Democrats Secretly Pushing for Auto Bailout from the Start

The Wall Street Journal commented on an interesting facet of the bailout bill. Apparently, the Democratic Party has decided to slip in some “scripted dialogue” after the vote on the bailout took place in order to secure more money for the UAW via Detroit’s Big Three:

The plan? Make it the Bush administration’s responsibility to give Detroit cash — namely by claiming after the event that the $700 billion rescue package for financial institutions was in fact a rescue package for auto makers. This was attempted with several hilarious “colloquys” — pre-scripted dialogues between members that were quietly inserted into the Congressional Record after the vote, all aimed at rewriting the “intent” of the law. Say, this one, from Oct. 1:

Michigan Sen. Carl Levin: “As Treasury implements this new program, it is clear to me from reading the definition of financial institution that auto financing companies would be among the many financial institutions that would be eligible sellers to the government. Do you agree?”

Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd: “Yes, for purposes of this act, I agree that financial institution may encompass auto financing companies.”

If this type of rewriting history is common practice in the corrupt world of politics, then more has to change than just the bailout policy.