The first generation of skeptics have suffered repeated failures as everyone of their claims turned out to be false. Our hybrids continue to run without major battery failures. They are profitable, at least with Toyota, and more and more models are coming out. The hydrogen fool-cell technology continues to remain horribly expensive and impractical demos. So there has been a shift, attacking one company using one club, "environmentalism."
Nov. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Just moments ago, or so it seems, Toyota Motor Corp. was the darling of environmentalists, basking in kudos for having created the popular, gasoline-electric hybrid Prius, a car long on mileage and looks.
How quickly bouquets can turn into barbs. At a press conference in Los Angeles on Nov. 14, Bob Carter, head of Toyota- branded vehicles, introduced the automaker's new, larger Sequoia sport-utility vehicle.
Afterward, a man pretending to be a journalist . . .
Hummm, pretending to be a journalists, there are plenty of examples of pretenders.
. . .
Congress should pass the fuel economy provision in the current version of the energy bill into law, not replace it with this anemic alternative. The alternative, called the Hill-Terry bill, sets an extremely weak target and would allow automakers to meet part of that target through loopholes that would not produce actual fuel savings. The Hill-Terry bill would mean more oil dependence, higher annual fuel costs, and more pollution. The Senate provision would cut U.S. oil consumption by 1.2 million barrels a day, 140 percent more than Hill-Terry. The Senate provision also would save Americans $14 billion more than Hill-Terry, and cut 242 percent more global warming pollution.
. . .
The essence of this attack on Toyota comes from the "Hill-Terry bill", H.R.2927, that has not passed or even come up for a vote. But rather than concentrated on the flawed legislation, the skeptics are attacking Toyota . . . as if all of us will decide to sell and stop buying them tomorrow.
RECOMMENDED RESPONSE
Ask the Toyota critics if they opposed H.R.2927, the "Hill-Terry" bill? With rare exception, the Toyota critics support "Hill-Terry," the very criticism they levy against Toyota.
Ask the Toyota critics why they ONLY cite Toyota when other car manufacturers are also supporting H.R.2927? This is the most obvious flaw second only to not citing the "Hill-Terry" H.R.2927 bill.
Finally, ask the Toyota critics if their congressman was a cosponsor of H.R.2927?
Rep Akin, W. Todd [MO-2] - 8/2/2007
Rep Alexander, Rodney [LA-5] - 7/24/2007
Rep Baca, Joe [CA-43] - 7/18/2007
Rep Bachus, Spencer [AL-6] - 7/24/2007
Rep Barrow, John [GA-12] - 6/28/2007
Rep Bartlett, Roscoe G. [MD-6] - 7/17/2007
Rep Bean, Melissa L. [IL-8] - 7/25/2007
Rep Berry, Marion [AR-1] - 7/25/2007
Rep Bilbray, Brian P. [CA-50] - 7/18/2007
Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] - 10/25/2007
Rep Bishop, Rob [UT-1] - 7/18/2007
Rep Bishop, Sanford D., Jr. [GA-2] - 7/17/2007
Rep Bonner, Jo [AL-1] - 7/26/2007
Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] - 7/31/2007
Rep Boren, Dan [OK-2] - 7/17/2007
Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] - 7/17/2007
Rep Boucher, Rick [VA-9] - 7/17/2007
Rep Boyda, Nancy E. [KS-2] - 8/4/2007
Rep Brady, Kevin [TX-8] - 8/2/2007
Rep Brady, Robert A. [PA-1] - 7/19/2007
Rep Brown, Henry E., Jr. [SC-1] - 6/28/2007
Rep Buchanan, Vern [FL-13] - 7/24/2007
Rep Burton, Dan [IN-5] - 7/17/2007
Rep Butterfield, G. K. [NC-1] - 7/18/2007
Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] - 7/17/2007
Rep Camp, Dave [MI-4] - 7/19/2007
Rep Campbell, John [CA-48] - 7/17/2007
Rep Cannon, Chris [UT-3] - 7/24/2007
Rep Capito, Shelley Moore [WV-2] - 7/24/2007
Rep Carnahan, Russ [MO-3] - 8/4/2007
Rep Carney, Christopher P. [PA-10] - 7/17/2007
Rep Carson, Julia [IN-7] - 7/18/2007
Rep Carter, John R. [TX-31] - 7/24/2007
Rep Chandler, Ben [KY-6] - 7/31/2007
Rep Coble, Howard [NC-6] - 7/30/2007
Rep Cole, Tom [OK-4] - 7/26/2007
Rep Conaway, K. Michael [TX-11] - 7/31/2007
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] - 7/18/2007
Rep Cramer, Robert E. (Bud), Jr. [AL-5] - 7/17/2007
Rep Cubin, Barbara [WY] - 10/25/2007
Rep Cuellar, Henry [TX-28] - 7/18/2007
Rep Davis, Artur [AL-7] - 7/17/2007
Rep Davis, David [TN-1] - 7/25/2007
Rep Davis, Geoff [KY-4] - 7/17/2007
Rep Davis, Lincoln [TN-4] - 7/17/2007
Rep Dent, Charles W. [PA-15] - 7/24/2007
Rep Diaz-Balart, Lincoln [FL-21] - 7/17/2007
Rep Diaz-Balart, Mario [FL-25] - 7/17/2007
Rep Dingell, John D. [MI-15] - 7/17/2007
Rep Donnelly, Joe [IN-2] - 7/17/2007
Rep Doolittle, John T. [CA-4] - 7/19/2007
Rep Drake, Thelma D. [VA-2] - 7/26/2007
Rep Edwards, Chet [TX-17] - 8/4/2007
Rep Ellsworth, Brad [IN-8] - 7/17/2007
Rep Emerson, Jo Ann [MO-8] - 7/17/2007
Rep English, Phil [PA-3] - 7/19/2007
Rep Everett, Terry [AL-2] - 9/20/2007
Rep Fallin, Mary [OK-5] - 7/25/2007
Rep Feeney, Tom [FL-24] - 8/2/2007
Rep Fortuno, Luis G. [PR] - 7/24/2007
Rep Foxx, Virginia [NC-5] - 7/17/2007
Rep Garrett, Scott [NJ-5] - 7/17/2007
Rep Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [NY-20] - 7/17/2007
Rep Gillmor, Paul E. [OH-5] - 7/25/2007
Rep Gingrey, Phil [GA-11] - 7/18/2007
Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. [TX-20] - 7/18/2007
Rep Graves, Sam [MO-6] - 7/17/2007
Rep Green, Al [TX-9] - 7/18/2007
Rep Green, Gene [TX-29] - 7/18/2007
Rep Hall, Ralph M. [TX-4] - 7/24/2007
Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] - 8/4/2007
Rep Hastings, Doc [WA-4] - 9/7/2007
Rep Hayes, Robin [NC-8] - 7/25/2007
Rep Herger, Wally [CA-2] - 8/2/2007
Rep Herseth Sandlin, Stephanie [SD] - 7/31/2007
Rep Higgins, Brian [NY-27] - 7/19/2007
Rep Hoekstra, Peter [MI-2] - 7/26/2007
Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] - 7/17/2007
Rep Inglis, Bob [SC-4] - 7/17/2007
Rep Issa, Darrell E. [CA-49] - 7/25/2007
Rep Jefferson, William J. [LA-2] - 7/26/2007
Rep Jindal, Bobby [LA-1] - 10/15/2007
Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3] - 7/24/2007
Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9] - 7/24/2007
Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5] - 7/17/2007
Rep Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [MI-13] - 7/18/2007
Rep Kind, Ron [WI-3] - 8/4/2007
Rep Kline, John [MN-2] - 7/30/2007
Rep Knollenberg, Joe [MI-9] - 7/19/2007
Rep Lamborn, Doug [CO-5] - 9/18/2007
Rep Lampson, Nick [TX-22] - 7/17/2007
Rep Latham, Tom [IA-4] - 7/24/2007
Rep LaTourette, Steven C. [OH-14] - 7/19/2007
Rep Levin, Sander M. [MI-12] - 7/17/2007
Rep Lewis, Jerry [CA-41] - 8/2/2007
Rep Lewis, Ron [KY-2] - 7/17/2007
Rep Lucas, Frank D. [OK-3] - 7/24/2007
Rep Lungren, Daniel E. [CA-3] - 8/4/2007
Rep Mahoney, Tim [FL-16] - 7/18/2007
Rep Manzullo, Donald A. [IL-16] - 7/17/2007
Rep Marchant, Kenny [TX-24] - 7/26/2007
Rep Marshall, Jim [GA-8] - 7/17/2007
Rep Matheson, Jim [UT-2] - 7/18/2007
Rep McCarthy, Kevin [CA-22] - 7/17/2007
Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] - 7/18/2007
Rep McCrery, Jim [LA-4] - 7/24/2007
Rep McHenry, Patrick T. [NC-10] - 7/30/2007
Rep McHugh, John M. [NY-23] - 8/4/2007
Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] - 7/24/2007
Rep McKeon, Howard P. "Buck" [CA-25] - 7/17/2007
Rep McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [WA-5] - 8/4/2007
Rep McNulty, Michael R. [NY-21] - 11/9/2007
Rep Meeks, Gregory W. [NY-6] - 7/25/2007
Rep Melancon, Charlie [LA-3] - 7/17/2007
Rep Mica, John L. [FL-7] - 7/17/2007
Rep Miller, Candice S. [MI-10] - 7/17/2007
Rep Miller, Gary G. [CA-42] - 7/31/2007
Rep Mollohan, Alan B. [WV-1] - 8/4/2007
Rep Moran, Jerry [KS-1] - 7/17/2007
Rep Murphy, Tim [PA-18] - 8/2/2007
Rep Musgrave, Marilyn N. [CO-4] - 9/18/2007
Rep Myrick, Sue Wilkins [NC-9] - 7/17/2007
Rep Neugebauer, Randy [TX-19] - 7/17/2007
Rep Nunes, Devin [CA-21] - 8/2/2007
Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [TX-27] - 7/19/2007
Rep Pence, Mike [IN-6] - 8/2/2007
Rep Perlmutter, Ed [CO-7] - 9/18/2007
Rep Peterson, Collin C. [MN-7] - 7/31/2007
Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [PA-16] - 7/18/2007
Rep Pomeroy, Earl [ND] - 7/18/2007
Rep Porter, Jon C. [NV-3] - 10/15/2007
Rep Price, Tom [GA-6] - 7/30/2007
Rep Pryce, Deborah [OH-15] - 9/7/2007
Rep Radanovich, George [CA-19] - 8/4/2007
Rep Rahall, Nick J., II [WV-3] - 8/2/2007
Rep Regula, Ralph [OH-16] - 7/17/2007
Rep Renzi, Rick [AZ-1] - 7/18/2007
Rep Rodriguez, Ciro D. [TX-23] - 7/24/2007
Rep Rogers, Harold [KY-5] - 7/17/2007
Rep Rogers, Mike J. [MI-8] - 7/25/2007
Rep Rohrabacher, Dana [CA-46] - 7/19/2007
Rep Roskam, Peter J. [IL-6] - 11/6/2007
Rep Ross, Mike [AR-4] - 6/28/2007
Rep Royce, Edward R. [CA-40] - 8/4/2007
Rep Ryan, Paul [WI-1] - 6/28/2007
Rep Ryan, Tim [OH-17] - 7/18/2007
Rep Salazar, John T. [CO-3] - 7/24/2007
Rep Schmidt, Jean [OH-2] - 8/2/2007
Rep Scott, David [GA-13] - 9/7/2007
Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] - 7/17/2007
Rep Shadegg, John B. [AZ-3] - 7/31/2007
Rep Shimkus, John [IL-19] - 7/19/2007
Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] - 7/17/2007
Rep Simpson, Michael K. [ID-2] - 8/4/2007
Rep Smith, Adrian [NE-3] - 7/25/2007
Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] - 7/24/2007
Rep Space, Zachary T. [OH-18] - 7/25/2007
Rep Stupak, Bart [MI-1] - 7/18/2007
Rep Sullivan, John [OK-1] - 8/2/2007
Rep Sutton, Betty [OH-13] - 8/4/2007
Rep Taylor, Gene [MS-4] - 7/18/2007
Rep Terry, Lee [NE-2] - 6/28/2007
Rep Tiahrt, Todd [KS-4] - 7/19/2007
Rep Towns, Edolphus [NY-10] - 6/28/2007
Rep Turner, Michael R. [OH-3] - 7/26/2007
Rep Upton, Fred [MI-6] - 7/25/2007
Rep Walberg, Timothy [MI-7] - 7/24/2007
Rep Walden, Greg [OR-2] - 7/31/2007
Rep Wamp, Zach [TN-3] - 7/17/2007
Rep Weldon, Dave [FL-15] - 7/26/2007
Rep Weller, Jerry [IL-11] - 7/24/2007
Rep Whitfield, Ed [KY-1] - 8/2/2007
Rep Wilson, Charles A. [OH-6] - 7/17/2007
Rep Wilson, Heather [NM-1] - 11/9/2007
Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] - 7/18/2007
Rep Yarmuth, John A. [KY-3] - 7/18/2007
CONCLUSION
It is not uncommon to find those accusing someone else of a sin are doing exactly the same. In this case, it is trivial to respond effectively by asking the accusers to oppose H.R.2927, the "Hill-Terry" bill and criticize their own congressmen.
By reporting on just the criticism of Toyota without citing the flawed legislation, H.R. 2926, the "Hill-Terry" bill and the congressmen who support it, Doron Levin is half reporting the facts and data. This is despicable and dishonest because it does not identify the true problem, the flawed H.R.2926 and the congressmen who cosponsored it.
I noticed the false web site has a list of stories and publications who need correction. Time to get busy with my little notes.
Skeptics attack: part II
