Well we've seen how overrated Toyota actually has been -- in terms of their safety record etc.

Bull. Toyota's mistake could have happened to anyone - all of the work relating to individual parts are done by subcontractors, and you would be surprised at how many subcontractors all of the large manufacturers share.

While the problem is certainly inexcusable, the gigantic hate-on that Toyota went through from Congress and the general public is mostly political. The anti-Toyota and andti-import sentiment is largely driven by politicians trying desperately to raise the desirability of American cars by spreading FUD about Japanese ones.

Exactly.....I've owned Toyota's exclusively for about 20 years now, with no problems. And I've never bought new, always used. Anyone that says American quality is comparable to Japanese is simply making it up. It's not that Americans can't do it, it's just that they don't.

Toyota had a massive recall, congressional hearings are standard for an issue of that magnitude and even you readily admit "the problem is certainly inexcusable."

I'm amazed you were uprated for real FUD with "politicians trying desperately to raise the desirability of American cars by spreading FUD about Japanese ones" with very little evidence, other than ill-will toward all U.S. politicians.

Pols grandstand during hearings, that's what they do -- the same American pols had zero problems grinding U.S. car makers into the dirt before the Toyota issues, in hearings. (Even Ford, which did not get a bailout was ground down in the Big 3 hearings).

I'd say any of the nationalism was driven far more by the media, who enjoy schadenfreude for ratings.

Toyota was targeted with cause as you agree, _and_ no other Japanese (or other foreign) car cos were affected although you push your FUD to the affect that Japanese carmakers were all targeted and not Toyota specifically.

Plenty of Toyotas are manufactured in the U.S. with U.S. work force http://www.autonews.com/article/20090112/ZZZ_SPECIAL/3011199..., and thus have the protection of the congress critters you deride and governors where those plants are located even wrote letters to congress in support of Toyota -- again going against your assertions of U.S. pols attacking Japanese auto-makers.

Further, the "cash for clunkers" in the U.S. did not discriminate against vehicles by company origin or manufacting location, although politicians could have tried to push real policies to affect sales by designing requirements to make U.S auto-makers more favorable....something that would hold tighter to your thesis.

Interestingly Japan did have a similar "cash for clunkers" program, but no U.S. makers qualified, b/c of the rules for fuel-efficiency http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601209&sid=ar3R... . The U.S. automakers didn't qualify fair and square, However, of course they issued complaints and wanted examinations to ensure they had a shot at Japanese subsidies.