Thomas McCaslin, general manager of Gateway Motors, second left, Neb. Gov. Dave Heineman, center, and Neb. Attorney General Jon Bruning, left, all hold microphones as they interview on camera in front of his GM dealership in Broken Bow, Neb. , Thursday, July 30, 2009. Invitations to small-town barbecues, thousands of hand-written letters and old-fashioned political arm-twisting didn't have anything to do with General Motors having a change of heart and allowing this rural dealership, originally slated to close, to remain open, company officials say. But people in this small town and others across the country where people rallied behing dealerships using political saavy and the same type of Americana-heavy marketing GM has used to sell cars for generations think otherwise. AP Photo logo AP Photo 4 months ago

Thomas McCaslin, general manager of Gateway Motors, second left, Neb. Gov. Dave Heineman, center, and Neb. Attorney General Jon Bruning, left, all hold microphones as they interview on camera in front of his GM dealership in Broken Bow, Neb. , Thursday, July 30, 2009. Invitations to small-town barbecues, thousands of hand-written letters and old-fashioned political arm-twisting didn't have anything to do with General Motors having a change of heart and allowing this rural dealership, originally slated to close, to remain open, company officials say. But people in this small town and others across the country where people rallied behing dealerships using political saavy and the same type of Americana-heavy marketing GM has used to sell cars for generations think otherwise.

More Photos of Dave Thomas

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  1. In this book cover provided by Thomas Nelson, "The Total Money Makeover, 2nd Edition," by Dave Ramsey is shown.
  2. MANDATORY CREDIT PHOTO BY DAVE M. BENETT/GETTY IMAGES REQUIRED) Katie Thomas and Bruce Dundas attend the Armani Charity Auction in aid Great Ormond Street Hospital, at Hush on November 19, 2009 in London, England.
  3. MANDATORY CREDIT PHOTO BY DAVE M. BENETT/GETTY IMAGES REQUIRED) Dean Thomas and Keisha Buchanan attend the launch party for the NOKIA X6 where Rihanna will showcase new material from her new album 'Rated R', at the Brixton Academy on November 16, 2009 in London, England.
  4. MANDATORY CREDIT PHOTO BY DAVE M. BENETT/GETTY IMAGES REQUIRED) Thomas Sangster arrives at the premiere of 'Nowhere Boy' during the closing night gala of the Times BFI London Film Festival, at the Odeon Leicester Square on October 29, 2009 in London, England.
  5. MANDATORY CREDIT PHOTO BY DAVE M. BENETT/GETTY IMAGES REQUIRED) Kristin Scott Thomas, Sam Taylor-Wood and Aaron Johnson arrive at the premiere of 'Nowhere Boy' during the closing night gala of the Times BFI London Film Festival, at the Odeon Leicester Square on October 29, 2009 in London, England.
  6. MANDATORY CREDIT PHOTO BY DAVE M. BENETT/GETTY IMAGES REQUIRED) Thomas Sangster arrives at the premiere of 'Nowhere Boy' during the closing night gala of the Times BFI London Film Festival, at the Odeon Leicester Square on October 29, 2009 in London, England.
  7. MANDATORY CREDIT PHOTO BY DAVE M. BENETT/GETTY IMAGES REQUIRED) Kristin Scott Thomas arrives at the premiere of 'Nowhere Boy' during the closing night gala of the Times BFI London Film Festival, at the Odeon Leicester Square on October 29, 2009 in London, England.
  8. MANDATORY CREDIT PHOTO BY DAVE M. BENETT/GETTY IMAGES REQUIRED) Kristin Scott Thomas arrives at the premiere of 'Nowhere Boy' during the closing night gala of the Times BFI London Film Festival, at the Odeon Leicester Square on October 29, 2009 in London, England.
  9. MANDATORY CREDIT PHOTO BY DAVE M. BENETT/GETTY IMAGES REQUIRED) Kristin Scott Thomas and Anne-Marie Duff arrive at the premiere of 'Nowhere Boy' during the closing night gala of the Times BFI London Film Festival, at the Odeon Leicester Square on October 29, 2009 in London, England.
  10. MANDATORY CREDIT PHOTO BY DAVE M. BENETT/GETTY IMAGES REQUIRED) Kristin Scott Thomas arrives at the premiere of 'Nowhere Boy' during the closing night gala of the Times BFI London Film Festival, at the Odeon Leicester Square on October 29, 2009 in London, England.
  11. MANDATORY CREDIT PHOTO BY DAVE M. BENETT/GETTY IMAGES REQUIRED) Kristin Scott Thomas arrives at the premiere of 'Nowhere Boy' during the closing night gala of the Times BFI London Film Festival, at the Odeon Leicester Square on October 29, 2009 in London, England.
  12. CHESTNUT HILL, MA - OCTOBER 03: Dave Shinskie #15 of the Boston College Eagles celebrates the win with teammate Thomas Claiborne #78 after they defeated the Florida State Seminoles on October 3, 2009 at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Boston College defeated Florida State 28-21.
  13. CHESTNUT HILL, MA - OCTOBER 03: Dave Shinskie #15 and Thomas Claiborne #78 of the Boston College Eagles celebrate the win over the Florida State Seminoles on October 3, 2009 at Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Boston College defeated Florida State 28-21.
  14. Joan Becker, left, and her husband Dave Becker, right, parents of Mark Becker, not pictured, listen to testimony by psychologist Dr. Dan Rogers, not pictured, during the mental competency hearing for Mark Becker Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009 in Mason City, Iowa. Mark Becker, 24, is charged with first-degree murder for the June 24 shooting of Aplington-Parkersburg coach Ed Thomas.

Explore Photos of Related Topics

  1. Nebraska state Sen. Lavon Heidemann of Elk Creek, chairman of the appropriations committee, speaks during debate in the state capitol in Lincoln, Neb., Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009. Nebraska lawmakers begsn debating a massive budget-cutting measure to help close a $334 million state-budget gap. The plan closely mirrors the plan Gov. Dave Heineman crafted and would spread the pain across all state agencies.
  2. Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman, left, and Cabela's CEO Tommy Millner, walk past a deer decoy at the outdoor retailer's store in La Vista, Neb., Friday, Nov. 6, 2009. Cabela's announced plans for a new data center in Papillion, Neb.
  3. Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman, left, and Cabela's CEO Tommy Millner, walk past a dear decoy at the outdoor retailer's store in La Vista, Neb., Friday, Nov. 6, 2009. Cabela's announced plans for a new data center in Papillion, Neb.
  4. General Sales Manager Peter Van Den Berghe, left, talks to Jeff Harvery, center, of Auiroa, Colo., about the Saturn Outlook that he is about to test drive at the Saturn of Denver dealership in the Denver suburb of Littleton, Colo., on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009. Salesman Tim Duff is pictured at right. Harvey a two time Saturn owner was not concerned that General Motors is going to quit the Saturn line.
  5. Flags with the Opel logo and a slogan in German reading, "We live cars", are seen in front of the Opel headquarter in Ruesselsheim, central Germany, Friday, Dec. 4, 2009. Opel workers are ready to help cut costs as GM moves to restructure its European operation, Opel's chief employee representative said Friday.
  6. Nick Reilly (L), interim head of General Motors' European business and Klaus Franz, leader of the Opel works council of German carmaker Adam Opel GmbH, attend a news conference at the headquarters of Opel in Ruesselsheim December 4, 2009.
  7. Nick Reilly, interim head of General Motors European business, gets into an Opel Insignia at the headquarters of German carmaker Adam Opel GmbH in Ruesselsheim December 4, 2009.
  8. Nick Reilly (L), interim head of General Motors European business, and Klaus Franz, leader of the Opel works council of German carmaker Adam Opel GmbH attend a news conference at the headquarters of Opel in Ruesselsheim December 4, 2009.
  9. GM Europe CEO Nick Reilly enters an Opel car in Ruesselsheim, central Germany, Friday, Dec. 4, 2009, after a meeting with the Opel workers.

Recent Photos From The Wire

  1. Seagulls search for food on the Schwentine River near Schwentinental nearby Kiel, northern Germany, as temperatures reach nine degrees Celsius (48.2 Fahrenheit), Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009.
  2. Russia's Alexei Petukhov, right, and Nikolay Morilov changes in the 1,500 meters team sprint men finale of the Cross Country FIS World Cup in Duesseldorf, Germany, on Sunday, Dec. 6. 2009. They won the competition.
  3. Russia's Alexei Petukhov, left, and Nikolay Morilov celebrate after they won the 1,500 meters team sprint men finale of the Cross Country FIS World Cup in Duesseldorf, Germany, on Sunday, Dec. 6. 2009.
  4. Russia's Alexei Petukhov, left, and Nikolay Morilov changes in the 1500 meters team sprint men finale of the Cross Country FIS World Cup in Duesseldorf, Germany, on Sunday, Dec. 6. 2009. They won the competition.
  5. Russia's Alexei Petukhov, centre, crosses the finish line and celebrates with his partner Nikolay Morilov, right, when they won the 1,500 meters team sprint men finale of the Cross Country FIS World Cup in Duesseldorf, Germany, on Sunday, Dec. 6. 2009.
  6. A protester is detained by policemen during clashes in central Athens December 6, 2009. Greek police fired several rounds of teargas to disperse rioting protesters as thousands marched in Athens on Sunday to mark the police killing of a teenager, which unleashed the country's worst riots in decades last year.
  7. An Afghan army soldier stands in the kitchen of the Afghan dining facilities at FOB Clark in Khowst province December 6, 2009.
  8. An Afghan army cook prepares a meal in their kitchen at FOB Clark in Khowst province December 6, 2009.
  9. Animal rights activists from Igualdad Animal (Animal Equality) hold up some 100 animal carcasses, including a fox, in Madrid's Puerta del Sol square to protest the treatment of animals and draw attention to the upcoming International Animal Rights Day which organisers say has been celebrated alongside the International Human Rights Day, December 6, 2009.
  10. SIENA, ITALY - DECEMBER 06: Jorge Matinez (C) Catania Calcio celebrates after scoring the first goal during the Serie A match between Siena and Catania at Stadio Artemio Franchi on December 6, 2009 in Siena, Italy.
  11. SIENA, ITALY - DECEMBER 06: Jorge Matinez (L) of Catania Calcio celebrates after scoring the first goal with Ciro Capuano (C) and Marco Biagiani (R) during the Serie A match between Siena and Catania at Stadio Artemio Franchi on December 6, 2009 in Siena, Italy.
  12. FLORENCE, ITALY - DECEMBER 06: The head coach of Atalanta, Antonio Conte looks on during the Serie A match between Fiorentina and Atalanta at Stadio Artemio Franchi on December 6, 2009 in Florence, Italy.
  13. PADERBORN, GERMANY - DECEMBER 06: Milan Sasic, head coach of Duisburg reacts during the Second Bundesliga match between SC Paderborn and MSV Duisburg at the Energieteam Arena on December 6, 2009 in Paderborn, Germany.
  14. PADERBORN, GERMANY - DECEMBER 06: Milan Sasic, head coach of Duisburg reacts during the Second Bundesliga match between SC Paderborn and MSV Duisburg at the Energieteam Arena on December 6, 2009 in Paderborn, Germany.
  15. PADERBORN, GERMANY - DECEMBER 06: Milan Sasic, head coach of Duisburg reacts during the Second Bundesliga match between SC Paderborn and MSV Duisburg at the Energieteam Arena on December 6, 2009 in Paderborn, Germany.
  16. An protester throws a Greek flag during clashes in Athens on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. Protesters hurled rocks and burning garbage at police as violence erupted during a march to mark the first anniversary of the police shooting of a teenager, whose death sparked massive riots. Police fired tear gas at scores of hooded youths in central Athens, as several thousand demonstrators marched to commemorate the death of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos.