John Kerry's SUV Hybrid Sitting On Used Car Lot
If you're in the market for a hybrid SUV once owned by a famous, environmentally friendly politician, Sen. John Kerry's (D-Mass.) 2006 Ford Escape Hybrid is for sale for about $26,000.
Catholic University graduate student Julie Egermayer found out about Kerry's SUV when she called Koons Ford auto dealership in Falls Church, VA., over the weekend. Egermayer's car was totaled recently in a fire in the alley behind her apartment building in Washington, so she decided to replace it with a Ford Escape Hybrid. And not one necessarily previously owned by a big-name politician.
The Ford dealership told Egermayer it didn't have any '08 models of the hybrid SUV on the lot. When she asked about a used one, the salesman lit up like a lottery winner. "They were so excited. The salesman said, 'Yes! We just got one from a very important person,'" says Egermayer.
Egermayer didn't really have to twist the car salesman's arm to get him to tell her whose SUV it was. And no matter how impressed she was that Sen. Kerry owned the car -- her fiancé, Ari Rabin-Havt, worked as deputy director of Internet communications on Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign -- she wasn't interested.
"If I bought John Kerry's car, the warranty would expire at the end of this year," she explained. Better to have Joe Blow's car with a warranty than John Kerry's without.
But what is Kerry, Mr. Saving the Planet Jr. (Al Gore is Senior), doing getting rid of his hybrid? Is he going back to a gas-guzzling, ozone-destroying emissions way of the past?
Never, says Kerry's deputy chief of staff, David Wade. In fact, his boss decided to trade in his two-year-old Ford Escape Hybrid for a shiny new Chevy Tahoe Hybrid -- which won the 2008 Green Car of the Year award, he'll have you know. (Wade says it's a 40 percent increase in fuel efficiency.)
"Senator Kerry has already done two things this year to help fight global warming and reduce greenhouse gas emissions: he bought a new hybrid car and he's giving shorter speeches," Wade quipped.
By Mary Ann Akers |
February 11, 2008; 6:51 PM ET
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Posted by: Medonut | February 11, 2008 10:59 PM
A Tahoe SUV Hybrid. Ok, so now he does not have to be as conscientious as he was.
Justification for keeping his green label and driving what he really wants to drive.
Similar to someone smoking light cigarettes, because they are better or not as bad.
Who are you fooling others or yourself?
Posted by: MIke D | February 12, 2008 10:08 AM
Its hilarious you all pick on Kerry for his hypocrisy but wont say a word about how the right is wrong. You wonder why the nation is so polarized? You discuss trivial matters like what John Kerry drives. Get to the real issues!
Posted by: jzfloyd2 | February 12, 2008 10:39 AM
to:jfloyd2---you read the article didn't you
Posted by: Eva | February 12, 2008 10:47 AM
My brother bought a Ford Escape Hybrid in PA> and going down a hill the brakes went out-it also is probably sitting in a car dealorship parking lot
Posted by: b.demit | February 12, 2008 10:49 AM
Wow what extremly important work yu are doing.
Posted by: Karen Miller | February 12, 2008 11:11 AM
what John Kerry drives is of no more importance than the vast estate than John Edwards build with his ambulance chaser money, let's get to the real issues, like how yes we can
Posted by: Anonymous | February 12, 2008 12:30 PM
kerry's car switch? nothing to sweat about. It is just another verification of the unambigious phoniness of the liberal, democratic baloney ... including global warming.
Posted by: jake | February 12, 2008 12:50 PM
I think people's true character is revealed in large and small ways. John Kerry's "holier than thou" persona was almost as good as a Chris Cooper performance. The "Swift Boaters" gave us the real John Kerry in a large way; the SUV he bought for appearance's sake that now sits on a car lot tells what John Kerry is really like in small ways. Regrettably, he still has the people of MA fooled. Perhaps, they will wise up soon.
Posted by: Phillip Lewis | February 12, 2008 12:58 PM
Phillip Lewis | February 12, 2008 12:58 PM:
"The "Swift Boaters" gave us the real John Kerry in a large way..."
Lewis - you're an idiot and a liar.
The Swift Boaters are bitter old men, proven to be liars.
see http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080107/hayesamong other well researched articles
Grow up and get some new material (and some facts).
Posted by: ray | February 12, 2008 1:31 PM
Posted by: ray | February 12, 2008 1:35 PM
wouldnt you say the title of this article would lead people to believe kerry turned in his hybrid for a non-hybrid and that he was only doing it for political gain and that most people will see the title and the first 6 paragraphs and come to that 'incorrect' conclusion. Rather misleading no? So Kerry turned his hybrid for a newer hybrid...is that breaking news? Is he doing anything wrong? Is he still buying another hybrid (even tho it may be less efficient)?
Just look at some of the comments...people will see your misleading headline and jump right into the comments without even reading. shame on you.
Posted by: justin | February 12, 2008 1:51 PM
I just read the Tahoe review in 'Car and Driver.' Because the hybrid components make the car 300 pounds heavier, they've installed a larger engine than the standard Tahoe, and lightened about 300 pounds of components so that the twh Tahoes weigh about the same. Had they simply lowered the weight of the standard Tahoe, they probably could have nearly equaled the hybrid's fuel economy. I have a 4wd Mercury Mariner hybrid and I get about 32 mpg on the highway.
Posted by: BRay | February 12, 2008 2:13 PM
To anyone who thinks Mr. Lewis has a point:
To avoid sounding ignorant about the Swiftboat Veterans for "Truth," I urge you to go to FactCheck.org and search "Swiftboat."
Posted by: dennabbott | February 12, 2008 2:22 PM
John Kerry is just feeding American consumerism with the message that a 2-year old car is just too old. A 2006? How can he drive a 2006? Do you even remember 2006? That was so long ago and that car is so old, he has to get a brand new one right away right away. Keep wasting money and keep filling the landfills. We can landfill our way out of rising ocean levels!
Posted by: the spin | February 12, 2008 4:08 PM
I'd like to make a bid on the electro magnetic crane that lifts Rush Limbaugh by his rusty metallic head and drops him into his Fat Boy Hummer.
Posted by: H. Rudy Ericson | February 12, 2008 6:56 PM
I just saw John Kerry on TV denying the whole thing. That lying liberal!
You should post some evidence here. That'll make him feel stupid.
You can prove that this story is true, can't you???
Posted by: H. Rudy Ericson | February 12, 2008 7:06 PM
To Phillip Lewis & Rudy ERICSON, GET OFF THE fOX NEWS CHANNEL BECAUSE EVERY NEWS AGENCY AND NEWSPAPER CARRIED THE STORY {tHE FEDERAL ELECTIONS COMMISSION FINED THE FALSE SWIFT BOAT AD. PEOPLE $300,000 FOR RUNNING THE FALSE INFORMATION THEY RAN AGAINST kERRY.} sorry to burst your balloon.
Posted by: Paul Marsh | February 12, 2008 10:54 PM
people who write in all caps should be raped to death
Posted by: Anonymous | February 13, 2008 10:15 AM
1. the bigger issue is to get Americans out of their love affair with monster SUVS.
2. Swift boaters were just a political hatchet group. Were they full of it, seems like they were, and who let them get away with it, the idiot Kerry.
Posted by: Ed | February 13, 2008 11:13 AM
Is his powerboat a hybrid?
One summer afternoon I was on the ferry from Falmouth to Martha's Vineyard when a complete stranger said to me "Look over there, do you know who that is?" It was John Kerry filling up his power boat all by himself.
Different rules for different people..he and Mr. Gore would like us to travel 4-5 people in a Prius in the HOV to work everyday while the elite travel in style.
His power boat was probably fueling up for a trip to one of Gore's 5 homes.
Posted by: Jim (Newburyport, MA) | February 14, 2008 11:02 AM
I can't believe Kerry would stoop to pump his own gas, that story must be a lie
Posted by: Anonymous | February 21, 2008 4:18 PM
I find it funny that everyone is ripping Kerry for buying the Tahoe Hybrid. At least it is an American Made Vehicle. No one wants to talk about all of the other politicians that are driving around in prius's and other import hybrids. Whats wrong with supporting the one ecconomy that counts. AMERICA'S!!!! I am so sick of hearing that Honda and Toyota have the best this and the best that, but when they break down, its a different story when they have to pay to have them fixed. The even funnier thing is that with everything going on with gas, the war and lets not forget about healthcare and social security we still have time to rip politicians for supporting out economy. Shame on you Washington Post for even printing the article. How about a little help with standing by the AMERICAN MANUFATURERS. Peace
Posted by: Chevy Rep | April 29, 2008 2:57 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Hi Mary Ann -
You got your facts wrong. The Tahoe hybrid is a 40% improvement over a Tahoe regular but it's way behind the Ford Escape. The Ford Escape gets 36 MPG city -- the Tahoe hyrbid gets 21 MPG. Senator Kerry bought an SUV that's just less of a gass guzzler than a standard SUV. In your correction, you should also look into its emissions which are just as important as its MPG rating from an environmental point of view.