Approaching Tuesday’s six-month anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection, the liberal watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington tallied contributions corporate PACs have made to the 147 insurrectionists in Congress — those who voted to overturn the results of the 2020 election, even after the Trump mob’s deadly attack on the Capitol.
Most corporations stuck to their initial pledges and didn’t give money, at least directly, to those who stood for overthrowing democracy. But one has bankrolled the insurrectionists at a level far higher than the others: Toyota. The carmaker gave $55,000 to 37 of the insurrectionist lawmakers, CREW found — more than quadruple the runner-up, CIGNA (nine), and quintuple Koch Industries (seven).
A Toyota spokesman told me the company “supports candidates based on their position on issues that are important to the auto industry and the company.” Apparently, constitutional democracy isn’t one of those issues. This leaves me with one question: Would anybody like to buy my 2017 Toyota Sienna? I suspect I’m not the only one who won’t be buying a(another) Toyota. Toyota likes to say its cars are “made in America” — while its actions are unmaking America.
Here is what is on the TOYOTA website: “The stylish 2022 Toyota Corolla takes fun to the next level. With a sleek design and the latest tech, Corolla is ready to create something unforgettable.”
“Something unforgettable? ” Like loading up the “sleek design” with weapons and pipe bombs to maim, kill and destroy the monsters that Trump, Fox News, Alex Jones, Republican members of Congress have concocted by taping into your paranoia, fear and hate.
Toyota taking it to the next level by helping Republican politicians destroy America so they can win elections, hold power and keep the perks. — Toyota, made in the USA.
Opinion: Toyota vies to become Official Car of Insurrectionists. Will Oath Keepers swear their brand loyalty?
Columnist
Oh, what a feeling! (And it isn’t a good one.)
Approaching Tuesday’s six-month anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection, the liberal watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington tallied contributions corporate PACs have made to the 147 insurrectionists in Congress — those who voted to overturn the results of the 2020 election, even after the Trump mob’s deadly attack on the Capitol.
Most corporations stuck to their initial pledges and didn’t give money, at least directly, to those who stood for overthrowing democracy. But one has bankrolled the insurrectionists at a level far higher than the others: Toyota. The carmaker gave $55,000 to 37 of the insurrectionist lawmakers, CREW found — more than quadruple the runner-up, CIGNA (nine), and quintuple Koch Industries (seven).