President Obama's 'Auto Task Force' leader Brian Deese does not drive American, luxury, or exotic

July 3, 9:56 PMExotic Car ExaminerKae Davis

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  Brian Deese is not a car guy -- but he's taking charge of the American Auto Industry

Who is Brian Deese?  Deese, the 31-year-old leader behind President Obama's Auto Task Force -- you know, the guy Barak hired to be his middle man advisor behind the government scenes who is supposed to fix everything wrong with the American auto industry? One would expect with such a high powered national job that Deese would be driving a car that suits his job title appropriately -- like an American top of the line luxury model or some new car that is neat and green -- or even have his own fleet of cars to take him from plant to plant, auto union meeting, private presidential conferences, and hustle him quickly form place to place when he's jaunting around Washington DC. However, as the Washington Post Sleuth columnist has recently uncovered, Deese apparently, "has been seen tooling around town in a car that might make board members of General Motors shudder: He drives a Honda, whose manufacturer is based in Japan..."
Ouch to the idea that a white collar professional who has moved almost all the way up the ladder to run the country as it relates to auto production might be a true "car guy", driving around in something sporty, exciting, or clever like the new American Tesla Motors Roadster model. What's next? Hearing that the head of the Obama administration's task force that keeps the president advised of the status of the banking industry keeps his money in mattresses and jars? Ruminate on this weird news, and let me know how you feel about the future of the American auto industry with this bloke in charge of cars. And to Reese? Take my advice and buck up to buy something patriotic. Or borrow something -- whether you know it or not, you are now a national auto news celebrity.

DEESE IS NOT A CAR GUY. OR AN AMERICAN GUY. OR A GREEN CAR GUY. [HE'S JUST A GUY.]

The news that Brian Deese is not a car guy, as in at all, is striking the auto world as odd news. The number one question on most American auto manufacturers minds has got to be, "Can we thrive or at least peacefully co-exist with a non-car guy acting as the go between between the president and 21st century auto making?" Especially one that drives a beat up Honda... ye-ow.

Not only does Deese, according to industry rumor, not have an interest in cars for all their various and sundry attributes like speed, performance, handling, and general thrill providing that exotics produce, he's not even into American Muscle car news. There's no warming up to a luxury car, either, for Deese. And, as young Deese is likely to have grown up in an era that never cruised cars much on the streets (a little too young for hot rods or convertibles to be cool and a lot too clean cut to have felt the need for speed "Fast and Furious" cars produced, he's generation handicapped when it comes to understanding the love of cars our decade driven eras have produces.

Caught in between rebellious and eco-cool, it's also unlikely he's seen a lot of back seat time, road touring, or memorable driving time. Cars, to this guy, might be just what they are -- machines. [A dreadful thought for me to have about the guy who's pulling presidential puppet strings with regard to the struggling U.S. auto market industry.]

So what drives this guy when choosing a *shudder* machine? It appears as if reliability and cheap gas fuel economy are the driving forces behind Deese when he's car shopping.

The Washington Post Sleuth says, 

"... one source describes Deese's car as an "old, old, old silver Honda Civic two-door hatchback... Another tells us Deese's two-toned Honda was never properly repainted after the new auto whiz got into an accident a few years ago. The car still has Connecticut plates, a relic of his recent days at Yale Law School."

Rumor also has it that Deese, who -- by self proclamation has "never set foot in an automotive assembly plant", knows his position as the president's so-called "car czar" appointed official is ironic.

According to reports, a source close to Deese initially said, when contacted for comment, that "it sort of confounds us that anyone is all that interested" in what he drives. But believe us, American autoworkers will care, says the sleuth.

If you ask me, I think somebody needs to get this character a concept car production model version of the Tesla Model S or a Ford GT, like immediately.

CAR GUY CULTURAL RESPONSE [CAR GIRL OPINIONS EQUALLY WELCOME AS WELL]

So what's your thoughts? Is it good or bad to have a young Gen Y who has no particular affinity for cars or car culture to be calling the shots?

Would you rather see someone helping to shape American trends in auto production be someone who has an idea of the history of cars as an aesthetic and artistic form of art in addition to being a pastime hobby of America pop culture in all its relative Americana goodness (racing, rebuilding, cruising, souping up, displaying at car shows, and so on) -- or be a "Joe the Plumber" version of the average Joe uneducated car buyer who shops by whim and impulse.

Do you think it is a good thing that this fella could seem to care less about the way in which he shuttles to and fro?

Comment back with your ideas and emotions about this one, as a member of the industry I am seriously torn. There are pros and cons to having someone like Deese in his position -- I just don't know which side of the argument makes me feel all comfortable, fuzzy, and warm.