand.

Fijian - 9/19/2012 4:18:05 PM

0 Boost

Since Toyota only makes half tons and there is no Diesel option it will be funny if it cannot tow it. For example a 1 Ton Dually Diesel Chevy Silverado can tow over 20,000 lbs. Isnt that at least double what the Toyota can do.

85bmw745i - 9/20/2012 10:26:22 PM

+1 Boost

Yeah, and its also double of what any other half ton can tow, American or foreign. It does make sense that it should have been an American (I'd say Dodge for the Cummins) towing our space shuttle to its resting place though.

HughJass - 9/19/2012 8:00:34 PM

+1 Boost

Where's the outrage that certain Asian countries are raping us but we're more concerned with what 1 truck does.

Americans deserve to be unemployed.