News Flash: Car Dealers are Republicans

[depakid]

You gotta love how Nate Silver cuts to the chase:

A meme that is currently picking up traction in the conservative blogosphere is that the list of dealerships to be shuttered as a result of Chrysler's bankruptcy contains a disproportionate number donors to Republican candidates. There have been furious efforts to prove this contention by looking up campaign contributor lists at the Huffington Post, Open Secrets, and other places.

There is just one problem with this theory. Nobody has bothered to look up data for the control group: the list of dealerships which aren't being closed. It turns out that all car dealers are, in fact, overwhelmingly more likely to donate to Republicans than to Democrats -- not just those who are having their doors closed.

<snip>

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....

More: http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/05/news-flash-car-dealers-are-republicans.html

[iamtechus]

1. What about all the poor stiffs who work for those dealers? (nt)

[depakid]

3. Apparently the story being "made" is that Republican dealers are trageted on the shut down list

And- if you know your MSM and AM radio, they won't bother giving you real scoop.

[Goat or Panic]

2. Car Dealers who mismanage their dealerships,

who sell cars no one wants, who sell cars that get terrible gas mileage are, big surprise, republicans.

[Kalyke]

18. Hmmm.... cars that no one wants?

Not hardly. Many people would buy a car, regardless of the gas mileage, if they could afford it.

DU lives in such a ToyHonNissa bubble that they don't even know that Ford is the top-seller every... single... month with their F-Series trucks. Yes - and American car manufacturer and UAW shop.

[udbcrzy2]

4. Car Dealers are always trying to bust the union

Here in St Louis, every time a contract comes up they try to bust the union. Yes, they are
republicans and believe it or not some of the workers are too. Very sad. Last contract they
made each dealer have a separate contract. It's really strange.

Look at the grocery stores too that are union. If they are union then the workers are part-time
making just above minimum wage. Like, 7.45 per hour. Of course department managers and assistant managers
are full time, but all others are part-time (24 hours weekly).

Our unions really suck.

[bvar22]

17. "Assistant Manager" is also a big scam.

They take a good worker who is making hourly wages, "promote" him to "Assistant Manager", give him a "salary" that is really a big reduction in dollars earned per required work hour.

Ahhh, The American Dream.

[L. Coyote]

5. "We were trying to figure out how to assassinate Obama"

I walked into the local bar Saturday night and walked over to the local Chevrolet dealer and asked, "What are you guys up to?"

..... http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=5729351&mesg_id=5729351

No kidding!!!

[Initech]

6. Yup I can attest to this.

I used to own a Pontiac and the dealer I got it serviced at was run by Bush-loving, flag-waving religious fanatics. They always had Fox News on the TV in the service room. Then they got taken over by dipshits who ran the dealership into the ground.

[madrchsod]

7. the government forced gm and chrysler to close dealerships

whether or not they were republican or democrat contributors is a mute point.

the anger should be directed at our government...

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=48062

http://gm-volt.com/2009/05/15/gm-to-cut-1100-dealers-today/

[depakid]

8. errr... you might want to direct your anger at the bondholders

who declined to take a haircut.

[bvar22]

20. Some of my anger is justifiably targeted at the Obama Administration.

The Double Standard was on display for even the politically challenged to see.

Wall Street Millionaires coddled and showered with $Trillions of Tax payer dollars no strings attached and BONUSES intact.

Auto Workers told they will just have to compete with 3rd World Non-Union Labor who in most cases enjoy FREE Health Care.

Yeah, there is room for some ANGER there.

[ContinentalOp]

9. Why would we want to debunk this though?

I say encourage their paranoia. Yes, the all powerful Obama forced Chrysler to shut down Republican dealerships! Bwah-ha-ha-ha. Watch out Republican businessmen. You may be next. Conservative Christians: there will be no place left for you to shop because every dollar you spend will end up in the pocket of a socialist Muslim businesswoman once Obama shutters all Republican businesses! Our plan is finally coming to fruition comrades!

[nichomachus]

13. I like the way you think n/t

[Catshrink]

14. You mean the foreign born Muslim who was illegally elected

to the office of President? I want to see his birth certificate!

[bvar22]

19. AND, Thanks to The Patriot Act and other extra Constitutional Powers...

...rammed through BY THE REPUBLICANS, Obama and The Democrats can now tap Republican phones and use all those other Spying Techniques to Spy on REPUBLICANS.

Please REPUBLICANS, remember that we are at WAR and it is Un-American and Un-Patriotic to criticize the Commander-In-Chief during WARTIME.

Remember Republicans, The Democrats are now listening in on YOUR phone calls...AND it is ALL LEGAL because of YOU!

Thanks,
Oh, and you better "watch what YOU say".

[zbdent]

10. no doubt ... the majority of dealerships are Repuke donors ... aren't Repukes constantly

saying that the Repuke supporters are the only ones who "create jobs"?

I also remember a few years back (about June 2000, I believe) a local auto dealership whose radio ads consisted of about 60 percent ranting against the government (mainly about things Dems did) ran an ad which contradicted their constant sign-off statement - "American! ... and proud of it!" ... the ad they ran touted about how they just got a huge shipment ... of Canadian-manufactured "American" cars ... now why didn't they sign off with their signature statement: "American! ... and proud of it!"

A few months after Bush was sworn in, with the Repukes in charge of the House and Senate, suddenly, the ranting against the government foulups dried up ... big surprise ...

[jazzjunkysue]

11. But capitalism and free markets will drive the economy upward....

Unless, of course, the american cars suck and we all buy japanese cars....Then the japanese economy benefits from capitalism.....

Wait, let me think about this....

Let's have the government buy up the car company debt, and then accuse the president of being a socialist, because we all know we hate it when the government tries to get into private business....

Wait, I'm confused.....

[Wednesdays]

12. Used Car Salesmen? No surprise there...

[Echo In Light]

24. Ha...no shit. Jesus, those guys fucking radiate "repub."

[MindMatter]

15. Whenever you see an archaic, predatory, monopolistic business model, you will find Republicans

They talk a good game about free markets, but they really love the monopolies and oligopolies that you find in the banking system, telecoms, drug companies, insurance industry and automobile dealerships.

There is no rational argument for the way we sell cars. The artificially restricted access, the predatory selling techniques, the steadfast resistance to lemon laws, fuel efficiency, and safety measures -- these are all bedrock Republican attitudes. The irony is that these dealers probably make a lot more money under Democratic leadership, but they just can get past their dogma.

[JohnnyBoots]

16. Oh.....is that why they are assholes?

[ContinentalOp]

21. Wait, what do you mean?

Car dealers are assholes because they're Republican, or Republicans are assholes because they're all car dealers? It's like an ouroboros of assholery.

[coalition_unwilling]

30. ROTFLMAO--what an image! -n\t

[Orsino]

22. Cars are surrogate penises.

Building a career out of selling them sounds rather Republican. I'm thinking that we might see some analogous numbers for gun dealers? :shrug:

[Mopar151]

26. Not even close...

Your theory does'nt hold water. A)The car/driver/owner relationship is a lot more complicated than that, and not nearly as Freudian.
B) If dealerships only sold cars to people who loved them, they would'nt sell many.

[Orsino]

27. It can be much more complicated than even you've alluded to...

...without invalidating my point or yours. I think Freud would have understood the car as both penis and womb. Don't believe me? Just listen to the chatter about CAFE. There's talk of fuel efficiency making cars more expensive, sure, but all the haters eventually get around to wringing their hands over diminished horsepower.

[Mopar151]

28. Complex, yes

As I understand it, the car CAN BE an expression of self-image. Self-awareness plays a big part in this, though, and so do economics.
I grew up around stock car racing and heavy trucks, and am deeply involved in motorsport still. Most of us in these worlds own or use multiple vehicles, and are fairly pragmatic about it. Racing drivers rarely drive a flashy, "hot" car on the street. Generally, it's what works for the commute and the family, and/or towing the racecar. Look a little further, and it's "Momma" who often drives the nicer, newer car.
And then there is driving ability. Once you know how to drive efficently (smoooth!)and FAST, you don't need big power to get big tickets! All you want is enough acceleration to be safe in merging, and not bog down on long grades.
A final example - My friend S. and I are about the same age, and have both raced and been mad motorheads since childhood. Both our wives will not let us drive when they are in a hurry!

[Orsino]

29. I was not distinguishing between the sexes...

...when labeling the car as a phallic symbol. That a man may drive a less powerful car than his wife (in everyday life) doesn't mean the Freudian symbolism isn't there for both. Even when we don't drive all that fast, most of us still speak of our cars as extensions of our own bodies, being more likely to say, "he nearly hit me" than "he nearly bumped my car with his car."

The desire to be seen as being as big and powerful as our cars is an impulse we all my understand to varying degrees. My thesis is that the distinction between self and vehicle is probably blurrier in the conservative mindset. You'll get their gas guzzlers when you pry them from their cold, dead McMansion garages. :D

And they may be statistically better (or more motivated) at selling the idea of the car as a statement of power, as the OP hints.

[Mopar151]

31. And then there are the salesweasels....

I've read that we share 98% of our DNA with chimps. From my experience with salesweasels, they are likely around 66%.....And that is where a lot of dealers start out. Blurry is a kind way of describing their self-awareness. I avoid the breed like the plague!(No foolin' - when we buy a car, the salesweasels have been warned off, and we do straight business with the sales manager - the service manager is a friend of 30 years, and sets me up.)
The symbol of obliviousness, rudeness at the wheel, and sneering contempt for the "little people" in this neck of the woods is the Cadillac Escalade.
Ol' Junior Johnson got me started on the concept of "social driving", and I've advocated for it anytime I had a soapbox. I'd love to see a safe driving PSA or 3 with some of today's NASCAR guys on things like failure to yeild and tailgating.

[lefthandedlefty]

23. It doesn`t make sense to me

Auto manufacturers seem to make money with a democrat in the White House and lose with a repuke.Just look between 1993 and 2000 they made more money than they could spend,1981 to 1992 almost went under.The only reason I could see them being republican is that they hate labor so much that they would bring themselves down to destroy the blue collar worker.

[Mopar151]

25. Not only is the conspiracy theory wrong...

My friends in the dealership world talk a lot more about the credit crunch. A. actually took time off from ranting about Dr. Evil Dick Chaney to tell me about trying to keep a biz running when you have a 800K line of credit pulled with no notice....
Here's a good article from a racing website on the trials of 1 big dealer
<http://www.competitionplus.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10007&Itemid=24>


"Our Jeep dealer in town, he's been a Jeep dealer since 1979. He just built a new building for Chrysler a year and a half ago; spent two million dollars on that building. He found out in three weeks he's got a building that is going to be empty, no franchise, all his employees (will be out of work), they have no obligation to take back parts, inventory and basically if you owe a thirty thousand dollar a month payment on your facility you need to figure out a way to do it."
David Hagan, of Shelor MotorMile

[librechik]

32. yup n/t

[Swede]

33. My nephew calls dealership owner's "snakes" -he worked in the industry for awhile.

No matter which dealership he went to,the owner's were snakes bent on screwing people over. as he put it.

[Mopar151]

34. That's true of most, unfortunately

The funny thing is, the exceptions to that rule make more money! I trade where I do because, as I explained to my friend the service manager "At least these guys are smart enough to understand that clogging up the driveway with the corpses of bleeding customers is bad for business!"