Labor Honcho Proudly Buys Chevy ... Made in Canada

Hilda Solis had good intentions, but... Obama's labor secretary pulled up to a media breakfast yesterday in a brand new set of wheels, having disposed of the standard-issue black limo officials use to get around DC in favor of a silver Chevy Equinox. "What better example could I set if I encouraged my staff to go and purchase ... a vehicle that would send a signal that we're for supporting our American workers, American-made products," she proudly explained of the switch. One problem: The Chevrolet wasn't exactly made in America.

Though the profits end up in American hands, the car is actually made at two plants in Canada. And it's so popular, notes US News & World Report, that GM has been hiring more workers—in Canada, of course—to fulfill the demand. After her office was alerted to the reality of the situation, a rep came back with the following: "Modern automobile manufacturing is a global industry. ... Not only is the Equinox the second fastest selling SUV in America—a good sign for the overall health of the US auto industry—66% of its parts were made in America. That’s up from about 50% just a few years ago." (More Hilda Solis stories.)