Anti-Obama campaign contributions dictate which Chrysler dealers were shuttered?

directorblue | 5-25-09 | directorblue

[dennisw]

A tipster alerted me to an interesting assertion. A cursory review by that person showed that many of the Chrysler dealers on the closing list were heavy Republican donors.

To quickly review the situation, I took all dealer owners whose names appeared more than once in the list. And, of those who contributed to political campaigns, every single one had donated almost exclusively to GOP candidates. While this isn't an exhaustive review, it does have some ominous implications if it can be verified.

However, I also found additional research online at Scribd (author unknown), which also appears to point to a highly partisan decision-making process.

Consider the partial list of Chrysler dealership owners, listed below. You'll notice that all were opponents of Barack Obama, most through sponsorship of GOP candidates and organizations, but a handful through Barack's Democrat rivals (Hillary Clinton and John Edwards in 2008, for example).

• Vernon G. Buchanan: $147,450 to GOP candidates and organizations
• Wallace D. Alley and Family: $4,500 to GOP.
• Robert Archer: $4,600 to GOP and conservative causes.
• Homer S. Higginbotham and Family: $2950 to GOP.
• James Auffenberg and Family: $28,000 to GOP; $6,000 to one Democrat candidate.
• Michael Maroone and Family: $60,000 to GOP; $8,500 to two Democrat candidates.
• Jerome Fader: $6,500 to Democrats; $2,500 to Independent Joe Lieberman.
• Stephen Fay and Family: $13,500 to GOP.
• William Numrich: $20,000 to GOP.
• Robert Carver: $10,000 to Democrats including $1,950 to Hillary Clinton, nothing to Barack Obama.

• Robert and Linda Rohrman: $24,000 to GOP.
• Frank Boucher, Jr. and Family: $18,000 to GOP, $1,000 to one Democrat candidate.
• Scott Bossier: $4,300 to GOP.
• Todd Reardon: $17,000 to GOP; $2,000 to one Democrat candidate.
• Russ Darrow and Family: $78,000 to GOP.
• Bradford Deery and Family: $24,700 to GOP.
• Charles Gabus and Family: $30,000 to GOP.
• Brian Smith: $15,500 to GOP.
• Michael Schlossman: $14,000 to GOP; $14,000 to three Democrats ($12,500 to Sen. Russ Feingold).
• Don Hill: $11,000 to GOP; $12,800 to conservative incumbent Rep. Heath Shuler.have thus far found only a single Obama donor (and a minor one at that: $200 from Jeffrey Hunter of Waco, Texas) on the closing list.

Chrysler claimed that its formula for determining whether a dealership should close or not included "sales volume, customer service scores, local market share and average household income in the immediate area."

In fact, there may have been other criteria involved: politics may have played a part. If this data can be validated, it would appear to be further proof that the Obama administration is willing to step over any line to advance its agenda.

It bodes poorly for America and the rule of law.


Update: Noteworthy comments from Cars.com's blogs:

 

As an employee of one of the affected dealerships... First, this isn't just Chrysler's decision. They were forced into bankruptcy by President Obama. When Chrysler emerges from bankruptcy the Federal Government will be a junior partner in the new Chrysler. This is SOCIALISM! Wake up people! This isn't about business it's about politics and control. My dealership is in the top 125 out of the 3500 plus dealerships nationwide...yet we are on the list. We are not small nor are we rural. We are in a large major metropolitan area. Our new vehicle inventory alone is well over $4.0 million. Is that small? Secondly, Chrysler is already "shopping" for dealers to take over the open "points" (another name for franchise) left by the closed dealerships. Again, you think this is just business. Lastly, and more importantly, every state has franchise law in affect that protect companies from this very thing - being forced out of business under the cloak of bankruptcy with out the benefit of due process. This is illegal!
 

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This is so much more than "just business". This is about control and power by our present administration in Washington. An administration that will stop at nothing to bring complete Socialism to this once great country. Wake up people or get in line now to "drink the Kool-Aid".
 

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I just saw on the list that my local dealership, Wilson Dodge is closing. This is very shocking to me since they are the oldest and most recognized Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep dealer in the metro. This is really sad because these are great people with excellent service...

...There was an interview on the news this evening with the owner of the dealership that is going to be closed in my area where I learned that the DCJ dealership they competed with in my area is factory owned. So, instead of closing their own, they choose to close a successful franchisee. That's #$@?ed up IMO! ...

Update II: Deseret News, 14 May 2009, "Chrysler dealership closures may hurt small-town economies":

 

"I've been around this forever, and there's no rhyme or reason," Fred Barber, owner of Barber Brothers Motors in Spanish Fork, said Thursday.

...Why were Barber's Chrysler dealership and nine others from Utah among the 789 dealerships nationwide singled out by Chrysler LLC, in bankruptcy-court filings, to be eliminated by June 9? Was there any rhyme or reason to why certain dealerships were selected and others not? What's next for the targeted dealerships, and what will be the ripple effects?

"This is as close to socialism as I've seen — we've got the government running the automotive industry," he added.

Jim Lunt, vice president of Lunt Motor Co. in Cedar City, said employees at his Main Street dealership are anxious, while the owners feel "abandoned."

"It's like they chopped out your legs," Lunt said. "We haven't looked at other manufacturers. We've stuck with Chrysler through thick and thin. You kind of feel like you've been thrown overboard."

Update III: APP, 18 May 2009, "Ousted Chrysler dealers prepare legal fight":

 

Michael Bernstein, an attorney with Arnold & Porter who represents the Chrysler National Dealer Council, said the dealers may offer a number of objections to the plan in U.S. bankruptcy court, and that the case will enter some uncharted legal territory.

...Bernstein said under bankruptcy law Chrysler would have to show how its "reasonable exercise of business judgment" led to the closing list. While the company cited a bevy of standards by which it chose dealerships, Bernstein said it was noteworthy that Chrysler didn't cite costs.

"There's no cost to Chrysler associated with dealers. Dealers are a source of revenue," Bernstein said. "A lot of people were surprised by the number of dealers Chrysler is proposing to reject..."

[dennisw]

http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2009/05/red-alert-did-campaign-contributions.html

[dennisw]

http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2009/05/red-alert-did-campaign-contributions.html

LINK TO BLOG where this comes from

[wbill]

Successful, hard-working employers are Conservatives? Who’da thunk it?

[Safrguns]

A perfect illustration why government should NOT own stock in private enterprise... which is the quickest path to socialism and the bloodless loss of our freedom.

[Yankee]

No surprise here. I’ve been warning everyone I know that this was the game plan.

Allies will be rewarded. Opponents will be raped.

The same thing will happen with bank loans, etc.

Try getting a mortgage if you’re a registered Republican.

[taildragger]

I do not not have the data in hand, we need to research it, but Waggoner supposedly was a strong GOP donor as well....

[Sig Sauer P220]

I feel sorry for the poor bass turds that will continue to be Chrysler and GM dealers. Who in their right minds are going to buy those POS’s without huge government subsidie,,,,,,,,uh,,,,,,never mind.

[R0CK3T]

Your tax dollars in action for the Fascist insertion of the ONE’s Party Rule in America.

[libh8er]

This story needs play. I hope talk radio hosts across America pick up on this.

[xlib]

I don’t get this dealer closing business. Maybe I don’t understand how it works. Can someone explain to me how a dealer remaining open negatively affects Chrysler’s (or GM’s)expenses?

[pnh102]

Blame Chrysler. They marched to the government demanding a handout.

Expect the same rules to be applied to conservatives who need healthcare after 0bama nationalizes that.

[Petronski]

No surprise at all. Obama is a fascist, and this is fascism 101.

We might even call it Gleischaltung.

[silverleaf]

OUCH
BTTT

[opaque soul]

Bloodless? not gunna go quietly in the night...

[dawn53]

This has been a “theory” of mine after listening to a couple Chrysler dealers who were given the boot, but who were in the top 2 percent of dealers.

[muawiyah]

This is how Chicago is run.

[Piquaboy]

Surely the great one would not discriminate like this.

[Safrguns]

>>>Bloodless? not gunna go quietly in the night...

So far, it has been, and they are getting extremely close to the point where it won’t matter anymore.

[KSCITYBOY]

btt

[dawn53]

This has been a “theory” of mine after listening to a couple Chrysler dealers who were given the boot, but who were in the top 2 percent of dealers.

[DBrow]

There was an email circulating around in which the boss “downsized” employees if they had an Obama bumpersticker, since they caused the economic downturn.

This article is the same thing, different foot.

It makes zero sense to punish a successful dealership based on economic support of political enemies, I’m not sure these stories are accurate.

[Paleo Conservative]

I forwarded your link to Senator Cornyn.

[MileHi]

BFLR

[uncommonsense]

One of the points made is that dealers don't cost the manufacturer, they provide revenue. Inventory is paid for as it moves out of the plant. So why close them down?

Maybe there's a rebate system that once consolidated, would make the survivors more profitable? Maybe a few dollars could be saved in admin costs? But, the first point is no concern of the manufacturer - how much margin the dealership makes. And would the manufacturer make up the loss of franchise fees and total volume by the shutdown (less market presence to compete against the other brands)?

No, I can't think of a solid business reason. That leaves the other possibility - politics.

I wonder how many black / minority owned dealerships are being shuttered?

[steve8714]

I believe Chery and Tata may be looking to expand their markets.

[Kirkwood]

Look at how many donated to democrat candidates. If their donations were aiding liberal candidates for congress, they were asking for trouble.

[Ticonderoga34]

This is how Chicago is run.

That's was my thought.

Some might call this fascism but it's more like Daleyism or as its know in Chicago, clout. Gotta pay to play and make sure you pay the right person.

[steve8714]

Obama is more in the Mussolini mold than Hitler.

[popdonnelly]

“the case will enter some uncharted legal territory.”

It entered uncharted legal territory when the Obama Administration coerced the corporations into giving the Federal government and the UAW stock.

[MrB]

This is how the left operates, every time it gets the power to do so,

throughout history.

[Sig Sauer P220]

I wonder how many black / minority owned dealerships are being shuttered?

I would guess, ZERO!

[Petronski]

Agreed.

[IrishCatholic]

bookmark for later.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> No surprise at all. Obama is a fascist, and this is fascism 101.

As much as anything else, this is straight out of Robert Mugabe’s playbook. Kick out the white farmers and give the land over to the “war veterans”.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> This is how Chicago is run.

It’s how Zimbabwe is run.

[Dutchgirl]

bump

[griswold3]

Like Jack Welsh, I am not surprised.
Obama said what he would do during the campaign and now he’s doing it.
This is the end of ‘rule of law’ and private property rights. In other words, the end of this country as we know it.
FDR’s ‘patronage’ corruption is detailed in the National Archives. What stopped FDR was the Supreme Court. But now, we don’t have the luxury of them ruling on the Constitutionality of Barack Obama’s policies.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

I started wondering about this right after it came down, but I'm hardly a detective. GOOD WORK!!!

What about dem contributors - is there any data on that?

[Charles Martel]

This is how Chicago is run.

*******

It’s how Zimbabwe is run.

It's how both are run.

The media made a big deal about Bush firing a few U.S. attorneys because of allegations that pale beside this.

Think we'll hear one word about this from the MSM?

[uncommonsense]

“the case will enter some uncharted legal territory.”
It entered uncharted legal territory when the Obama Administration coerced the corporations into giving the Federal government and the UAW stock.

And abrogated well established contract law by subordinating secured, senior debt holders under the UAW, who never were holders of debt. Senior and secured means you accept a small return in order to be FIRST IN LINE to get paid if the company become economically troubled.

[Nextrush]

The car companies and their dealers are heavy advertisers in talk radio stations.

The Fairness Doctrine and “localism” are issues but it looks like Obama is already hitting his enemies where it counts, in the pocketbook.

The cutback in car advertising hurts outfits like Clear Channel, which distributes Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.

Obama is hitting his enemies through their big advertisers.

The car companies and car dealers are also heavy advertisers in local television news.

[alice_in_bubbaland]

This sob makes more nauseous everyday.

We have to work day and night to limit this Marxist's power with the 2010 elections!

[Paine in the Neck]

The car companies and their dealers are heavy advertisers in talk radio stations.

The Fairness Doctrine and “localism” are issues but it looks like Obama is already hitting his enemies where it counts, in the pocketbook.

The cutback in car advertising hurts outfits like Clear Channel, which distributes Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.

Obama is hitting his enemies through their big advertisers.

The car companies and car dealers are also heavy advertisers in local television news.

Bingo! I believe you have gone directly to the crux of this strategy. Good analysis.

[italianquaker]

With this corrupt administration a little investigating is in order

[annieokie]

I feel you are correct in you assessment of this. I think the new dealerships will be Dealer Development stores, with MGF. and govt control, managed by minority's.

[MrB]

Folks, if you can stomach it,
read “the Turner Diaries”.

The “protagonist” is a racist,
but the author’s description of government actions was prescient.

[Josa]

Recently a black couple was lauded in the MSM for beginning
a “buy-black” policy of buying from black businesses only.
I am proposing a “buy-white” policy. In fact, I’ve already
instituted it in my life. Yesterday at Best Buy, I waited
an extra 10 minutes to give the sale to a white salesman....
although he told me repeatedly he didn’t work on commission.

But I will not buy anything from a black-owned business. In fact, I try to take it to the next level and buy only from white, CONSERVATIVE businesses.

Black servers get no tip from me. My son waits tables and he said the hostess is under orders from ALL SERVERS, including the black ones, to space out the black customers because they DO NOT TIP.

[tcrlaf]

“Anti-Obama campaign contributions dictate which Chrysler dealers were shuttered?”

WELL, DUH....
I mentioned this the day that it happened.

You are dealing with FASCISTS here, folks. Throw out everything you ever believed couldn’t happen in America, because it actually IS happening.

This is basic Chicago-style Democrat politics in action. You secure YOUR position by destroying thiose against you, and anyone that supports them.

[wbill]

I’m not sure these stories are accurate. ...While it wouldn't surprise me if it were accurate, I think that it's just very likely that successful people (high-achieving car dealers) will be conservative.

Facts are correct, underlying supposition (Dealerships closed in political retaliation) may not be. However, I think that there's enough of an anomaly for some questions to be asked

makes zero sense to punish a successful dealership ...since when did the gov't ever do anything that was sensible?

[AliVeritas]

Ping.