NPR's Nina Totenberg: There Was Nothing Political About Obama Giving Solyndra Money
NPR's Nina Totenberg on Friday exhibited what Hillary Clinton would call a willing suspension of disbelief.
When the subject of failed solar company Solyndra came up on PBS's Inside Washington, Totenberg actually said with a straight face, "There is no evidence that there was any political anything about the awarding of this contract" (video follows with transcript and commentary):
GORDON PETERSON, HOST: There was a hearing up on the hill, five hours, Steven Chu, the Secretary of Energy, was in the hot seat over Solyndra. $535 million loan guarantee, and Republicans are saying that they acted illegally by guaranteeing investors would get a break before taxpayers. Is this going to come back to bite the Obama campaign?
NINA TOTENBERG, NPR: It doesn't look good when half a billion dollars goes down the drain. On the other hand, this program, which was originally in the Bush administration and Solyndra was originally okayed in the Bush administration, actually allocates $10 billion for losses, because it was supposed to be a seed money program. It was endorsed by every Republican and I believe every Democratic member of the House committee that originally approved it. It was, you know, many people think it’s a good idea. Many people don't. But there is nothing illegal about what went on here, or even probably very political except that somebody wanted the layoffs delayed
PETERSON: What about the timing of the layoffs?
TOTENBERG: Except that somebody wanted the layoffs…
CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER: Oh, yeah, except for that…
TOTENBERG: They shouldn’t have done that, but there is no evidence that there was any political anything about the awarding of this contract.
PETERSON: I don’t think Charles agrees with you.
I guess Totenberg missed the part about Obama fundraiser George Kaiser being one of Solyndra's largest investors.
It is indeed entertaining watching media members contort themselves supporting the corruption of a president they admire.
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Comments
Charles must have been having..
Submitted by zenman1661 on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 12:47pm.
an off night. I would have expected a stronger and snapier response to her nonsense like he usually does.
Objectivity is out the window
Submitted by rbosque on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 12:47pm.
Objectivity is out the window with these mutants. My greatest disgust is that we actually pay this harpie's salary.
It is galling that we have to
Submitted by rockyracoon on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 6:32pm.
It is galling that we have to pay for her upkeep, I agree.
Facts are like kryptonite to the liberal.
It's Bush's fault!!
Submitted by motherbelt on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 12:54pm.
Nina, which part of acted illegally by guaranteeing investors would get a break before taxpayers do you not understand?
What has that to do with Bush?
It's impossible to embarrass someone who has no shame.....
Now you see...
Submitted by zenman1661 on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 1:25pm.
that's the type of comment that Charles should have said
I thought that Bush's folks
Submitted by ricklail on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 5:20pm.
I thought that Bush's folks had said no to Solyndra.
Yes, but you see, Rick
Submitted by Blonde on Sun, 11/20/2011 - 8:26am.
....the PROCESS started under the Bush administration, and even though the Bush people said NO!, the media point at the mess and lay it at Bush's door. Never mind the donors/Solyndra investors, nor the administration's pressure re: layoffs. Nothing to see here, move on, move on.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Great point, motherbelt
Submitted by Galvanic on Sun, 11/20/2011 - 11:30pm.
Totenberg's comment is ridiculous on its face.
TOTENBERG: "They shouldn’t have done that, but there is no evidence that there was any political anything about the awarding of this contract."
First of all, anytime the Federal government grants $$$ or guarantees loans to a commercial enterprise and it is not payment for goods or services received, it's political. Washington decided for political reasons to grant or loan money that is not available to all.
Then we get the awarding of the loan to one of the President's big political donors against the advice of his own economics team; the illegal restructuring of the guaranteed loans to the detriment of taxpayers; and the manipulation of the lay-off announcement.
If all this somehow fails to rise to Totenberg's definition of 'political,' she needs to go back to high school.
Really,
Submitted by ray johnson on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 12:55pm.
That brain has shrunken up to be about pea sized...and green, too!
Yes, Obama is pure of heart and not politically motivated at all
Submitted by gmaniac1 on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 12:55pm.
What else could it be?
Tottenburg lied when she said
Submitted by wdvander on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 1:08pm.
Tottenburg lied when she said the Solyndra loan was initiallly approved in the Bush Administration. The Bush energy department turned down the loan request and it was revived with the election of PBO and his need for campaign cash. There are deep ties between Solyndra and campaign bundlers for democrat campaigns. The Solyndra loan was completely political with the set up of the loans where bundlers, er, investors in Solyndra were first to receive payback before taxpayers.
Shes right-theres nothing political about it..
Submitted by NJRightWinger12 on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 1:29pm.
Cause its CRIMINAL! He should be put up on trial for this, amongst many other things! Wheres the impeachment proceedings against this Communist? If the American people ever DARE to re-elect this warmongering idiot clown, they deserve the corrupt govt they get!
Amen NJ!!
Submitted by rockyracoon on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 6:30pm.
Amen NJ!!
Facts are like kryptonite to the liberal.
Thank you, rockyracoon!
Submitted by NJRightWinger12 on Sun, 11/20/2011 - 3:43pm.
Did you go up to your room, only to read Gideons bible? Well, we will need alot more than that if O'Bozo and his merry men arent stopped!
Does anyone here
Submitted by bkeyser on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 1:31pm.
think these liberal commentators actually believe this stuff? Or are these statements designed solely for the purpose of misleading the viewer? I mean, it's astounding the degree to which these people will look at you and lie right to your face.
In the Corps, our most guiding principal was "integrity"; I see very little of that from today's liberal punditry.
Yep...........
Submitted by Tomorama on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 1:48pm.
You beat me to the punch, her saying this was OK'ed under Boooooosh is just a flat out LIE.
IT WAS UNANIMOUS by Booooosh and company AFTER looking into this that they were NOT a good bet and the other fact about that is MANY under Obysmal stated and I quote "This company is not ready for prime time" and they were also against the loan.
Then knowing the loan was bogus and bad, they in turn CRIMINALLY red-did the loan so we get shit back.
Not an opinion, Nina, simple facts.
True, but.....
Submitted by Kingfish17 on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 2:08pm.
My problem with what happened under the Bush administration was that the mechanism to fund these type of loans, through the DOE, was written into law. The DOE shouldn't be in the business of lending money to anybody.
It's a valid point to say that the Bush admin turned down this loan, but the Feds shouldn't be in position to dole out this type of slush fund money in the first place.
"You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas...on the taxpayer’s dime." Barack Obama
Not only that
Submitted by rockyracoon on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 6:29pm.
But the DOE should be completely defunded, and disbanded. It is a thoroughly useless and unecessary cabinet department, JMO.
Facts are like kryptonite to the liberal.
Obysmal
Submitted by GEDoug on Sun, 11/20/2011 - 4:30pm.
LOLLOOOLOOL...a good one, and one I have not heard
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA
Submitted by liberalsarefunny on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 1:52pm.
My sides hurt from laughing at these libbies....
Your tax dollars at work.
Nina the Hyena....here we go again!
Submitted by Herbster on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 2:05pm.
Another example of the media....or should I say the 2011 reincarnation of Goebbels' Ministry of Propaganda.....on display for all to see.
We live in dangerous times.
Hyena? Have to disagree.
Submitted by KyWriter on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 5:56pm.
She has an equine face, with opinions more closely resembling the other end of the horse.
No evidence...
Submitted by Dave81 on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 2:05pm.
Of course, when it's Republicans under the spotlight, who needs evidence? Anonymous rumors will suffice.
Subrogation
Submitted by allouchsit on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 2:11pm.
The main illegality with this whole deal was that the interests of the American People were subrogated to the interests of other investors. This means the other investors are in a position superior to the American People. This is entirely illegal. Federal law requires that the American People always be in first position whenever federal funds are invested in any project. I wish the media would spend more time on this issue and stop sweeping it under the rug. This was an entirely illegal loan and should not have been approved. Any and all persons who approved this deal should be prosecuted and jailed.
some good points made by many readers but..
Submitted by Dr. Ron on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 5:16pm.
root cause (ugh, I apologize for using that term); liberals lie, as a matter of course. Not that they are necessarily dense/ignorant/"thick"...many are...but they know how to parrot the lies and mis-info: they understand the power of the Misinformation Effect.
The program worked
Submitted by Franksam on Sat, 11/19/2011 - 8:08pm.
Nina said that ten billion was 'allocated' for losses. The whole thing is a non-starter for me, because now I know that losses are okay as long as they are expected.
One great question-did any conservative companies-
Submitted by JIMMY1660 on Sun, 11/20/2011 - 9:50am.
get any funding for "eco" projects??
If not we now confirm its political purposes only, on the Obama agenda.
The bucket has holes-fix the holes before you try to fill it.
And
Submitted by HockeyKid on Sun, 11/20/2011 - 9:56am.
SunPower, and...
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Bush???
Submitted by GEDoug on Sun, 11/20/2011 - 4:28pm.
The left just cannot speak the truth. The Bush administration DID NOT approve it. They rejected it. It gets tiresome...Totenberg can only support her position if she lies...and she has no problem with holding the position that requires that. It is either a psychosis or a compete lack of moral character.
Nina Still Employed?
Submitted by tomaspain on Mon, 11/21/2011 - 6:58am.
Nina must have some really embarrassing pictures of important people. Blackmail seems the only possible reason that she keeps her job.