Sunday, January 3, 2010

Rhetorical: What is Quid Pro Quo?

The political briefs column in Sunday's Fort Worth Star-Telegram, included the following quip;

U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Arlington, not one to embrace the fight against global warming, just bought a Cadillac DTS that gets 15 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. He mentioned the vehicle — from Classic Chevrolet in Arlington — at a recent news conference and said that if the emission limits proposed at the U.N. climate conference in Copenhagen were in place, he’d be riding a bike instead.

I've sat through video of the Republic detractors' press conference in Copenhagen, but though he took some shots at the President and championed the email allegations along with his cohorts, I haven't heard anything about his car or a bike.

A simple google shows that an individual with Classic Chevrolet donated $2400 to his campaign committee this cycle and the Congressman, along with the dealership's general manager are both quoted in another article, as being in favor of extending "Cash for Clunkers".

I'm not sure how many car dealerships are in Rep. Barton's large Texas district. According to the "PoliTex" brief, his "official car", a Chevy Tahoe was assembled in Arlington, but they don't say who let the lease.

And, I really have no idea how "proper" negotiation of a variably-priced item should be defined, when a Congressman is buying, plus I doubt many of them would be too interested in opening a can of worms.

But still...

Why do you think Rep. Barton told a press gathering, where he bought a car or did the paper just decide to provide the info, free of charge?
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