‘Unsinkable’ Bachmann deep in donations from Walser, whose rescue she mocked

Chris Steller — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:31:24 +0000

As first reported by the Minnesota Independent yesterday, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann mocked the removal of an auto dealership from the long list of closures demanded by General Motors during a speech on the House floor Tuesday, accusing Democrats of running a “gangster government.” The dealership — Walser in Bloomington — is owned by Paul Walser, who gave Bachman $6,700 out of the more than $100,000 he donated to Republicans over last 10 years.

That’s from Jed Lewison, writing at Daily Kos, who concludes:

Michele Bachmann is pushing a conspiracy theory that the Obama administration is using the GM situation to reward its political supporters.

Her primary piece of evidence is a dealership in her own state owned and operated by a Republican who hasn’t contributed to a Democrat on the federal level in at least 10 years. Moreover, he’s contributed more than $100,000 to Republicans and conservatives, including $6,700 to Bachmann herself.

That leaves us with two possibilities: either the Obama administration are the least competent conspirators ever, or Michele Bachmann is a paranoid and delusional freak.

Her other floor speech Tuesday, Bachmann likened the United States’ economy to the Titanic. Even if the analogy holds, she shouldn’t worry, as University of Minnesota political blog Smart Politics christened her “The Unsinkable Michele Bachmann” (a play on the nickname for a famous Titanic survivor) earlier this year.

Auto dealership markets itself … as a newspaper

Chris Steller — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:57:32 +0000

On one hand, Walser Automotive Group’s full-page ad — which touts President Obama’s federal government warranty for General Motors products — does laudable double duty for the economic recovery: It simultaneously supports GM and the struggling Star Tribune (whose staffers take to the streets tonight to Save the Strib). On the other hand, in these dark days for both industries, an automotive business marketing itself as a newspaper seems decidedly odd.

It’s also odd that Walser Automotive Group President Andrew Walser and President Obama look so friendly in their “Walser Times” photos on the back of the Saturday sports section.

After all, Andrew’s brother, Walser Automotive Chief Executive Officer Paul Walser, made “The Crunch,” the Minnesota Independent’s list of the state’s Top 100 political donors, with his many maxed-out donations to Republicans — including Obama’s rival during the presidential campaign, John McCain.

Minnesota Independent » paul walser

‘Unsinkable’ Bachmann deep in donations from Walser, whose rescue she mocked

Auto dealership markets itself … as a newspaper