TOLEDO -- President Barack Obama made his first visit to Toledo since he was campaigning for the presidency in 2008. Obama spent about an hour at the North Toledo Chrysler plant taking a tour of the facility and speaking to a crowd of workers. The President reiterated his view that taxpayer loans to Chrysler was a prudent decision. "Today I'm proud to announce the government has been completely repaid for the investments we made under my watch by Chrysler because of you," Mr. Obama said. James Fayson, a 14 year veteran of the plant, says meeting the president is a moment he will always remember. "Monumental, this is the experience of a lifetime, that I will never forget," Mr. Fayson said.
The President and his entourage arrived at Toledo Express at 11:30 a.m. and were greeted by Toledo mayor Mike Bell. The President spoke briefly to people gathered at the tarmac and signed a few autographs. During his 4 hour visit to Toledo the President had lunch at Rudy's Hot Dogs with Senator Sherrod Brown and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur.
Mr. Obama reminded the workers that the economy was still climbing out of recession and that a lot of work still needed to be done, but he promised his eager audience that as he long as he was in the Oval Office he would be on their side. "So as long as I have the privilege of being the President of the United States, I'm going to keep fighting alongside you for a future that is brighter for this community, for Toledo, for Ohio and for America; thank you, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America," Mr. Obama said.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWNWO