President Obama toured the Toledo North Assembly Plant where he observed employees installing instrument panels and center consoles in the Jeep Wrangler. (Photo by Monica Morgan/Tell Us USA News Network)

Chrysler CEO, employees play host to President Obama at its Toledo Jeep Assembly Plant

TOLEDO, OH (Tell Us USA) - A little more than a week after Chrysler Group LLC announced that it had paid off its government loans in full more than six years early, 350 UAW-represented employees at the Toledo Assembly Complex welcomed President Obama to the home of the iconic Jeep® Wrangler.

The President was at the Chrysler Group plant Friday to thank Chrysler employees for the role they played in the revitalization of the automotive industry and the resurgence of the Company. In his comments to the workers he said, "I placed my bet on you. I put my faith in the American worker. And I’ll tell you what -- I’m going to do that every day of the week, because what you’ve done vindicates my faith."

"It meant everything to the employees for the President to come visit the Toledo North Jeep Plant", said Vice President and Director, UAW Chrysler Department General Holiefield. "They received him like a 'Rock Star'.

Obama also pointed out that all three American automakers are turning a profit, which hasn’t happened since 2004. He also cited, all three American automakers are gaining market share and that hasn’t happened since 1995. The President went on to say, "I’m proud to announce the government has been completely repaid for the investments we made under my watch by Chrysler because of the outstanding work that you guys did."

Republicans were more interested in what the president didn't say. The Republican National Committee wasted no time sending out a press release titled "Noticeable Omission" tweaking Obama for failing to address the jobs numbers after the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that employers in May added the fewest jobs in eight months - a meager 54,000 - and the unemployment rate inched up to 9.1 percent.

Upon arrival at the 1.5-million-square-foot assembly plant, the President was greeted by Sergio Marchionne, Chief Executive Officer, Chrysler Group LLC; Vice President and Director, UAW Chrysler Department General Holiefield and then toured the trim line where the front end, instrument panel and center console are installed in the Jeep Wrangler and talked with employees.

The President was introduced by Toledo Assembly Complex employee Jill Opial, 37, who has worked at the plant for 17 years. Opial thanked the President for having faith in auto workers and for giving Chrysler the opportunity to reorganize. Following his remarks, the President shook hands with employees as they departed the Chrysler Group paint shop.

After leaving the Toledo North plant President Obama stopped at Fred's Hardware near the plant. With a store clerk escorting him, he walked down an aisle of garden suppies. "We are going to get some gloves for the first lady's garden," he said. "She's got long fingers," he added before picking up two pairs of green colored gloves and taking them to the cash register.

After the hardware store stop, Mr. Obama’s motorcade headed back to Toledo Express Airport, where his plane took off back to Washington.
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