Today we saw prima facie evidence of why and how the Republican Party has become a regional party and no longer represents the best interest of the entire United States.
This morning U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, Republican from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, appeared on both NBC’s Meet the Press and CBS’s Face the Nation and attempted to discuss his opposition to a Detroit-based automobile industry bailout. On NBC he attempted to counter Senator Carl Levin, D-MI, and later on CBS he flapped his jaws with the same arguments he used on NBC but against Sen. Barney Frank, D-MA.
In both instances Shelby succeeded in proving that his interests are regional and self-serving, even though he failed to disclose that his home state will benefit significantly by the failure of GM or any of the the Big 3 American auto manufacturers.
It is clear to anyone paying attention to this controversy about how to best rescue the Big 3 that Senator Carl Levin is fighting for the best interests of not only the entire United States, but also his own constituents in the State of Michigan. Senator Carl Levin wants to save the American Automobile Industry.
However, what Senator Shelby FAILS to disclose is that his home state of Alabama is in direct competition with the state of Michigan when it comes to the automobile industry. Senator Richard Shelby wants GM and the other American automobile manufactures to go bankrupt.
"I do not support using taxpayer dollars to save private companies," Shelby said in a statement. "This is not a national problem, it's their problem."
Watching the sharp contrast between Sen. Carl Levin pleading his case to save an important industry in his home state, and Sen. Richard Shelby cold and callously dismiss every argument for reasons to save millions of American jobs and prevent the loss of billions in revenue to the government and the American economy, even in light of the agreement by Carl Levin that Detroit needs to change its ways and change the leadership at the Big 3, I found myself asking, "Does Shelby have an agenda? Why is he so opposed to doing what appears to be the right thing?"
Alabama Automobile Manufacturers Association
Well, guess who builds cars in Alabama, and would greatly benefit from the demise of of GM, Ford, and Chrysler? Yes, Japan, Korea, and Germany!
Take a look at the list of members of the Board of Directors of the Alabama Automobile Manufacturers Association and who they mostly represent. Here are a few of the most notable from the list:
Mark Brazeal Assistant General Manager Administration
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Inc. (JAPAN)
Huntsville, AL
Mike Lapham Purchasing Division Manager
Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC (JAPAN)
Lincoln, AL
Dave Mark Senior Manager, Parts Development
Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, LLC (KOREA)
Montgomery, AL
Rhonda Simmons HR manager
Benteler Automotive (outpost of GERMAN Benteler Group.)
Opilika, AL
Tom Waggoner Manager-Purchasing
Mercedes-Benz US International (GERMAN)
Tuscaloosa, AL
Senator Richard Shelby Is Wrong And Has A Hidden Agenda
Shelby is dead wrong.
According to the Editorial in Saturday's New York Times
Senator Richard Shelby, a Republican of Alabama, is wrong when he says that the troubles of the Big Three are "not a national problem." The Detroit companies support nearly 250,000 workers and more than a million retirees and dependents, as well as millions of workers at part makers and dealerships. A messy bankruptcy filing by any of the big car companies, in the midst of this recession, would likely cost the government and the economy more than trying to keep them afloat.
Bankruptcy would be the kiss of death for Detroit.
And, that is exactly what Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz would love to see.
Richard Shelby is not interested in Detroit, in fact, he is apparently not interested in the entire United States, but only in Alabama and his well-healed and probably heavy-weight-campaign-contributing special interests.
If Shelby will not fully disclose his hidden agenda, we need to do all we can to get the word out.
Richard Shelby is a perfect example of the how and why the Republican Party has [thankfully] degenerated into a regional party.