"Free market" Garrett decries free market.

by: Adam L

Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 12:01:15 PM EDT

Rep. Garrett opposed an auto industry bailout when it was proposed by the Bush administration in late 2008, and signed a letter suggesting the companies go through bankruptcy reorganization rather than receive government support.

But after hearing from constituents, he is not happy with the closure of car dealerships in his district.

In a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and presidential adviser Lawrence Summers, Garrett said the closures "represent the direct loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs and millions of dollars to local economies."

He demanded to know the reasoning used by a White House task force in pressing for Chrysler and General Motors to shed dealerships.

Garrett has this point on his side: When the Obama administration took an active hand in managing the car companies, it inherited the heat that comes with the disruptive changes the companies have to make to stay in business.

But worth noting: At a hearing in December, Garrett criticized the restructuring plans submitted by Ford, Chrysler and GM for putting that disruption off.

"The question is, do we close dealerships in 2012 or restructure union obligations in 2011? None of that's going to help us right now: Things have to be done sooner," Garrett said.

This is the same Garrett who votes against anything that has anything to do with the federal government spending money - if it isn't on Iraq.  and this is the same Garrett who said recently that TOO MUCH REGULATION was to blame for the financial crisis, and that the free markets should sort themselves out.

And yes, this is the same Garrett who voted against the stimulus bill (the largest middle class tax cut in history) that also was to bring thousands of jobs to his district, spoke out against the auto bailout and wanted the auto companies to go through bankruptcy - just as the "free market" would have it.

But when the inevitable happened and dealerships in his (and my) district closed - he wonders how the free market would allow that and feigns outrage.

Interesting.