I know Chrysler dealerships owned by conservatives were targeted. Don’t know about GM. Did they even close any GM shops?
Absolutely they targeted GM shops. I remember an owner of a profitable GM dealership who interestingly was also involved in conservative causes being interviewed on the news wondering why his dealership was being closed because they moved good volume. I remember thinking how outrageous it was. There was a thread on here about this specific guy and dealership speculating that he was targeted for his political beliefs.
That whole decision stank and made little sense to me then or now. In light of the latest revelations it makes one wonder what criteria was used by the government to close private businesses.
Back when this happened, there was an effort to look into whether or not politics played into choosing which dealerships were/were not closed. Anyone with access to FEC reports (available online) could've gone and done the research, and still can.
In Orland Park IL, 159th St. is "Car Alley." Every manufacturer is represented in a approximately 1.5 mile stretch of road.
In one particular case, there was a large Dodge dealership, and a large Chrysler/Jeep dealership. Two different dealerships.
The Chrysler/Jeep dealership was targeted for closing. The owner of the Chrysler/Jeep dealership on 159th St. in Orland Park IL also had a Chrysler/Jeep dealership on 95th St. in Oak Lawn, IL - several towns away, and two other Chrysler/Jeep Dealerships located elsewhere in IL. All four of the owner's Chrysler/Jeep dealerships were profitable.
The Dodge Dealership located about .5 miles down the road was also a very large dealership, the owner of that location also had several other Dodge dealerships - all profitable.
The Chrysler Dealer on 159th St. in Orland Park was "selected" for closure/elimination.
Why?
Because the owner was a financial contributor to Republican candidates, whereas the Dodge Dealership's owner just down the street was a contributor to Democrat candidates. This information was easily found in FEC reports available online.
Now within the last few years, the Dodge Dealership on 159th St. in Orland Park IL changed owners - coincidentally (?) to another Dodge owner who contributes heavily to Democrat candidates. Since taking over the dealership, it's become a Dodge/Jeep dealership. The "new" owner also has several other dealerships (Dodge/Jeep) within minutes of this location.
Is it a coincidence that the Dealership owned by a Republican candidate contributor was closed, whereas Democrat owned dealerships were left alone? I don't think so, but this is only one case that I investigated using available on-line information.
I suspect there are plenty more cases out there that will fit this same pattern, and that pattern will show once again that the Obama Administration rewards its friends, and punishes its enemies.