61% of Americans Object to More Chrysler, GM Aid

Washington DC March 24, 2009; The AIADA newsletter reported that more than three in five Americans oppose more government loans to General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC, according to a R.L. Polk survey released Monday that is consistent with other recent opinion research.

The Polk results came one day after President Barack Obama told CBS "60 Minutes" interviewer Steve Kroft that "the only thing less popular than putting money into banks is putting money into the auto industry."

According to the Detroit Free Press, about the same percentage of people who opposed more loans also recognized that denying them would have dire economic consequences.

Lonnie Miller, a Polk analyst, said the data reveal an attitude of "it's a problem, but it's not a problem for taxpayers." GM and Chrysler expect a March 31 decision by the president's auto task force on their latest loan requests.