White House refuses to provide transparency on Cash for Clunkers
posted at 1:49 pm on August 4, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Remember when Barack Obama promised to provide the most transparent administration in history — the Hope and Change of the campaign? Even as the White House demands billions of dollars to extend the Cash for Clunkers program, the administration has decided to stonewall on requests to see the data for an independent determination of the program’s success (via Michelle):
The Obama administration is refusing to release government records on its “cash-for-clunkers” rebate program that would substantiate—or undercut—White House claims of the program’s success, even as the president presses the Senate for a quick vote for $2 billion to boost car sales.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Sunday the government would release electronic records about the program, and President Barack Obama has pledged greater transparency for his administration. But the Transportation Department, which has collected details about 157,000 rebate requests, won’t release sales data that dealers provided showing how much U.S. car manufacturers are benefiting from the $1 billion initially pumped into the program.
The Associated Press has sought release of the data since last week. But the public and Senate Republicans demanding more information will have to wait for details because federal officials running the program don’t have time to turn over data delivered by car dealers, said Rae Tyson, spokesman for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
If the program has been such a success, why stonewall the AP, not exactly known for its hostility to the Obama administration? Perhaps because earlier administration claims about the program will be exposed as lies or exaggerations. For instance, LaHood claimed that the program most benefited Ford and their Focus. However, the AP has seen data that shows that the domestic automakers aren’t benefiting nearly as much as the White House claims — and that six of the top ten models sold in the program come from Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai.
Obama wants billions of dollars more in taxpayer subsidies for clunkers. Taxpayers have a right to know how their money already got spent in this program. Indeed, that data belongs to the public, and we certainly should review it before Obama spends billions of dollars more on it. That’s what transparency is all about.
And if Obama stonewalls on how money gets spent on Cash for Clunkers, imagine how he’ll react to demands for the records on ObamaCare.
Blowback
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With the exception of Obamacare, correct?
ladyingray on August 4, 2009 at 2:23 PM
Wait…you mean it’s really supposed to be ‘Cash to buy more Clunkers?’
I wonder how employees at the US-located manufacturing facilities for each of these companies feel about the implication that they aren’t supposed to benefit from this government program.
James on August 4, 2009 at 2:24 PM
Well,it’s come to this,let’s turn each other in.Well,I for one will say what I feel to whomever I want when I want!
ohiobabe on August 4, 2009 at 2:24 PM
None of your effin’ business! /s
califcon on August 4, 2009 at 2:25 PM
+
ladyingray on August 4, 2009 at 2:25 PM
And they will throw those 5 plans together at the last minute… too late to read or do anything about it… Pass TWO different versions in the House and Senate… and then change it again in the Conference report… where for the first time we will see their REAL plan.
Welcome to Washington.
Romeo13 on August 4, 2009 at 2:26 PM
What do you expect from an administration run by dipsticks?
Christien on August 4, 2009 at 2:26 PM
Holy Shiite!! It is one step closer to family members disappearing in the middle of the night.
“What happened to Uncle Jack?”
“Eat your Gruel”
portlandon on August 4, 2009 at 2:26 PM
Well… that 157K is only for the 50 States…. got the other SEVEN states to go…
Romeo13 on August 4, 2009 at 2:27 PM
A lot of greased palms.
fogw on August 4, 2009 at 2:27 PM
I didn’t get a frontloader. They are supposed to be more water efficient but they are more expensive.
I’ll look into that tax deduction…thanks!
ladyingray on August 4, 2009 at 2:27 PM
Can’t wait for the “Cash for Colons” program under ObamaCare….
izoneguy on August 4, 2009 at 2:27 PM
What else would one expect from this clandestine, Marxist sludge pot of murky half truths and obfuscation called the Obama administration.
rplat on August 4, 2009 at 2:28 PM
And running at least a quart low.
ICBM on August 4, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Well….Uncle Tony’s Scrap Yard belongs to Senator X’s brother-in-law. He CHARGES the government $5000 per car to scrap it.
portlandon on August 4, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Obamahead
izoneguy on August 4, 2009 at 2:28 PM
Also, if there’s still 300+ million left, why in the world do they need 2 billion MORE dollars for this program?
roxi618 on August 4, 2009 at 2:29 PM
The Obama administration’s own words:
JUST WORDS? CHANGE.GOV PROMISES:
http://change.gov/agenda/ethics_agenda/
Could this be any further from the reality of Mr. Hope and Change’s actions.
Baxter Greene on August 4, 2009 at 2:29 PM
So the people that couldn’t afford newer cars can afford the higher insurance on a newer car?
Jeff from WI on August 4, 2009 at 2:29 PM
That’s where Cash for Grandma comes into play.
fogw on August 4, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Time to report your friends and family to the government!
All Republicans forced to wear an elephant emblem on their chests so the authorities can see and recognize them.
Jeff from WI on August 4, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Just anecdotal here, but my friend said a lot of people who have been using a clunker for the 2nd car took advantage of the program.
They have the money. Very few buyers were not able to finance. They just were making do because why spend money unless you have to in this economy. This deal was too good to pass up.
AnninCA on August 4, 2009 at 2:32 PM
Soylent Green is people!
Jeff from WI on August 4, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Never thought of that. Looks like the Repo Companies are going to get a stimulus out of this.
portlandon on August 4, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Great. So now we are subsidizing the lifestyle of rich people.
I love democrats.
lorien1973 on August 4, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Obama is selling Junk Bonds to pay for this program.
faraway on August 4, 2009 at 2:34 PM
yup…
Jeff from WI on August 4, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Obama is making the dollar a “junk bond”
Jeff from WI on August 4, 2009 at 2:35 PM
I’m shocked. The Obama administration has been transparent about everything else so far.
Daggett on August 4, 2009 at 2:35 PM
I agree with you immensely but hoping for a small change: Give those vehicles to the poor on a first-come/first-served basis, to people who need a new car but can’t get one yet. I see that for a return on the government’s ‘investment’.
Of course, provisos: the hopeful recipient has insurance already, a valid driver license, holds a job, and makes under $X-thousand a year.
If that person can cover such conditions, he/she is paying taxes, adding to insurance company profits which are taxed, and is paying fees to keep the driver license. Over time, that $4500 government stipend is paid in full and then some. With more hope, the recipient then change up to maybe a better job, pay more taxes, etc.
If liberals had any creativity, they could actually make money.
Just an idea, to hopefully make a boondoggle work for a change.
Liam on August 4, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Yaaaawwwwn…. What’s that you say? The President and his administration are a bunch of lying crooks running a propaganda operation to support their irresponsible tax and spend economics?
Why…yes. Yes they are.
Jaibones on August 4, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Toward the end of the War, Germans were burning money to keep warm. It is coming.
portlandon on August 4, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Ok… I’ve done some researching; and I think I’m ok with the Cash for Clunkers bill being extended… and even being pushed into other market areas.
Stay with me guys.
First, 250,000 cars that probably would have been bought next year; are instead being bought this year. So next year the economy will crater by approximately the 250,000 cars… probably about a year from now.
Next year is an election year. We do remember that, right?
The Democrats are pushing to try to force an economic downturn to have it coincide directly with an election; while they hold filibuster-proof majorities and the Presidency.
Now economically, this is stupid. But politically; this works for Conservatives… doesn’t it?
Of course to really get a good collapse, we need more “cash for…” programs. If we can push all discretionary spending from next year into this year; we can make the economic collapse worse… just in time for the election.
But we have to act now. The Democrats might not stay this stupid and gullible forever. And remember, we want discretionary spending. Lowering utilities or food or stuff people will buy anyhow doesn’t push off purchases.
But the idea an earlier poster had of “cash for houses”? Brilliant. But we want to keep the whole “green” crap. Cash for houses, only those with Solar panels; and “Cash for Washer & Dryers”? Only if the new ones are Energy-Star rated higher than your old one… and we have to destroy your old one.
We’ll lose the eco-nuts if we ditch that fig leaf provision for this idiocy. And we’ll need them to ride the Democrats hard to get them to do something this stupid. Oh, and quit mentioning the energy, pollution, waste, etc. from making new stuff or landfilling the current crop of stuff. Eco-nuts don’t notice pollution that isn’t mentioned; and they almost never notice pollution from production or disposal. But we can’t point it out; or they might bail.
We can do this… and I think we should.
Unless you care what is good for America… in which case spending 3 billion dollars or more to push some of next year’s purchases to this year is a poor idea; with a negative long term investment that will have nothing useful to show for it. A small bounce today, offset by a crater next year of the same size; and costing 3 billion? Economic idiocy.
But politically? Man, the Republicans probably can’t believe how lucky they are. Here they have a useless recession in a non-election year; and the Dems offer to push it back a year?
Heck, we thought this crisis would go to waste… and along come the Dems with Tupperware® so we can save it for later? Unbelievable.
Oh… now I need this /sarc.
I’ve learned the logically consistent and yet idiotic always needs a tag.
gekkobear on August 4, 2009 at 2:39 PM
Cash for Confederate Money
faraway on August 4, 2009 at 2:40 PM
From Major Garret:
JiangxiDad on August 4, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Don’t be too hasty.
The purchases might have been made because Ford reported a second quarter profit.
Count to 10 on August 4, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Drudge you magnificent bast..d.
Drudge posted a link to Obama supporting single payer health care. The White House made a video that tries to say the video was cut and paste. Drudge posts the original video from 2003. Now new stories are coming through the woodwork that are questioning the White House (Transparency). For a few minutes Drudge was linking back to Yahoo and Breitbart on the same story.
Is there something in the background here?
It looks like the White house put their foot in it when they tried to suggest Drudge was linking to false stories.
Guest1.1 on August 4, 2009 at 2:43 PM
Cash for Hookers
faraway on August 4, 2009 at 2:43 PM
And the value of the remaining used cars will increase as well. Also, if you blow the engine in your 88 Chevy, good luck in finding one to replace it, and if you do, expect to pay a premium. Same goes for other used parts.
Did anyone think this through?
BacaDog on August 4, 2009 at 2:43 PM
I’m investing is better backed currency, the Mexican Peso
Jeff from WI on August 4, 2009 at 2:44 PM
You mean the systems that allow $60-100 billion in fraud/waste annually (as estimated by the government no less)? Smells more like a scheme than a system to me.
Patrick S on August 4, 2009 at 2:44 PM
I’ve got some Zim dollars.
BacaDog on August 4, 2009 at 2:45 PM
As I understand, the discrepancy has to do with the reporting mechanism failing, such that they they new that a lot more claims were waiting to be filed than they actually had.
Count to 10 on August 4, 2009 at 2:46 PM
Christien,
You have the “dip” part of it right but the second part of the word should be “Sierra Hotel India Tango Sierra’s”( phonetics) OSAMA OBAMA HUSSSEIN BIN LADEN’s administration is run by George Soros and his BRAIN DEAD minions who have bad cases of rectal-cranial inversion syndrome.
Best Regards
hamradio on August 4, 2009 at 2:47 PM
And that is a mess…take some time and call a “billing” expert.
Every item has to be billed on one of the government forms, tied to a specific number (coding) identifying that charge…it has grown from hundreds, to tens of thousands.
Next year, which is another reason they need this passed quickly, these changes go into effect.
None of the doctors offices are prepared (who has that extra labor standing around), the billing process will break down, doctors won’t be paid, insurance companies won’t be paid, and won’t be able to pay without proper paperwork. And we are not even talking about the ever changing HIPAA requirements.
right2bright on August 4, 2009 at 2:47 PM
LOL!
I’m investing in looking for sunken treasure & metal and panning for Gold.
portlandon on August 4, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Not noticeably, no.
Count to 10 on August 4, 2009 at 2:48 PM
In a perverse sort of way, your proposal makes sense.
either orr on August 4, 2009 at 2:48 PM
Cash 4 Gold!
faraway on August 4, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Arrr Matey..is there good plunder out there?
Jeff from WI on August 4, 2009 at 2:49 PM
Surely, you jest…I know your name isn’t Shirley…
right2bright on August 4, 2009 at 2:49 PM
I am investing in lead.
ICBM on August 4, 2009 at 2:51 PM
What did the white house know and when did they know it?
You know if it were good news they would release the data. Obama did the same thing 2 weeks ago withholding the budget report prior to the house voting on healthcare.
Will the Dems in the senate vote to spend $2 BILLION more on the clunker program without reading the data?
TN Mom on August 4, 2009 at 2:51 PM
Drudge said they were running Cash for Informers now.
faraway on August 4, 2009 at 2:51 PM
MSM polling showing the dollarhttp://www.theonion.com/content/video/new_live_poll_allows_pundits_to
Jeff from WI on August 4, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Cash for Truth
faraway on August 4, 2009 at 2:54 PM
Showing MSM polling data and WHY:
http://www.theonion.com/content/video/new_live_poll_allows_pundits_to
Jeff from WI on August 4, 2009 at 2:54 PM
I just read that on Drudge, also. The one uncut video is even more damning than the edited version. As per Obama:
“I happen to be a proponent of a single payer universal health care program. I see no reason why the United States of America, the wealthiest country in the history of the world, spending 14 percent of its Gross National Product on health care cannot provide basic health insurance to everybody. And that’s what Jim is talking about when he says everybody in, nobody out. A single payer health care plan, a universal health care plan. And that’s what I’d like to see. But as all of you know, we may not get there immediately. Because first we have to take back the White House, we have to take back the Senate, and we have to take back the House.”
I don’t see the option to keeping private health insurance in there, anywhere…his agenda is clear. Those who choose to ignore his agenda, do so for their own selfish reasons.
Lady Texan on August 4, 2009 at 2:55 PM
Once they start giving prizes to schoolchidren for turning in their parents, we will have come full circle.
Vashta.Nerada on August 4, 2009 at 2:55 PM
C4C went to foreign auto makers and existing inventory and not new production…can’t…stop…laughing.
Wyznowski on August 4, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Barack-Obama-faces-30-death-threats-a-day-stretching-US-Secret-Service
After Mr Obama, code named Renegade, was elected president, his two children Malia, 11, codenamed Radiance, and Sasha, eight, codenamed Rosebud, began receiving Secret Service protection. Mr Obama’s wife Michelle is codenamed Renaissance.
I’m sure the USSS have a few choice names besides “Renaissance” they use when they reference the one who until recently was never proud of her country.
BTW the purpose of a code name, if eveyone knows it is…..?
Alden Pyle on August 4, 2009 at 2:57 PM
Since they want info on misinformers, we should all send them links to videos of Obama his own damn self saying he wants single payer, wants to eliminate employer-provided insurance, etc., with links to the crap he’s spewing now…and tell them “There’s your culprit, folks!”
Patrick S on August 4, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Cash for Snitches
faraway on August 4, 2009 at 3:00 PM
Even if it had gone to ‘domestic’ auto makers and new cars, it would still have damage the economy, simply because it was destroying goods.
(By the way, those farm subsidies that have farmers plow under their crops do the same thing).
Count to 10 on August 4, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Diabolically brilliant!
califcon on August 4, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Most car buyers are no fools. They know buying a gubmit made car will be the least expensive part of using it, after paying for all the repairs.
petefrt on August 4, 2009 at 3:07 PM
And you still want your healthcare through them????
…after all, its only LIFE or DEATH!
dominigan on August 4, 2009 at 3:19 PM
Problem with congress and especially a Dem congress.. They have no clue to the consequences down the road. The outcome of who they will put out of business, who will be hurt, etc.
Plus, NO COMMON SENSE.. I’m fed up..
reshas1 on August 4, 2009 at 3:22 PM
I think I read somewhere (don’t recall where) that they spent something like $50 million on administrative costs (e.g., setting up that website that crashed the first day, etc).
AZCoyote on August 4, 2009 at 3:22 PM
And both of them are broke, with Social Security hot on their heels… why should we let government have any involvement in private health care?
jana on August 4, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Well of course.
You know the Obama administration went through this “line by line” and read it just like they did the Stimulus bill,Cap and Trade bill,and their Health care bill.
Wait….my fault….they don’t read anything they vote on.
It takes way to much time and it has to be done “right now”.
Don’t worry, Obama is still a really good speaker.
It’s all lies and bullsh!t,but he presents it very well.
Baxter Greene on August 4, 2009 at 3:49 PM
“Well… that 157K is only for the 50 States…. got the other SEVEN states to go…
Romeo13 on August 4, 2009 at 2:27 PM”
It’s posts like that that make me wish this site had up-dings.
WitchDoctor on August 4, 2009 at 3:50 PM
I’m investing is better backed currency, the Mexican Peso
Jeff from WI on August 4, 2009 at 2:44 PM
I think I’ll try Monopoly Money, after I get some more guns, ammo, gold and silver!
dhunter on August 4, 2009 at 3:54 PM
Ignore the man behind the curtain!
Cupholders for everyone! What? Cupholders is a Japanese innovation? Big cars for… wait, that’s not what we’re calling them… Clunkers for… no, we’re getting rid of those… Priuses for… oh, foreign cars?
Come back next week for another great giveaway! Never mind the details, just come and vote!
HotWeaver on August 4, 2009 at 3:54 PM
This is what the car guys get for selling 100 cars this week
UNREPENTANT CONSERVATIVE CAPITOLIST on August 4, 2009 at 4:32 PM
LOL…I’ll take the race car too
Jeff from WI on August 4, 2009 at 4:50 PM
Let us use a bit of prospective here. This program is a really bad idea, however, it is working so much better than all the other government programs that it should get an award. Also, destroying perfectly good vehicles is not very productive when there are people out there that need them. I suppose that “cars for the bums” will be the next big thing.
duff65 on August 4, 2009 at 4:52 PM
Liam said:
You miss the long term end- game for the liberals. Liberals don’t want the poor to have cars, or the middle classes either. Their hope has to be that the C4C program gets made permanent. That’s why they and their media lapdogs keep talking about how popular it was based upon how many people took advantage of it.
The last thing that our liberal overlords want is for people who don’t have cars to move into one, even a used one. Imagine if C4C went on for just three months at the rate it is being reported. If 250,000 cars were junked in just one week as is being reported, then 3,250,000 cars would be junked in three months.
As we’ve seen on the various YouTube videos, many of those cars are perfectly servicable vehicles that would normally make up the “backbone” of the second and third+ owner used car market. These are cars bought by people who can’t even afford a used one owner car, such as lease turn- ins, “certified” used cars sold by new car dealers, or cars turned over as part of rental fleets. The C4C turn- ins are the cars that would normally be sitting on “Buy Here- Pay Here” lots, primarily on the poor side of town, after being sent to auction by the new car dealer who took them in trade. Even with a $4500 voucher, these customers can’t afford the payments on the remaining $15,000 or more that would be left to finance a brand new car.
Thanks to C4C, those cars aren’t going to be on the lots next year. That means a shortage of cars available for the poor to buy. Liberals, despite their constant bleeding heart BS, are ultimately okay with that. The poor should be using public transportation anyway. The “really, really, really” poor already do this. If you take away the supply of personal cars from the next tier of poor people (call them the “really, really,” poor)then they’ll have to ride the bus as well.
The next step will be to remove the next tier of used cars from the mix, to put the “really” poor on the bus. Then the lower- middle classes and so forth until the ownership of a personal vehicle is something done only by the upper classes.
This can be done over time by tightening the requirements while upping the amount of money handed out. Maybe by 2012 the government requires all new cars to be E85 “flex fuel” capable. Then in 2015, all cars are required to be retrofitted to be flex fuel capable or the owner wouldn’t be able to register the car. The good news is that the C4C program of 2016 is going to hand out $7,500 to people who turn in their non- flex fuel cars.
With each new offer, another tier of used cars is wiped out. By 2025, the libs have established a society without mass ownership of personal transportation devices.
You can’t have the kind of totalitarian control over a society that liberals want if even the porrest citizen has the ability to get up in the middle of the night, hop in his car, and drive hundreds of miles away before dawn.
Dukeboy01 on August 4, 2009 at 6:04 PM
How can people who can’t afford to buy a new car get one with a rebate check? If they can’t afford to support their families or pay their mortgages, they shouldn’t buy any big ticket items. Period.
madmonkphotog on August 4, 2009 at 6:24 PM
That’s what I’ve been saying…this thing as FRAUD written all over it. There are some Obamaniacs with millions speeding into their Swiss bank accounts.
PattyJ on August 4, 2009 at 9:37 PM
Take a look at the list of cars that quaulify for the rebate. One of them is a Hummer and at least half are type 1 and 2 trucks. It would appear that it is not really a program to get cars on the road that use less gas, but to get people to trade up to a new car or truck that gets a little better gas milage than the old one. How is that different from what we used to do before Government Motors became a reality? The only people trading cars are those that would have anyway, and those who can not afford it, will pay more for the used one they can afford.
Franklyn on August 5, 2009 at 5:48 AM
The funny thing about the gumminent – paperwork.
darwin-t on August 5, 2009 at 7:00 AM
He has to do every trick he knows to feed the idiots and kool-aid drinking fools who voted for him and his socialist agenda. He knows they all want something for nothing, the same thing he got growing up to include his wasted education. Bring back the joker picture!!!!!!!!!
bluegrass on August 5, 2009 at 9:49 AM
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