LA Times op-ed writer is ’embarrassed’ to drive environment-saving Tesla because of Musk
Former magazine editor John Blumenthal shared his concerns via the Los Angeles Times over owning a Tesla as a liberal following Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter.
In Wednesday’s piece, titled “I Bought a Tesla to Help the Environment. Now, I’m Embarrassed to Drive It,” Blumenthal, who previously bought a Tesla to reduce his carbon emissions, wrote that he now regretted the unwitting support of Tesla’s owner. .
“Because of the recent revelation of Elon Musk’s political views — all of which I hate — I’m starting to worry about what kind of political statement the car is making. Will people see me as a symbol of right-wing environmentalism? , an oxymoron life?” Blumenthal asked.
He insisted that this concern was motivated by Musk’s intention to turn Twitter into an “unsupervised playground for neo-Nazis and other random hate mongers and QAnon followers.”
The Tesla Model S twin-engine, all-electric sedan on display at the Brussels Expo on January 9, 2020 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty Images)
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“When I bought the car, I had no real opinion of Musk’s somewhat murky political beliefs. Now that Musk has apparently turned to the far right — banning journalists from Twitter while reinstating neo-Nazis — I’m horrified that I associated with his brand. every time I drive the car anywhere,” Blumenthal wrote. “I don’t know if I’ll sell it, but I know I’m not that comfortable driving it anymore.”
The article also revealed that Blumenthal’s motivation for buying a Tesla in Italy was largely politically motivated.”
“The car was impractical, but it had sentimental value. My environmentalist friends weren’t impressed with my diligent urban composting, LED light installations, and energy-saving gadgets. I needed to do more to reduce my carbon footprint. Icebergs were melting, my friends said, and at least one polar bear was wandering around homeless and hungry because of me,” he wrote.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk is pictured attending the start of production at Tesla’s Gigafactory on March 22, 2022 in Gruenheide, southeast of Berlin. (Photo by PATRICK PLEUL/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
While Blumenthal acknowledged that “selling a used Tesla would hardly cause a setback for the company,” he went on to question whether it should act as “a form of protest.”
“It’s a beautifully designed carbon-free car, and initially, I was proud to own it and see myself driving a vehicle that demonstrated my concern for the environment. But I’m a liberal, and unless Musk’s policies change radically for the better, driving a Tesla will become, at least for me, as hypocritical and unsustainable as driving a gas was,” Blumenthal concluded.
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The piece was mocked on Twitter because Blumenthal based his purchases on purely political motives.
“”Everything I do is about social virtue signaling. Can someone who’s good at economics help, please,” joked Center for Ethics and Public Policy fellow Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry.
American Conservation Coalition executive vice president Danielle Butcher wrote, “It’s shameful that people still think this.”
“I frown upon the idea of a ‘Hey, look at me’ electric car being bought solely out of concern for the environment,” tweeted Chicago Tribune writer Kevin Williams.
The logo of car maker Tesla is seen at a branch in Bern, Switzerland, October 28, 2020. (REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann)
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“You just have to get a car without toxic historical baggage, like a Ford or a Volkswagen,” joked podcast host Coleman Hughes.
“Sorry, your plan to buy your climate guilt with a vehicle that showcases your concern for the environment didn’t work! But if you really want to stick it out to Elon, try riding the bus,” wrote New York Magazine writer Alissa Walker.
Lindsay Kornick is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @lmkornick.
