DNC chairwoman supports U.S. auto industry so much she owns a Japanese car

Oh, how embarrassing.

Like roll-up-the-tinted-windows-and-slouch-down-in-your-seat embarrassing.

The new chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee was criticizing Republicans who opposed President Obama's bailout of the American automakers union, oh, no, make that American automakers.

"If it were up to the candidates for president on the Republican side," said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, "we would be driving foreign cars. They would have let the auto industry in America go down the tubes."

So Michael O'Brien of The Hill newspaper went and checked what kind of automobile loyal-American-car-supporter Debbie Wasserman Schultz owns.

Yup, you guessed it -- Japanese.

Drive as she says, not as she does.

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Photo: Nissan.com (a 2010 Infiniti FX35 similar to Debbie Wasserman Schultz's Japanese car).

Comments

[GS]

Can't say I blame her a lot for buying a Japanese car. I owned Fords and Chevys for years and they were always a headache. Bought a Toyota and it never gave me a problem for 10 years. Bought another last year and will probably keep it for another 10. I love the idea of buying American cars, but with so many friends that keeps telling me their nightmare stories and crap they go through, I'm still not sold. Regardless this chick's a moonbat.

[HarlanR]

Ya know, you shouldn't hammer too hard on this Debbie. Broads like her did not get where they are in life by being just another pretty face or raiding Uncle Marvin's Trust Fund to run for office. No siree, Bob. She got where she is by being one smart dame. Why Obama should dump Old Hairplugs and put this skirt on the ticket as Veep in 2012.

[Public Servant54]

Typical!

[checkmoot]

Cheap shot. Some Fords and Chevys are made in Canada and Mexico while Hondas may be U.S. made. Check the VIN. If the first digit is a one or four it is U.S. made. Here's a link for that info.

http://www.vehicleidentificationnumber.com/vehicle_identification_numbers_vin_detail.html

[JM]

Typical.

[checkmoot]

Some Fords and Chevys are made in Mexico and Canada, whil many Japanese brands are U.S. made. Only way to tell is the first digit of the VIN number. If it's a one or four it's U.S. made. Here's a link for that.

http://www.vehicleidentificationnumber.com/vehicle_identification_numbers_vin_detail.html

[Troy]

So, I bet more of that Japanese car was made in America than most American cars! Look how many "American" cars are made id Canada, Mexico or elsewhere! How many plants does Toyota and Hyndai have in the south?

[J]

I've been studying this, Believe it or not the most American cars on the road are form Honda and Toyota. And in trucks, the Toyota Tundra at 80% is the only truck made that meets the requirements to be called a domestically made vehicle.

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/autos/1006/gallery.american_made/index.html

[susangate1]

hmmm I am not buying a GM or Chrysler... voting with my pocketbooks!

[checkmoot]

Many Fords and Chevys are made in Canada and Mexico. If the first digit of the VIN is one or four it is U.S. nade. Many Japanese brands are U.S. made. Hereis a link for all that info.

http://www.vehicleidentificationnumber.com/vehicle_identification_numbers_vin_detail.html

[Pumpkin man]

What is the make and model. The fact that the author did not include the make and model, not only shows the right wings reluctance to show the whole truth, but also how much contempt they have for their audience.

The fact of the matter is, if you make less than $250,000, then you are a Democrat - just because you don't like gays and artists and such doesn't mean you should always vote against your economic self interest.

[philip butchers]

This car is not Japanese and it is built in America.

[Tim]

@Paul Florez -

You see, the fact that DWS drives a Japanese (and non-union built) car DOES, in fact weaken her point, when her points is "If it were up to the candidates for president on the Republican side, we would be driving foreign cars." Those are her words - not mine. For the record, I am one of those nasty Republicans DSW loathes so much, and I have one union-made Dodge and two union-made Fords in the driveway - and I have never owned a foreign car. I wonder why DWS does.

And you are wrong, the American auto industry would never have gone down the tubes - there is more demand for cars and trucks in the US than the Japanese, Koreans, Chinese, Indians and Yugoslavians (yes I know - it's a joke) could possibly step in and fill right away. The US auto industry would certainly have looked differently today, but all that really would have happened is that Chrysler and GM would have gone into bankruptcy and would therefore have been able to - wait for it - completely restructure their agreements with the unions. The US auto industry would survive - the bailout was nothing more than the Dems (temporarily) protecting the gravy train for the unions.

One thing to remember - anything that can't go on forever, won't. The bailout forestalled what is inevitable. If the unions continue to refuse to lighten their grip, the US auto industry will continue to slowly move offshore to the point where foreign automakers COULD fill US demand. Then, the US auto industry is screwed.

[susangate1]

"If it were up to the candidates for president on the Republican side," said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, "we would be driving foreign cars. They would have let the auto industry in America go down the tubes."

Right Wasserman... it's all the Republicans fault that you bought a foreign non union made car. Typical.

[Greg Merle]

I expect this from liberals. They are unembarrassable hypocrites and do this stuff without the slightest pause. The one that gets me is Al Gore with his $2000 a month electric bill and private jet.

They do it because they know their voters will vote for them and aren't paying attention.

[rick]

another day. another hypocritical liberal outed.

[Infowarrior]

I am curious on what type of car she drives. Chances are it was built and assembled in the US.

Why not write and article on the top ten job exporters. Oh, you mean they advertise on your website and you don't want to anger your meal ticket. Ah I see.

[Lindsey]

Daniel,

Infiniti FX 35. All exported from Japan just like the Lexus.

MSRP 42,600 - 52,600
MPG 14-16 city/20 - 23 highway.

Not very good mileage either. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but the higher compression engine of the Infiniti also requires Premium Unleaded.

[Derek]

As a former Chrysler employee and UAW member here is a tidbit about Japanese automakers in the US and the reason why this article matters.

Most assembly plants that are owned by Japanese auto companies are operated in Right To Work States (This means that even if the Union has a local in that plant you are not required to join it to work there.) This way the automaker are not forced into paying union wages and benefits. This is the main reason why the Unions are so against the Japanese automakers.

The bailout of the US Auto Industry was a flat out Union bail out. If you take a look at the material the UAW sends out to its members of candidates that the Union endorses around election time it is nearly 100% Democrat.

So it is an interesting point that Shultz drives a Japanese car (dont blame her on that). It would be interesting to see what make and if it was at least built here and then to see if the plant it was built at is a Union Shop. At the very least she should be honest and instead of saying Buy American she should say Buy Union, because thats who's pockets she wants to dig into.

[Rick]

Debbie W S is an ignorant, pedantic, obnoxious, frizzy-haired, nasal-voiced, valley girl. She has the intelligence of a 5 watt fluorescent light bulb (made in China). I can't wait to see her thrown out of office.

[AJ]

Now this is REAL journalism!

[don]

she's a venom filled hate monger - and a huge hypocrit - typical and just right for the party of communism and marxism in the usa

[richard genco]

FITS RIGHT IN WITH THIS CREW

[Kevin Day]

We need to outlaw careers as professional politicians.

How? Replace the House and Senate with regular people. Just like our Jury System.

A real Government of our peers. If your peer is good enough to hang you, then he's good enough to pass that law too.

Think of it. No more campaigns and no more bought and paid for corrupt politicians.

[Steve C]

Out of curiosity, what make? A lot of the so-called Japanese autos use American labor and parts.

Posted by: Daniel K | May 26, 2011 at 05:09 PM

Maybe made in the US but the dollars spent to buy it go right back to Japan.
BMW is made in the states also but it is still German.

[PR]

DWS probably thinks Americans are too obese as well. She's good at spotting other people's flaws.

[GMAN51]

Almost ALL leftists drive foreign cars. I had one obama sychophant tell me she would NEVER buy an American car.

BTW, that Infiniti is a very EXPENSIVE foreign car at that. She must make a lot of money.

[Mark Rice]

She is nothing but an attack dog, a liberal phoney and a hypocrite. That's why she is DNC chair.

[Whsage]

Wasserman Schulz is not a hypocrite. She is dead on that republicans are trying to kill the auto industry. How can ONE car make a difference. She still likes American cars AND her Japanese care was made here anyways. move on...

[Cush-Tush]

So this what the DNC has reperesenting them. I think I would rather have Howard Dean, at least that idiot was good for some real laughs.

But at least she has nice big boohind to drool over.

[Jeff]

Daniel K.: Legally, even if it's built in America from mostly American parts, if the marque is a foreign automaker, it's still considered foreign.

Yet funny enough, many "American" cars are manufactured and designed overseas. Take the Chevrolet Cruze...err, the DAEWOO LAGETTI. Designed in Japan by Suzuki.

[GMAN51]

BTW, what exactly is she indicating to obama with her hands? And just how far do those stretch pants stretch? Methinks the seam is under some serious stress.

[GMAN51]

To uh ooh - That aint no Toyota Venza, it's and expensive infiniti gas hog.

[ed]

You see liberals know what is best for all of us.Ofcourse it does not apply to them.WHAT ARE YOU THINKING!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Ed Thomas in NYC]

It is humorous to see the postings of obvious Democrats (who else would defend this if you don't work for Toyota?) dismissing this article as not important. In the big picture they are right.

That said, I wonder if there is a threshold where a Democrat would ever disparage another Democrat, no matter what is said or done.

But you have to admit, if you are a UAW member, it 'looks' awkward. Oops.. yea, it might have been unloaded by union longshoremen, or partially assembled in the States, so it is ok.

I wonder what Debbie would have said if George Bush was seen driving her model of automobile? Let's guess.......

Cheers everyone and have a good long weekend!

[CFJuice]

Talk the talk but walk the walk....

Otherwise you are a phony, lying politician. Period.

[Heather]

A hypocritic liberal surprises you?

[Heather]

I love all the people who are saying that her personal choice has nothing to do with her stand on the issue.

Really? So your saying that we can all support American automakers, but then all of us can go buy foreign cars?

Yup, that works! I think it just proves that the left is not just hypaicritical, but they are also not very smart!

[Reality Bites]

As one the the Dems most flagrant hypocrites, Wasserman has never been one to allow things like truth and facts to get in the way of her consistently outlandish rhetoric.

[LA Doc]

To all the desperate apologists on this blog, defending this 2-faced, liberal, victim-baiting twit, with your silly and condescending claims that Japanese automakers use American labor and parts, just one question. Is Wasserman talking about the bailouts of Toyota and Honda?

[wncchester]

"...roll-up-the-tinted-windows-and-slouch-down-in-your-seat embarrassing."

You cannot embarrass an elitist political liberal, "me first" hypocrisy is a way of life for them. (Witness; Algore, BHO, Pelosi, Reid, et al)

[jnsesq]

No problemo... It's just more liberal Do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do. We all know liberals feel no obligation to live by the rules they create for others' lives. Shows their "freedom of expression" and their "diversity."

[Rowdy Boots]

This Idiot Chairwomen is a complete and utter idiot.

How stupid does she really think Americans are?

Democrats, if this is your leader, She and Barrack Obama are perfect together--Lying Hypocrites!

WHAT A JOKE!

[JohnF]

Japanese cars are made in America, American cars and motorcycles make heavy use of foreign car parts.

No matter what, an American sells the car, sells the gas, builds the roads, and fixes the car when they break.

Stop being so shortsighted and narrow minded. I will NEVER buy another Chevy or Chrysler product because of the political nature of the last buyout, how this administration ramrodded it through, and how they bilked contracted debt holders (i.e. retirement funds) out of their legal share of the bankruptcy and gave it to the unions.

When I buy a car, I buy the one I want. Congress and special interest groups can shove their worthless words up their tailpipe.

[anonthu]

That's really fascinating info about the Toyota Venza.

Too bad she actually drives an Infiniti FX35, assembled in Tochigi, Japan.

[Barry Hussein]

After sschultz loses in 2012, she wont have to worry about such trivialities like outraged public opinion and constituent's anger. She can just go off and work on some corrupt commissions as payback for the benefits reaped by her financial supporters. Just as Obozo won't have to worry about his next Wagyu Steak, round of golf or mansion mortgage payment. Life is good in the corruptocracy bubble.

[Rich M]

The Democrats supported the auto industry bailout to save their own jobs. Without the bailout, GM and Chrysler would have filed bankruptcy which would have allowed them to void the union contracts. Less unions, less cashflow for the Democratic Party. They were protecting their political careers more than the union jobs because after all, if she bought a non-US car, what US union jobs would have been involved?

[John Q.]

No surprise, that bastion of liberal thought and union ideals called San Francisco doesn't even have an American car 'dealership' anymore. If you want to buy an American car, you have to go to the next closest city. The last US dealership, a Ford outlet, closed its doors in April. I wonder what Pelosi drives... hmmm?

[Vera Jones]

Yeah, Sunshine. What a great story. About time the truth starts to leak out. (no pun intended).

Now people, lets all become a member of the union that is Tea Party.
www.americanteapartyunion.com
Millions strong and growing.

[chris bonjoc]

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, what a hypocrite. Most of these liberals are anyway, including Barack Obama.