Outrage! NHTSA, Republicans And Gore Family Revealed As Closet Prius Drivers

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

Everybody promised this would not be a repeat of the Japan bashing of the 80s. But when the DetN starts outing lawmakers and administrators in DC for driving Toyotas, then it’s open season. Let them dawgs out …

“The vaunted Toyota Prius is everywhere in Washington,” reports the breathless Detroit News after exhaustive traffic analysis.

The DetN found EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson guilty of owning a 2008 Prius. The investigation revealed NHTSA chief David Strickland being in possession of a “very babied” 2005 Prius, with intent to drive.

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., one of Toyota’s harshest critics, was found with a veritable cache of four Prius cars. John McCain, was caught having bought a Prius for his daughter. At this point, the DetN stopped counting, adding that “many other senators drive the Prius, including Richard Lugar, R-Ind.” See? Republicans are consorting with the enemy, and no wonder that NHTSA was dragging their heels, just look at what they drive.

In the interest of fair and balanced reporting, the DetN pointed out that “former Vice President Al Gore’s son was arrested in July 2007 on drug charges after getting stopped going more than 100 mph in his blue Prius. Perhaps his car’s accelerator was stuck.” Gore may be a Dem, but he’s also against global warming and the ozone hole, so let’s smear him while we are at it. At least, the DetN didn’t make the same “mistake” Fox News had made … Ah, come on, the bad apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

More by Bertel Schmitt

Comments
Join the conversation
11 of 24 comments
  • David C. Holzman David C. Holzman on Feb 18, 2010

    Some national security-oriented Republicans are known to drive Prions in order to reduce the flow of dollars to OPEC.

  • Geeber Geeber on Feb 18, 2010

    Has anybody considered that some people buy a Prius because...they just like the car?

    • See 1 previous
    • Accs Accs on Feb 18, 2010

      Sorry to anyone who's panties might get into a bunch.... Buying a PRIUS cause you like it... is like going to church cause you want to be fed. Ya buy it.. cause ya don't know any better and ya think that ya savin' the world in some ass munching gutless pointless POS. Ya should have to hand over ya mancard to get into that thing. 100mph.. Id like to see it go that fast.. AND STOP.

  • Tedward Tedward on Feb 18, 2010

    Haha, I actually get a kick out of those Fox news "mistakes". Al Gore's pot charge, Mark Foley labled a democrat, etc... Sure it's patently dishonest and clearly intentional, but it's so blatant that it almost comes across as just ball-busting or satire. And I like ball-busting. It's just too bad that the majority of news viewers have literally zero background knowledge, and thus take this stuff at face value. It would be a better world if stuff like this didn't have to provoke outrage, just a humerous counter-response.

    • See 3 previous
    • Kamiller42 Kamiller42 on Feb 18, 2010

      May I see the video 10 seconds prior to its start? The video could have easily started "Son of former vice president Al Gore..." and an editor cut the "Son of" part off.

  • Tced2 Tced2 on Feb 18, 2010

    There's just something amusing about the most politically-correct car getting tangled up in a "scandal" according to the political folks. Time to trade the Prius for an Escape. Wanna take odds on the Volt becoming the new politically-correct vehicle in a year?

    • Tedward Tedward on Feb 18, 2010

      I genuinely hope it does. The technology is a step ahead in a direction I thoroughly approve of (pure electric drive). Also, I agree with criticisms on it's price, and hope at the same time to see it come down...that can only happen if people with no sense buy it. The politicians could fill that gap nicely.

Next