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The Netroots, Brought to You By the Auto Lobby

We've wrung hands before over the seeming disinterest of the "progressive" left in reducing automobile dependence. But it was still a shock to see Daily Kos enshrouded in advertising for Auto Innovation, a project of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

By Brad Aaron

5:46 PM EST on January 20, 2010

We’ve wrung hands before over the seeming disinterest of the “progressive” left in reducing automobile dependence. But it was still a shock to see Daily Kos enshrouded in advertising for Auto Innovation, a project of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

A self-described “leading advocacy group for the automobile industry on a range of public policy issues,” the purpose of the Alliance seems mostly to sell the public on how keen carmakers are on using technology to advance the cause of environmental stewardship (though the mythological “green” car of the future, whatever it is, remains tantalizingly out of reach). The group’s presence on Kos makes the usual MSM buy look subtle.

So what’s the angle here? Are car manufacturers afraid of losing the lefty base? Aren’t car-ad bereft Free Republic readers just as interested in innovations like soy seating foam?

Brad Aaron

Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York's dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.

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