Doug Ross continues to assert that the Obama administration chose to close Chrysler dealers based on their political donations, but he relies on some one-sided data, hanging a lot on the closing list.
For my second look at the issue, I thought I'd look locally. What I did was tabulate the Chrysler dealers in the greater Metro Detroit area which are on the closing list, and also the ones on the stay-open list and take note of their political donations. Here are the results:
Closing:
Dealer, Donations
FORTINBERRY R
MCDONALD R
MONICATTI R
PENSKE R
RUSSO R
TAMAROFF R
VIVIANO R
Remaining:
Dealer, Donations
DEEBY R
FISCHER R
MCINERNEY R+D
MEADE AFIT PAC
MILOSCH R
MOORE NADA PAC
PENSKE R
RIEHL NADA PAC
ROBBINS R
SCOTT R
SNETHKAMP R
VIVIANO R
Metro Detroit Chrysler dealers who donated did so overwhelmingly to the Republicans.
The only example of a Metro Detroit Chrysler dealer who gave money to Democrats was "Hoot" McInerny, who gave large amounts to both sides. It would also be very bad press for Chrysler to try to axe McInerny's dealership, because he is a well known local personality and a big philanthropist.
I don't think you can argue any political bias in Metro Detroit, based on the data.
