Hillary Clinton cribbed a page from President Barack Obama 's playbook on Thursday by taking a swipe at Mitt Romney 's 2008 oped , `` Let Detroit Go Bankrupt . '' At an event outside Detroit , where the former secretary of state endorsed Democrats Mark Schauer and Gary Peters , Clinton spoke glowingly of their support for the 2008 auto bailout that invested billions into the United States struggling auto industry . `` Now , they could take the safe way , they could line up with those saying 'Let Detroit go bankrupt , ' let manufacturing just wither away , '' Clinton said to a chorus of boos . `` They could be on the side of those who were criticizing what they called government motors . '' Though Clinton never mentioned Romney by name , the comment appeared to be directed at him , as well as Schauer 's and Peters ' Republican opponents . Romney unsuccessfully ran for president in 2012 and famously wrote on opinion-editorial for The New York Times in 2008 that urged letting the big three auto companies -- General Motors , Ford and Chrysler -- go into a structured bankruptcy . `` If General Motors , Ford and Chrysler get the bailout that their chief executives asked for yesterday , you can kiss the American automotive industry goodbye , '' Romney wrote . `` It wo n't go overnight , but its demise will be virtually guaranteed . '' Clinton voted in favor of the auto bailout when she returned to the Senate from her failed presidential campaign in 2008 . Romney 's editorial , though written years before , was a staple of the Obama attack against Romney in 2012 . The campaign used the recovery of the auto industry to label the former Massachusetts governor as out-of-touch . Obama would regularly say that he `` refused to let Detroit go bankrupt . '' Clinton 's comments are particularly striking given the probability that she runs for president and the recent chatter that Romney will try to run for president for a third time . `` We 'll see what happens , '' Romney told New York Times Magazine last month . His wife , Ann Romney , told CNN earlier today that she is still `` done '' with the idea of another presidential bid , but adds `` you know , you never do say never . '' Clinton used more of her speech to talk about the auto industry and the decision to approve a bailout . `` They , '' Clinton said , referring to people who wanted the companies go into bankruptcy , `` were willing to walk away from the people of this state , the jobs , the auto industry , the future . '' Later she added , `` There are some choices that define career and define what people are made out of . There are choices that shape your whole life . This was a choice that would change the future of an industry , a state and a nation . ''
Hillary Clinton knocks those who want to ` ` Let Detroit go bankrupt '' Clinton argued the city would have ` ` let manufacturing just wither away '' Mitt Romney famously wrote an essay titled ` ` Let Detroit go bankrupt '' in 2008 . The oped was used effectively against Romney during his failed 2012 presidential run .