Angry auto dealers are threatening to boycott the National Auto Dealers Association’s annual convention in New Orleans next January, thanks to the NADA’s decision to invite Hillary Clinton to keynote the event.

In comments posted on the Automotive News website, dealers are sounding off, unleashing an angry tirade. One commenter writes:

         “Re: Shrillary…have we forgotten the nefarious Rose Law Firm, Vincent Foster, “Travelgate”, cattle futures, White Water, the seizing of FBI files of conservatives…all before the Benghazi 3:00am phone call.    “Phony scandals” don’t come home in body bags !!”

Other comments:

     “NADA moves one giant step closer to irrelevance with the selection of Clinton as a speaker. What part of political neutrality do they not understand? Every dealer I know is outraged….”

     “This hag needs to emigrate – now that would make me VERY happy.”

According to the report in Automotive News, “a Georgia dealer consultant who writes columns for auto industry publications, says he was deluged by profane responses to his Facebook post asking people what they thought of NADA’s pick.”  (Automotive News, July 29, 2013)

According to Open Secrets, auto dealers have a history of lavish donations to political candidates and parties –predominantly to Republicans.  During the 2011- 2012 campaign cycle, auto dealers gave $1,473,925 to Romney, but only a relatively paltry $118,394 to Obama.

Ironically, during the Clinton presidency, auto sales burgeoned and car dealers flourished. In stark contrast, George Bush’s economic policies proved disastrous for the entire auto industry, resulting in the bankruptcies of GM and Chrysler, and record numbers of dealer closings.