Payback Time: Review Finds Closing Chrysler Dealerships Were Republican Donors

Doug Ross @ Journal took a look at all of the owners whose names appeared more than once in the Chrysler dealer closing 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.

Ross says the evidence points to a highly partisan decision-making process. Check out his blog for specifics.

Is anyone surprised? It’s the Chicago way.

RELATED:

Chrysler Dealership In New York Not Going Down Without A Fight

More Details On The Chrysler Threats

White House Threatens Chrysler Non-Tarp Investment Companies (UPDATED)

UPDATE:

One dealership being closed in Florida is owned by a Republican congressman:

Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., a businessman who has owned car dealerships since 1992, learned Thursday that his Venice, Fla., Dodge dealership was among those scheduled to be terminated. “It’s an outrage. It’s not about me. I’m going to be fine,” said Buchanan, the dealership’s majority owner. “You’re talking over 100,000 jobs. We’re supposed to be in the business of creating jobs, not killing jobs.”

Just sayin’.

UPDATE II:

Via Gateway Pundit, This dealer says there was no rhyme or reason to the closings that he can see…. His dealership was making a good profit, which contradicts the argument that only the dealerships in the bottom 25% were supposed to close:

UPDATE III:

Hot Air on the story now, with an update from Reliapundit:

BOMBSHELL: DEALER’S LAWYER WHO DEPOSED CHRYSLER EXEC: DECISION TO CLOSE DEALERS WAS BY PRESIDENT’S TASK FORCE, NOT BY CHRYSLER

REUTERS:

A lawyer for Chrysler dealers facing closure as part of the automaker’s bankruptcy reorganization said on Tuesday he believes Chrysler executives do not support a plan to eliminate a quarter of its retail outlets.

Lawyer Leonard Bellavia, of Bellavia Gentile & Associates, who represents some of the terminated dealers, said he deposed Chrysler President Jim Press on Tuesday and came away with the impression that Press did not support the plan.

“It became clear to us that Chrysler does not see the wisdom of terminating 25 percent of its dealers,” Bellavia said. “It really wasn’t Chrysler’s decision. They are under enormous pressure from the President’s automotive task force.”

You see now how this process could become politicized?

When it comes to the Obama administration…it’s always the worst case scenario.

UPDATE IV:

Michelle Malkin cautions bloggers to be careful in reporting this story:

Here are two examples from my own cursory review of the Republican donors listed by other bloggers:

Florida GOP Rep. Vern Buchanan is on the list. What no one has mentioned, though, is that he has a record of financial shadiness and his dealerships have been embroiled in fraud lawsuits.

Then there’s Illinois/Missouri car dealer James Auffenberg, Jr., who was recently acquitted by a Virgin Islands jury in a massive tax and wire fraud case — but still may face civil action to collect millions in alleged unpaid taxes.

It’s unpopular to say, but there are probably many dealerships on the list that deserve to be closed down.

Duly noted.

“Keep digging”, she advises.

A new website has been set up for just that purpose (thanks, for pointing me to it, Max Power):

Chrysler Dealership Campaign Donation Information

UPDATE V:

Michelle Malkin takes a look at some of the protected dealerships as seen at Chrysler Dealership Campaign Donation Information.

Also check out all the recent updates at Doug Ross @ Journal…

…stay tuned.

UPDATE VI:

Gateway Pundit is  aggressively pursuing this story.

Other bloggers are tip toeing…

UPDATE VII:

The obligatory photoshop:

A Nice Deb original.

UPDATE VIII:

Dealergate: Additional Research Shows Definite Closing Bias