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Rep. Dean Heller criticized the federal stimulus as ineffective and insulted one constituent who stormed out, declaring that the congressman had lost his vote, according to the Nevada Appeal. At a Carson City Rotary Club meeting Tuesday, Heller asked how many in the room of 70 people had taken advantage of Cash for Clunkers. A man raised his hand, prompting Heller to say: “Congratulations. Everybody else in the room paid for your car.” The man headed for the door, telling Heller: “I have better things to do than be insulted by a man who hasn't learned anything. I'll never vote for you again.” “I know I embarrassed someone and I apologize for that, but I don't think everybody has a right to own a new car," Heller said.
Dean Heller slams stimulus spending, offends constituent
(via Nevada Appeal) · August 26, 2009 · 11:22 AM
Discussion: 44 comments so far...
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That is really funny. I actually laughed out loud reading this!
Now it would have been super funny if the man had thanked everyone in the room for the subsidy!
Typical republican attitude.........Heller has learned well from Boss Limbaugh and other haters and liars!!!
@ Bertsos
1 - I would extend your statement and say that Heller has learned from the Constitution. He is absolutely right on point. His people skills may have lacked a tad, but the Federal Government has meddled their grimy into fingers into places not intended by the Constitution. The Commerce Clause has been defaced and bloated beyond repair.
2 - What part of Heller's statement was a lie?
3 - What part of Heller's statments made him a hater? The truth hurt doesn't it. We paid for $4,500 of this guys car. If he was insulted it was because he recognized that Heller was right.
reagan,
What Heller lacked in tact, he totally made up for in humor!
That is honestly one of the funniest exchanges I've heard in a while.
Henderson,
I recommend you go buy a decent sense of humor.
Heller's lucky the guy didn't slug him.
He's a non-entity in Washington (433rd out of 435 in terms of power amongst house members), so I really don't care what he thinks.
An excellent point but poor delivery. "Cash for Clunkers" hailed by the Democrats is nothing more than a ignorant waste of taxpayers money. The gentleman in the audience is owed an apology but not the Obama administration. STOP WASTING OUR MONEY PRESIDENT OBAMA! All the Democrats seem to do is spend, spend, and spend some more. Oh and don't forget the TAXES that WE will have to endure to pay for their mistakes while they are temporarily in power. Obama's legacy, a huge national debt and no direction. Thanks a lot Obama, you jackass!
Well, I never thought I would say this but Heller is right. People are running around buying new cars thinking they got a deal. Where do they think the money will come from? It comes from hard working people who pay taxes. The sad part is your great,great grandchildren will be paying this one off. Holy )(*&&^^%$# I think I am starting to think like a Republican.
HAHA Heller! Thank you for pointing out the obvious. That's great.
So what would we do if all the car dealerships and automakers go out of business? More unemployment, lower retail sales.... how does that fix anything? I don't agree with all government spending, but if Republicans would work towards a more bipartisan solution, rather than just bagging on what the Democrats are trying to do to dig us out of this mess (which was created before they came to power), i'd be more inclined to listen to them
Say what you will about the C4C program -- the big winner is the environment. We have a whole bunch more gas guzzling, CO spewing, traffic clogging clunkers off the road and on to the recyclers.
Blueberry,
Yes, you're absolutely right. Those Hummers available on the C4C list will save the planet HUGE with 16 mpg!
Wake up!
It is refreshing to hear a politician actually speak what us taxpayers feel and don't have a voice to say. Good going Heller, Don't worry about that lost vote, I will now help you get another one.
henderson,
Provide a link to back up that last statement.
The last I heard, the new auto must get at least ten miles a gallon above the one being traded. This means a person would have to trade in something like a 6mpg dump truck get a 16mpg Hummer under the C4C program. I don't even think they take dump trucks under that program.
As for anyone grousing about the Constitutionally of Cash 4 Clunkers, please submit your complaints to the Federal Courts who have already given all matter of such giveaways full passes under the Commerce Clause.
If government can bail out banks and car companies with tax dollars, then it can buy people cars with tax dollars. Heck, it beats handing out taxes to people who export jobs, import illegals and gamble the earnings on Wall Street and at the Luxor.
As for Rep Hellers wonderful populism and fiscal responsibility, where was he when Pres. Bush ran up that enormous debt, and what did that enormous debt actually buy us poor taxpayers then?
Rep. Heller is probably just mad because his business buddies and relatives didn't get that money. He's a joke in a suit.
What do you get when you put Heller, Gibbons, and Ensign in a Clunker?
Sometimes these folks are better than TV. You can`t make this stuff up.
james,
The eligibility list is not a secret and you forgot to say please.
http://www.edmunds.com/cash-for-clunkers...
It has to be 10 mpg better than what you are trading for the full $4500 rebate. 4 mpg better will get you the $3500 rebate.
Over a hundred thousand miles, a 4 mpg improvement means you would use 2083 gallons less of gas, on average. That's 2083 less gallons of gasoline, requiring less oil from foreign countries, meaning less money goes overseas. 2083 gallons of gas saved PER CAR. Henderson would rather see that oil money go to Saudi Arabia, where most of the 9/11 terrorists came from.
I believe the actual cost to each taxpayer is $7500.00 for cash for clunkers, when you consider all involved to process the rebate. I'd love to have a $7500.00 IRS check instead. And I know the foreign auto-makers thank you too. 40 -45 % of the cash for clunkers went to non american car companies. Way to stimulate the American car makers Washington!
JerryWayne
We would be like Cuba. All old cars running around spewing unrestricted exhaust emissions,robbing parts from one to keep another one going.... Two things I got against this CFC.
1). I'd like to hear if anyone actually got a good deal on the vehicle or if it just created a reason for dealers to jack up the price to full MSRP
2).Wonder why we still support an industry that is protectionist and unwilling to take the latest technology and eco-friendly ideas available and institute them with R/D i.e. Hydrogen, pre-ignition catalytic convertors. brown gas etc.
Lets see; California installs battery chargers in downtown locations circa 1982-84
Battery cars become rage as battery technology improves
Certain OIL Co. buys rights to batteries
Batteries no longer available on market
GM repo's all cars and destroys them
25-27 yrs.later when proprietary non competition clause runs out,VOILA' Lithium Ion batteries back on market.
They are all in bed together yet want us to swallow before we choke LOL
I am opposed to the government using money to subsidize new cars for people.
But if they are going to subsidize new cars for people for the sake of "energy efficiency", does it really make sense to put Hummers on the list?
Call me crazy!
"But if they are going to subsidize new cars for people for the sake of "energy efficiency", does it really make sense to put Hummers on the list?"
If the Hummer is more "energy efficient" than the car they are trading in, then yes, that's basic logic. We're not talking about an H1 or H2 here, we're talking about the H3, which is a glorified Chevy Colorado mid-size pickup.
So yes, if "energy efficiency" is the determining factor, and you trade in a car that get 12mpg combined for one that gets 16mpg combined, that's MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT. Duh!
That's really funny. Most people would consider 16 mpg a gas guzzler.
It's not funny to people who have basic abilities to count and reason.
Relative to a 12 mpg vehicle, it is obviously more efficient. 2000+ gallons of gas saved per 8 years, on average, for the switch.
but what good is saving 2000 + gallons if you go from no car payment to 250 - 500 a month plus higher insurance? it is not an economic thing, cfc was trully for the green nuts to get cars they considered bad for the environment off the road.
Does anyone know the make of the vehicle the constituent purchased?
Yes, very good! 16 is more than 12.
Most people would consider 16 mpg a gas guzzler!
16 mpg is not good gas mileage.
Its a shame the gentleman who got slammed for participating in the Government Giveaway didn't ask his own Question. Who is paying for Heller's Health Insurance, Travel expenses and six figure salary along with a full pension ? Hey I'll even throw in Franking Priveleges for the Representative, look it up.
"16 mpg is not good gas mileage."
Relative to... what?
16 mpg combined (18 mpg highway) for a 4x4 mid-size pickup with that kind of towing capability is about average. 16 mpg for a passenger car is bad... but then you can't off-road in a Prius, can you?
Really, this is all basic stuff, why are you having such a hard time with it?
Comment removed by staff.
Well, it's obvious you never read THIS legislation. I guess you couldn't find any right-wing blogs to crib from...
There were specific allowances for different vehicle types. Passenger cars, light trucks, work trucks, etc. It seems you didn't get that memo.
Work trucks and pickups are just as necessary to Americans as passenger cars, and many Americans utilize the towing, hauling and 4x4 capabilities of these vehicles for their work. There's no reason to discriminate against those folks who want to purchase a more fuel efficient vehicle... especially if it saves over 2000 gallons of gas over 8 years, on average.
Relative to gas efficiency, the H3T is mid-range, and if purchased under C4C, at least 4 mpg MORE EFFICIENT than the vehicle it was traded for. Net? MORE EFFICIENT.
Duh!
Free cars for freeloaders. I'll give this worthless boondoggle six months and at least 25% of these cars will be in the repo pipeline. At least those of us who like to buy used cars will be able to get some deals. If you can't afford to pay for the full cost of the car you do not deserve it.
This whole scheme was designed to mainly help the UAW and only thirty percent of the sales went to Ford, GM and Chrysler. Another government failure.
Henderson,
Funny, yeah it is pretty funny, so is the bullcrap so called free market. What free market? farm subsidies, TARP, AIG.........
Jsilver
Damn... I think Heller just earned my vote. This should offset the one he lost (LOL).
henderson: I'm proud of you for being censored by the most liberal publication in America! You should frame the page.
Yep, Heller has learned well....He's read the right-wing play book that the "Party of NO" follows to a "T" and he's very good at using it....
Heller said...."I know I embarrassed someone and I apologize for that, but I don't think everybody has a right to own a new car."
Hmmmmm..... I wonder if Heller owns a new car. I wonder what his salary per year is, all paid for by the tax payers.
Of course, Heller also enjoys full health care coverage for he and all the members of his family and guess what? It cost the arrogant Congressman a whole $15.00 a year....
I wonder if Mr. Heller will vote for health care reform?
Probably not, after all, he doesn't need it!
Isn't this the same guy who declined an opportunity to run against Harry Reid next year?
Hmmmmm......just another "full of himself" arrogant right-winger! Go figure....
Lobito: why do you senoritos persist in calling it health care reform when the total package is DEFORMED?
mikegino said....
"why do you senoritos persist in calling it health care reform when the total package is DEFORMED?"
That's funny! Is that a new page that has been added to the right-wing play book? Apparently...
drugster and alaska's mom has alot of fans here. so easy some people can not think for themselves.
Heller; What a jackass. Typical behavior these
days.
mikegino,
Health Care Deform! I love it!
How many of you paid Heller's $174,000 salary plus benefits (which includes great health care, etc.), raise your hand? How many of you paid $811,375 for salaries for Heller's staff during CY 2008 (up from $718,694 during CY 2007), raise your hand?
http://www.legistorm.com/member/842/Rep_...
How many of you paid Heller's PAC money for CY 2008 in amount $750,529, raise your hand?
http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/p...
I'm surprised the man was offended. Where did he think that rebate was coming from, Santa Claus?
As for Cash for Clunkers, sounds like the Japanese & Korean auto-workers were helped more than the American ones. (Which isn't so bad -- at least they're friendly & democratic countries!) But now what? Same thing for appliances maybe? How many of them are made in the US? Spurring consumer spending on things made outside the US is counter-productive -- it just increases our balance of trade deficit, further eroding the dollar, all while protecting overseas (out-sourced) jobs. Whatever genius thought of this needs to go back to flipping burgers until they figure out how the economy really works.
If we took the millions(billions?) wasted on Cash For Clunkers, and split it up among all (tax paying)Americans(legal citizens), How much of a rebate would I get??
After all, Obama wants re-distribution of wealth, but only for certain people. Could he be more prejudiced against us hard working Americans? If he's handing out money instead of spending it drilling for US oil, where's mine?
vegasaddict may have hit on something here.
Maybe those of us that haven't mortgaged all of the equity out of our homes or get our new car subsidies should get some kind of bonus or tax break for being responsible and self-sufficient.
Our little bonus probably really would 'stimulate' the economy (unlike the prisoners they gave money to) because since we already pay our bills, this would no doubt be fun money.
Heller is a jerk to talk to someone like that.