Hi David,
On Jun 4, 2009, at 6:38 PM, David R. Block wrote:
This is interesting. All of the Little Rock Dealerships were closed
so that Mack McLarty and his partner Steve Landers can have the only
one in the metropolitan area. This was the testimony before Congress
given in the last day or so.
I agree it is a suspicious pattern, and I am very glad to see Congress
investigating (though as usual, I'd prefer a link as well :-).
Favoritism and cronyism towards preferred dealer group is not a
valid exercise of business judgment.
Our post-partisan President seems to be quite partisan after all.
There you go again. There may well be evidence of malfeasance, but
must you blame everything personally on Obama without any direct proof
whatsoever?
He may well be ultimately culpable for whomever he appointed or
nominated for a position of responsibility, but it strikes me unlikely
in the extreme that he personally directed or knew of any chicanery.
However sly he may or may not be, he can't possibly be that stupid.
-- Ernie P.
One particular declaration caught my eye, that of Ethel L. Cook, a
dealer based in downtown Little Rock, a town near and dear to the
former resident. I believe readers can draw their own conclusions
based on Mr. Cook’s sworn testimony.
On May 13, 2009, I received a letter from Chrysler notifying the
Dealership that Chrysler had elected to “reject” our Dealer
Agreement. I am obviously very familiar with the Little Rock,
Arkansas dealer network and was surprised because both Cook and
Crain, the only Chrysler dealers in Little Rock, were both rejected.
Therefore, Chrysler’s action would, on its face, result in a
complete lack of representation in a major American city. Since that
would be a ludicrous result, one can only infer that Chrysler has a
more sinister motive.
Because it is inconceivable that Chrysler will not have a dealership
in Little Rock going forward, the only conclusion that one could
draw is that, after review, the evidence in other markets in the
region, that Chrysler now intends to “give” the Little Rock market
to a Landers-related dealer.
Having reviewed the pattern of assumption and rejection of dealers
throughout their region, I have detected a pattern: In every market
where there is a dealership connected with former Penske Automotive
executive Steve Landers, or his new automotive partnership with
“Mac” McLarty (former Chief of Staff for President Clinton) and
Robert L. Johnson (majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats), the
competitors are rejected.
In the Little Rock, Landers Chrysler Dodge Jeep is located far out
of town in Benton, Arkansas. Nevertheless, the two Little Rock
dealers, Cook and Crain were rejected.
In the Fayetteville, Arkansas area, Landers-McLarty Dodge Chrysler
Jeep is located far out of town in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Competitors Springdale Dodge Chrysler, Steve Smith County Jeep and
Jones Brothers were all rejected.
In the Shreveport, Louisiana market, Lee’s Summit Dodge Chrysler
Jeep (a Landers McLarty dealership) is located in Bossier City,
Louisiana. Both competitive dealers, Claude de Beaux in Vivian,
Louisiana and Greater Birmingham Dodge Chrysler in Shreveport were
rejected.
In the Springfield, Missouri market, Tri-Lakes Motors (a Landers-
McLarty dealership) is located in Branson, Missouri. Competitors
Heritage Chrysler Jeep in Ozark, Missouri and Ramsay Motor Company
in Harrison, Arkansas were rejected. A pattern seems to be emerging.
Everywhere there is a Landers-McLarty dealership, Chrysler has
rejected the competition.
In the Huntsville, Alabama market, Landers McLarty Dodge Chrysler
Jeep, is located in Huntsville. Competitor Cloverleaf Chrysler Dodge
Jeep was rejected.
Favoritism and cronyism towards preferred dealer group is not a
valid exercise of business judgment.
Our post-partisan President seems to be quite partisan after all.
David
--
“There is no difference between communism and socialism, except in
the means of achieving the same ultimate end: communism proposes to
enslave men by force, socialism - by vote. It is merely the
difference between murder and suicide.”--Ayn Rand
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