Lauria allegations of threats corroborated
posted at 1:37 pm on May 5, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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Business Insider reports that more than one Chrysler senior creditor has corroborated Thomas Lauria’s allegation that the Obama administration threatened them with public attacks if they didn’t surrender their contractual rights. One of their sources says that the Obama team comprises some of the worst “ends justify the means” people he’s ever encountered (via HA reader Geoff A):
Creditors to Chrysler describe negotiations with the company and the Obama administration as “a farce,” saying the administration was bent on forcing their hands using hardball tactics and threats.
Conversations with administration officials left them expecting that they would be politically targeted, two participants in the negotiations said. …
The sources, who represent creditors to Chrysler, say were taken aback by the hardball tactics that the Obama administration employed to cajole them into acquiescing to plans to restructure Chrysler. One person said described the administration as the most shocking “end justifies the means” group they have ever encountered. Another characterized Obama was “the most dangerous smooth talker on the planet- and I knew Kissinger.” Both were voters for Obama in the last election.
One participant in negotiations said that the administration’s tactic was to present what one described as a “madman theory of the presidency” in which the President is someone to be feared because he was willing to do anything to get his way. The person said this threat was taken very seriously by his firm.
Well, that’s certainly reassuring. The man at the helm during one of the biggest economic crises in decades is a madman who will act in an unpredictable and irrational manner if he doesn’t get his way. It sounds like they paint Obama as either a lunatic or a petulant child.
As Glenn Reynolds says, the country is in the very best of hands.
The story now has more than one source, and mounting testimony — albeit understandably anonymous testimony, at least at this point — that the White House tried threatening senior creditors instead of doing their job in enforcing the law. Not only do they not realize that their responsibilities do not include building business plans for private enterprises, but also don’t include assuming the role of Michael Corleone and acting like organized-crime thugs. Actually, the way the White House made Obama sound, maybe Sonny Corleone is a better analogy … or perhaps Fredo.
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Added. Thanks for the reminder!
TheBigOldDog on May 5, 2009 at 2:07 PM
Impeach.
marklmail on May 5, 2009 at 2:07 PM
Joe the Plumber, Sarah Palin, all you need to know.
tarpon on May 5, 2009 at 2:08 PM
O.K.
Who said Jesse Jackson couldn’t get elected?
Well guess WTF happened.
We got someone even worse!
No wonder J.J.wanted his balls.
hanoverfist on May 5, 2009 at 2:09 PM
This is a major problem. If the states are not self sufficient, then we have a bigger deficit/debt than is realized.
lorien1973 on May 5, 2009 at 2:09 PM
Pasalubong on May 5, 2009 at 1:39 PM
I hope you have FOREVER to wait.
gsherin on May 5, 2009 at 2:10 PM
I love it!
ProfessorMiao on May 5, 2009 at 2:11 PM
“Reap What You Sow” comes to mind.
Branch Rickey on May 5, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Breathtaking. We are screwed people.
TXMomof3 on May 5, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Some voters who thought that our National Election was just another episode of American Idol. Soros and the MSM wanted this Socialist to win. This is the result.
kingsjester on May 5, 2009 at 2:11 PM
Can the US Government be a target in a RICO investigation?
mojo on May 5, 2009 at 2:12 PM
I apologize in front of all of you to my husband. He can buy all the ammunition he can get his hands on.
TXMomof3 on May 5, 2009 at 2:13 PM
“We had to destroy that Constitution in order to save it.”
“We had to destroy the economy to save it.”
“I won.”
“Hope and Change!”
LegendHasIt on May 5, 2009 at 2:13 PM
Dear Chrysler Pals,
Welcome to Chicago.
Hugs,
Rahm & Barry
fogw on May 5, 2009 at 2:13 PM
I hope he can still find it. It’s pretty scarce here in TN.
ladyingray on May 5, 2009 at 2:14 PM
“You broke my heart, Fredo… You broke my heart!”
gridlock2 on May 5, 2009 at 2:15 PM
These people obviously did not get the memo. The Fuhrer commands, they are to obey. Since they state that they had voted for Obama, I’m rather surprised they didn’t offer the old Jewish excuse for The One, “If only the Fuhrer knew”.
Guess they are well aware, Obama knows of the threats, after all “I won”.
GarandFan on May 5, 2009 at 2:15 PM
Tom Lauria will be on Cavuto again this afternoon.
When will some of these folks start wearing wires when doing business with this administation?
Knucklehead on May 5, 2009 at 1:44 PM
My thoughts exactly, but they probably get overly groped by Rahm.
TXMomof3 on May 5, 2009 at 2:15 PM
I’ve was wrong. I thought that the “Chicago way” talk was just a rhetorical slam on Mr. Obama. Sorry. This is organized crime masquerading as government.
Mason on May 5, 2009 at 2:16 PM
So this is what 52% of the country wanted in a new President.
Hope you choke on this hope, and change, because the rest of us are forced to choke as well.
capejasmine on May 5, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Some of the current worship of powerful executives may come from those who admire strength and accomplishment of any sort. Others hail the display of Presidential strength simply because they approve of the result reached by the use of power. This is nothing less than the totalitarian philosophy that the end justifies the means If ever there was a philosophy of government totally at war with that of the Founding Fathers, it is this one.
- Barry Goldwater
Republicans should start calling for Obama’s impeachment for abuse of power. What Obama has done is far worse than what either Nixon or Clinton did. Would they get very far? Not likely, but it would be the right thing to do and, if there is anything left of the founding fathers floating around someplace, it would make them happy.
MB4 on May 5, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Some say Obama is a pragmatist. Not at all. Rather than respecting the nature of reality in-itself, the way of life, if you will, he wants to impose a liberal vision onto the country, as much as he possibly can, by as extreme a means as possible. He doesn’t respect differing views or ways. He’s dangerous.
Paul-Cincy on May 5, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Kind of like the woman with the voucher program. Why Obama? We campaigned for you, stayed out in the rain for you, why?
The funny thing is if she would have looked at the issues, she would have known this is one of the things he said he was going to do.
deidre on May 5, 2009 at 2:16 PM
Time to IMPEACH hussein. He’s a punk and a THUG.
dogsoldier on May 5, 2009 at 2:16 PM
L’Etat, c’est Barack…
gridlock2 on May 5, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Kinda says it all, doesn’t it?
littleguy on May 5, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Obama hey remember that thing called the constitution? There’s a thing called the 5th amendment and regarding that is the “Takings Clause”.
i swear he is hiding his records because he was last in class od law school and failed Contitution 101 classes!
xler8bmw on May 5, 2009 at 2:17 PM
And with Porkulus stimulating growth in government, we are cultivating a carnivorous monster:
Obama’s Shop of Horrors
Feed me!
Loxodonta on May 5, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Is this for real? Is there some Cinco de Mayo comedy trap that I’ve fallen into? It can’t be FACTUAL that we have this thug government that specializes in “nuetralizing” their opposition, can it?
I guess there’s no need to turn on the TV to see if the MSM will lower themselves to report on it.
anniekc on May 5, 2009 at 2:17 PM
Finally, the overreach?????
rollthedice on May 5, 2009 at 2:18 PM
Time for a “Cinco de Quatro” commission to look into Obama’s impeachable offenses.
No wonder anti-American terrorist Billy Ayers loves Hugo Chavez and Obama. Two peas in a pod.
OxyCon on May 5, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Speaking of “…the very best of hands”,
http://lyricsplayground.com/alpha/songs/t/thecountrysintheverybestofhandslilabnerthemusical.shtml
sadatoni on May 5, 2009 at 2:19 PM
Gee, I wonder if this could be used for a prosecution of the entire Obama administration when the Republicans re-take over in 2012. Interested in playing chicken now Libs?
Defector01 on May 5, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Read that entire story Ed linked to from Business Week:
INC on May 5, 2009 at 2:20 PM
I must respectfully disagree with you. In a smoke filled room, there is nothing more virulent than an ex-smoker. We need to welcome the converts that will out this sham of a President and not cast them into the wilderness.
MarkABinVA on May 5, 2009 at 2:20 PM
Yeah, this is pretty damned bad.
If it gains legs in the media I assume that the best we can hope for is the dismissal of some WH staffer. At least for now, the media have too much riding on this guy to let it get any further.
I stand by my prediction that Obama will not serve a second term. One way or the other, he’s not going to be in office for 8 years.
Y-not on May 5, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Given the MSM coverage of Obama, what percentage of the American people have any knowledge of his incompetence, abuses of power, anti-Americanism, and the threats his policies pose to our economy and national security.
The MSM is a wall around Obama. We need to tear down this wall, or somehow get around, over, or under it to educate the American public.
Hello! RNC? Anybody home?
Loxodonta on May 5, 2009 at 2:22 PM
We learned threats from the Rethugs.
Obama is just doing what Bush taught him.
At least he didn’t shoot anyone like Cheney did. Halliburton.
LibTired on May 5, 2009 at 2:24 PM
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
- Edmund Burke
MB4 on May 5, 2009 at 2:24 PM
I wonder how bad the problem would be if states got rid of all the non-essential stuff they fund.
My friend’s parents had a reduction in their income which they responded to by getting rid of cable t.v., cooking a lot more at home and being more efficient with the food they buy (fewer scraps, more left overs) and going without luxury items.
They are still able to save just as much as they were before because they cut the ‘fat’ out of their budgets.
If state governments went through and cut all the funding to programs that they really have no reason to fund in the first place, they could mostly likely make do with their current tax receipts. Heck! Many of them could probably lower taxes even in the current economic climate because they’d need a fraction of the money they currently need.
JadeNYU on May 5, 2009 at 2:24 PM
Loxodonta on May 5, 2009 at 2:22 PM
do they even want to be educated? do they even care? they certainly didn’t care enough to get off their asses and educate themselves before they went gleefully to vote for this pig. i’m not attacking you, but the majority of americans are stuck on stupid and are happy as a pig in sh_t to stay there.
Ghoul aid on May 5, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Obama Doctrine: Release Terrorists, Fight Americans
faraway on May 5, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Totally agree Deidre!
Branch Rickey on May 5, 2009 at 2:30 PM
If this story does get out into the mainstream, watch for “plausible deniability” on the part of President Obama and the “sacrificial lamb”, who will join the rest of the road bumps under the bus.
I really don’t want to think that my President is a thug. I’m also not a conspiracy enthusiast. Still, I’m beginning to wonder who is really calling the shots these days.
March Hare on May 5, 2009 at 2:31 PM
It may be slipped in under another guise
But to all this fascist action most foul we must still be wise
In spite of all the Houdini lies
Dancing in Obama’s Mussolini eyes
MB4 on May 5, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Obama is too weak to pull this kind of shakedown. It was some combination of Axelrod, Rattner and Emanuel. I bet one of them was playing good cop, probably Rahm since he is already on fed tapes in the Blago scandal. This is how business gets done in Chicago. If you want to start a business, get a permit, or fix a ticket you have to play ball. I’m just suprised the administration was after a better deal for the UAW and not more money for the DNC. I’m guessing a haircut for Chrysler’s creditors would put billions into the pockets of the unions, which would grease some compromise on card check.
Ted Torgerson on May 5, 2009 at 2:32 PM
That “fat” is what ensures re-election of incumbents, at both the state and federal level,..hence no incentive to cut it by the ones who benefit most. It is a self perpetuating circle.
a capella on May 5, 2009 at 2:32 PM
where have you been all this time? under a rock????
Ghoul aid on May 5, 2009 at 2:33 PM
“Does not computer, Will Robinson.”
How could you expect the Dems in congress and the senate to grasp this concept?! Wouldn’t that be like punishing a fish for abusing water?
Akzed on May 5, 2009 at 2:33 PM
The MSM is a wall around Obama. We need to tear down this wall, or somehow get around, over, or under it to educate the American public.
Hello! RNC? Anybody home?
Loxodonta on May 5, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Nice Reagan reference.
TXMomof3 on May 5, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Not all, and perhaps not even enough. But if we don’t try, we’ll never know and we’ll never open any eyes or change any minds.
Look at what’s happening in California with their fiscal and economic meltdown. If voters in liberal land say “no,” there is hope.
Like I posted elsewhere, these are the current priorities of the Obama-MSM complex, via Google News search:
Miss California nude pictures: 482 articles
Lauria allegations: 48 articles
Air Force One New York City classified pictures: 20 articles
Loxodonta on May 5, 2009 at 2:34 PM
The Jews did not want to think that Hitler was a genocidal murderer either. How did that work out for them?
MB4 on May 5, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Rush Limbaugh
Sean Hannity
AIG executives
We haven’t seen the last of these tactics.
Daggett on May 5, 2009 at 2:35 PM
Any pre bankruptcy get together, where folks are expected to take haircuts on their positions, always turn into longshoremen with ice picks–that’s a given. What is never a given is to be threatened with the IRS/SEC by a US government representative.
As I said yesterday that is akin to calling Tony Soprano.
Sadly with the MSM dry humping Obama all day this allegation and the subsequent death threats will never be looked into. It reminds me of the raw FBI files found in the basement of the White House with Hillary’s crew all over them creating a enemies list an extreme felony that absolutely no one was prosecuted for.
Can you even remotely imagine a Repub White House getting away with any of this. Once again this proves the power of the MSM and countless editorial pages. How Repubs ever get elected is the real miracle!
patrick neid on May 5, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Do you think that Axelrod, Rattner, and Emmauel are strong? Bullies are weaklings. That’s why they respond so well to a punch in the mouth.
Akzed on May 5, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Barry… The Economic Terrorist-in-Chief…
Tougher on the engine of democracy than the threats of international
freedoomfreedom…phreshone on May 5, 2009 at 2:37 PM
It’s not a theory. The Precedent is a total madman who hates America and Western civilization.
progressoverpeace on May 5, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Where the hell is Michael Steele on this? He should be priming the pump 24/7.
a capella on May 5, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Smoke the lil’ weasel out.
bluelightbrigade on May 5, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Obama: Can we do whatever we want and get away with it?
Yes we can!
Daggett on May 5, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Obama isn’t smart enough to be Michael Corleone
jp on May 5, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Jake Tapper, Rick Santelli, Joe the Plumber, Sarah Palin, Tea Parties……
Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh
and now Lauria……
We need more patriots……if the National Enquirer can bring down John Edwards….Maybe they can bring down Obama….they have tried…O’s girlfriend, his aunty (mecca bound), his brother the rapist, the cousin the hut dweller, etc. etc…..not to mention all those sealed records of college and birth…
nondhimmie on May 5, 2009 at 2:40 PM
I think that those of us who believe in objective truth all saw it coming. But it’s not ignorance; it’s wishful thinking. So many Americans wanted a president of African descent so badly that they were willing to accept anyone who came along and who was not Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton and they weren’t willing to look too closely inside the mouth of this gifthorse.
I also think that a great deal of racism is involved but not in the manner that is usually pointed out. Some white Democrats who aren’t around black people that much think that a “clean, articulate” black man is some kind of anomaly. (Heck if those were the lone criteria for having a president that’s black, we could have voted for all the American men in my family over 35 or for my fiance. We would have had at least two chances of getting a conservative.)
Thing is, when lots of white Democrats think of black men, a black guy like Willie Horton is conjured, in spite of the fact that good law-abiding black dudes are all around them. So in order to redeem themselves of their “racial sins,” they vote for the guy that’s “clean and articulate”; the One who isn’t “too black”; the One who they might let their daughter go out with; the One looks like he’d never dream of breaking the law.
Turns out he’s the biggest pick-pocket there is.
baldilocks on May 5, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Wouldn’t this be like the Watergate of this era? Isn’t this the holy grail type of scandal that every reporter hopes comes his way?
So why isn’t every news source jumping in all over this? Why isn’t there a vigil of reporters at the White House waiting to get at the truth?
It looks like the liberal corruption of University journalism departments started decades ago has paid off handsomely.
SPCOlympics on May 5, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Seriously I pray for the people challenging the big O in bankruptcy court that they will win
karasoth on May 5, 2009 at 2:41 PM
How about devious enough? Arrogant enough? Corrupt enough? Evil enough?
Loxodonta on May 5, 2009 at 2:41 PM
We have to keep things in perspective. They talked to the heat, they didn’t talk to the Don.
unclesmrgol on May 5, 2009 at 2:41 PM
So you’re saying Bush had the MSM in his back pocket, willing to distort the truth, or outright hide it, to protect him? Ummmm I don’t think so.
Obama, and his merry admin of thugs, are not only violating the Constitution, but threatening private citizens, and if you read the story, 2 so far, voted for him. That only shows, that he’s not going to discriminate who they go after. Republican, Democrat, or otherwise. We’re all fair game.
capejasmine on May 5, 2009 at 2:41 PM
a capella on May 5, 2009 at 2:37 PM
where the hell are all of the republicans in washington???
Ghoul aid on May 5, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Barry might not be smart enough to be Fredo…
phreshone on May 5, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Wait until people learn about how The Precedent will be leaning on the bankruptcy judge!
No one should have any doubt about what The Precedent wants and what he is willing to do. It has been obvious since the illegally funded campaign.
progressoverpeace on May 5, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Extortion.
Johan Klaus on May 5, 2009 at 2:45 PM
No. I agree with you. I’m still working on my getalife impersonation.
LibTired on May 5, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Well said, and some great one-liners.
Loxodonta on May 5, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Pretty sure that was some sarcasm a la getalife.
loudmouth883 on May 5, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Well … That is a major part of the Obama plan – overwhelming debt to END “Federalism” and “States Rights”.
A lot of people think – “What is Obama going to do with this massive debt?”
The answer is – it’s part of his plan to “reshape” America.
He cannot “reshape” America and consolidate power at the Federal level unless he first ends “states rights”.
He’s going to do that by creating a “debt crisis”.
Americans pay income taxes to two sources, one is to the Federal Government and the other is to the State they live in (there are a few exceptions).
I’m convinced part of the “stimulus” was designed to get states into a “hyper-spending” mode. The federal government encourages the states to spend more on programs like unemployment – but the federal dollars only last a few years and after that, the state must either reduce the benefits or raise taxes to pay for them. If they can’t successfully do either – then they will be back to asking for a bailout from the Federal government.
But at the same time – the massive FEDERAL debt is racking up – and taxpayers are getting KILLED by paying income taxes to both the Feds and the State.
At that point – the argument will be to END ALL STATE TAXES. Everyone will pay Federal taxes and then the dollars will be apportioned to the states out of the federal treasury. This will be the most efficient route to paying off Federal and State debts since the feds will collect all income tax revenues and apportion them according to need.
But it will end the 10th Amendment and States Rights as we know them.
Folks – a big part of the “Obama Doctrine” is to force a crisis that has only ONE solution – Obama’s solution – the socialist solution. You see this being used time and again – he just used it last week to give Chrysler to the Labor Unions. He gets exactly what he wants – to reshape America – and at the same time he gets to say that his solution was the only possible solution to the problem. He’s an expert – the guy is a radical genious and he’s obvilously studied many of the Communist greats – like Mao, Lenin … Etc.
HondaV65 on May 5, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Ha! I was right!
loudmouth883 on May 5, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Omg I’m so sorry. LOL I totally missed the sarcasm in that LOL. Please forgive my stupidity. :)
capejasmine on May 5, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Obama isn’t smart enough to stick his hand up the Kermit puppet.
capejasmine on May 5, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Nice parody.
baldilocks on May 5, 2009 at 2:49 PM
The Strange Case of Professor Obama and Mr Hussein is a real life drama playing out in the aftermath of the Presidential election of 2008. It is about the dilemma of the American citizen who sees strange dissonances between the new found Messiah, Professor Obama, and the misanthropic Mr. Hussein. It is a vivid portrayal of a split personality, split in the sense that within the same person there is both an apparently good and an evil personality each being quite distinct from the other; in mainstream culture the very phrase “Obama and Hussien” will come to mean a person who is vastly different in moral character from his public speeches and his behind the scenes actions.
Sigmund on May 5, 2009 at 2:51 PM
What is this? Special Olympics, or something?
Over 1350 days of this? We are in deep do do…..
joedoe on May 5, 2009 at 2:52 PM
on May 5, 2009 at 2:41 PM
FIFY!!! :)
Branch Rickey on May 5, 2009 at 2:52 PM
You almost had me fooled! Keep practicing.
baldilocks on May 5, 2009 at 2:53 PM
Ahem….excuse me….Emperor Obama, sir? You’re naked.
Huckabye-Romney on May 5, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Excellent analysis, Doctor.
progressoverpeace on May 5, 2009 at 2:54 PM
If I had know what I know now…I still wouldn’t have run.
baldilocks on May 5, 2009 at 2:54 PM
If I had known
baldilocks on May 5, 2009 at 2:55 PM
This is because the stupid Republican party nominated the short, old, ‘My Friends’ candidate McCain. We are full of old people who relate to old candidates. I had to watch in horror as the states voted for that troll. Now, here we are.
leftnomore on May 5, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Could we at least persuade you to move down south to Georgia and have you be our governor :) ~ I’ll run your campaign :)
Branch Rickey on May 5, 2009 at 2:56 PM
leftnomore on May 5, 2009 at 2:55 PM
There is something to what you said. The contrast between youth and vigor and the age and disability was stark. In our American Idol society people voted for the cool kid.
TXMomof3 on May 5, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Tyranny has officially become the administration’s operating methods. It’s what we can expect from a Chicago mob boss. At least some of those guys had honor though. Hope and change we can believe in…
orlandocajun on May 5, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Hey! I’m old, and I had to hold my nose to do my duty at the polls and vote for McCain. So, don’t blame me.
Loxodonta on May 5, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Ummm…how is this not major news? Even taking media bias into account, how is this not a major story? Hello, “professional journalists”? Anyone out there?
AmericanUnderground on May 5, 2009 at 2:59 PM
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