http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/03/news/companies/dot_toyota_lahood/

Certainly must violate SOME ethics rule against conflict of interests….
This is also why the gov’t should not own a company competing against private business. When the gov’t's role as consumer protector comes into play, there is no way to separate that from their other role as a competitor. Instant conflict there.
You’re missing the point. Yes, Toyota did start the recall and the gov’t had nothing to do with that. BUT then LaHood publicly stated that people should "steer clear" of Toyotas. Since the government has it’s own car company (GM), that is an abuse of the office of Transportation Secretary.
The govt SHOULD comment on it. But it can’t own a competitor and do so. So the gov’t MUST immediately divest all stake in GM so that it can speak about Toyota with legitimate authority.

It’s a 2000 Toyota Echo, well maintained with 56K miles. I’m 57 years old, and it’s easily the best car I’ve ever owned.
All this stuff in the news about defective Toyotas…will it hurt my resale value? I’m asking 00 for it.
Do you really think so, Peter? It only has 56,000 miles on it. I’m in Northern California, these things sell well.
Blue Book is 10, but everything good seems to sell for over Blue Book.

"Toyotas are by no means a "dream car" whatsoever. They are merely a car just to get from point A to point B." – Business News Network (July article 2008)

http://image.sporttruck.com/f/30870132/0912st_05_+front_page_news_december_2009+1985_toyota_sr5_4x4.jpg

I’ve looked around and cant seem to find it yet i see a lot of toyotas with this same guard on. Hopefully one of you all know. Thanks

Heard on the news that the floors on Toyotas are designed in such a way that floor mats can make the accelerators stick. I have an ’09 Corolla — is my car one of the models affected by this safety defect?