And A Conspiracy In Every Pot

The wingnut blogosphere has been flogging their latest conspiracy theory this week. This time the meme is the Chrysler dealerships that were chosen to be closed in their Bankruptcy deal were "targeted" because the owners were big Republican donors. Seriously. Now you would think it would be common sense that most auto dealers would donate and vote Republican if for no other reason than to oppose any green energy legislation that would, in their mind, be bad for business. But common sense is not common with wingnuts. Thankfully Nate Silver crunches the numbers to kill this ignorance dead in its tracks.

Overall, 88 percent of the contributions from car dealers went to Republican candidates and just 12 percent to Democratic candidates. By comparison, the list of dealers on Doug Ross's list (which I haven't vetted, but I assume is fine) gave 92 percent of their money to Republicans -- not really a significant difference.

There's no conspiracy here, folks -- just some bad math.

It shouldn't be any surprise, by the way, that car dealers tend to vote -- and donate -- Republican. They are usually male, they are usually older (you don't own an auto dealership in your 20s), and they have obvious reasons to be pro-business, pro-tax cut, anti-green energy and anti-labor. Car dealerships need quite a bit of space and will tend to be located in suburban or rural areas. I can't think of too many other occupations that are more natural fits for the Republican Party. Unfortunately, while we are still a nation of drivers, we are not a nation of dealers.

Now of course this won't deter the wingnuts from continuing to repeat this lie. They are after all perpetual victims don't you know. But at least now there is a real statistical analysis to throw back at them when they come with the bullshit.

WingNuts Love Jake Tapper

How embarrassing should it be for a member of the mainstream media to be called out by name on right wing radio as someone who will easily fall for and spread their propaganda? Just ask Jake Tapper.

Step 2: Right-Wing Pressures White House Reporters To Take Up Its Attack

After the story was cooked up by right-wing hate radio, it was peddled to members of the White House press corps, at least one of whom took the bait. On his radio show on Friday, right-wing talker Mark Levin discussed Lauria’s claims against Obama, and then called on his listeners to pressure the White House press corps — specifically ABC’s Jake Tapper — to report the story:

LEVIN: Somebody needs to pursue what’s going on in the White House behind the scenes! And stop playing games and making nice! American citizens — whatever walk of life they’re in — should not be threatened by the White House! Should not be told we’re going to drag you through the mud with the White House press corps! So confident is the White House that they have the White House press corps wrapped around their little finger! Maybe Jake Tapper will take a look at this. Ask that doofus — Gibbs.

Jake Tapper is now official the go to guy for the wingnutosphere. I can only imagine how proud that makes him.

President Obama Talks Auto Bailouts

This morning President Obama laid out his plans for how to address the big 3 auto companies.

Congratulations Corker!

Senator Bob Corker did it yall. He actually pulled it off. By torpedoing the auto bailout negotiations he has finally started the dominoes a tumbling. News comes from the New York Times that Chrysler will now shutter ALL of its plants for at least a month starting next week. Thats 46,000 blue collar American workers who are going to have to go a month without pay. I wonder what that will do to their ability to pay their mortgages since it has been pointed out many many times that the nexus of the financial crisis is the foreclosure crisis. Wait what am I thinking, who cares about all that? I mean as Andrew Sullivan so aptly put it, if they lose their houses that just proves they were either "greedy" or "stupid" and if they and their families get thrown out in the streets then obviously its because they deserve it. So take a bow Senator Corker, you have fucked up the American dream for 46,000 families just in time for Christmas! You must be so proud.


Asshole.