Politics used to be so easy. The Republicans and Democrats were divided over the socially liberal or conservative viewpoints of how to run our government.
Now, politics are encompassing every aspect of our lives. You can’t get a rectal exam without it being political, let alone buy a car, especially the Chevy Volt.
The Chevy Volt has become the whipping boy for politicians, some going so far as calling it the Obama car. Republicans are against the Volt for many reasons: they say General Motors shouldn’t have received a bailout, and Volt buyers shouldn’t get a $7,500 tax credit.
According to Strategic Vision, a research and consulting firm involved with the automotive industry, the Volt has scored the highest Value score this year. This is partially due to the fanatic following of Volt owners, but it is also because the Volt represents the ideal of many who feel that this vehicle is where the future of the automobile should be headed.
In Strategic Vision’s study, new vehicle buyers are asked their political affiliation. The Chevrolet Volt has one of the highest proportions of Democratic buyers. Howe’ver, the Volt isn’t completely rejected by Republicans. The report stated that about 21% of Volt owners are Republican.
Ironically, according to the Public Policy Polling group, only 21% of the GOP voters in Iowa believe in global warming.
Sure, it’s only a coincidence that the percentage of Volt owners that are Republican are exactly the same percentage of GOP voters in Iowa that believe in global warming. Or is it?
Are Republicans conspiring against the Democrats, or is this marketing issue?
Have you seen a commercial that shows a big electric plug going from your house to the electric grid? The power pole gets snapped and the camera swoops in to where the generator is located in the house. In seconds, the generator is on and the house has power again. Miniaturize that, put it in a car and call it a Volt. Ingenious.
No, I havent seen that commercial either.
Have you seen the commercial where the woman plugs in her Volt and the next morning she has 40 miles of driving range? A bill is lying next to the electric outlet for $1.20. In the next scene she is going by a station that shows gasoline for $4.59 a gallon. Then, the statistic comes up that, on average, Volt users go 900 miles between fill-ups.
No, I havent seen that commercial either.
There is another commercial that could be made touting the Volt as a flex-fuel vehicle offering an alternative fuel (electricity) that is available to all Americans, and which is domestically produced.
Perhaps once the Presidential election is over the Chevy Volt will become just another car and not purchased because you believe in climate change, or don’t, or because you’re a Republican or Democrat.
Of course if President Obama gets re-elected that could help Volt sales, because then Republicans might believe in climate change.
Why? Because, to them, Hell will have frozen over.
