Tire-Gauge Industry Pumps Up Obama Campaign Coffers

[Ichingcarpenter]

Just when you thought that Big Oil dictated the energy policy of the United States through political contributions, Wired.com has learned that a substantial contributor to the Obama campaign has influenced that candidate's ideas on energy.

On June 16, 2008, John Zimmerman, chief financial officer of Tomkins, gave nearly $7,000 in campaign contributions to Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Lo and behold, nary two months later Obama's in Springfield, Missouri, suggesting drivers inflate their tires to save gas (and, by the way, curb CO2 emissions). Coincidence? We think not. Does it come as any surprise that Tomkins owns the Syracuse Gauge Company, which bills itself as manufacturing the "largest selection and variety of tools in the United States for filling tires checking tire pressure"?

Of course the mainstream media ignored this development, leaving it to the blogosphere to bring the big money and big pressure of the PSI lobby to light.

Clearly, Mr. Zimmerman's contributions influenced the Obama campaign to encourage Americans to purchase tire gauges, though most of the lowly devices have already been snapped up by the McCain campaign. Perhaps the most-shocking part of Inflategate is the politicization of a suggestion so simple as following the instructions found in your car's owners manual. It's also something of a tempest in a teapot, seeing how all new cars must have tire-pressure monitors.>>>snip

http://blog.wired.com/cars/2008/08/inflategate-tir.html

[liberal N proud]

1. All those tire gages McGoo campaign gave away

Another McGoo flop.
:rofl:

[FrenchieCat]

2. And all of this time I thought it was the McCain campaign purchasing

tire gage with Obama's name on them, trying to raise money...... non? :shrug:

**FROM MCCAIN CAMPAIGN**

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. I wonder if the McCain campaign bought American

Cause if they did they bought it from this company.

I love Irony.

[ellenfl]

5. i want one of those!!! eom

[ellenfl]

7. ok, i bought 2 . . . but not from mccain or a mccainiac.

ebay had a self-described obama fan selling them. the other 2 sellers were definitely mccainiacs. so, this is not an authentic mccain gauge but i just could not put money into his pocket. i think the gauges could be good collectibles once obama gets elected.

ellen fl

[Joanne98]

4. YAY

[NYC_SKP]

6. I think Obama's campaign should sell the exact same gauges...

and leave them labled the same way. Hell, I'd donate to get one, it's actually very smart to keep the tires up.

It would be a great way to serve McCain a Fuck You sandwich.....

If they sold well they'd make for good news, too.

:hi: