Mayor defends city buying himself a gas guzzling Hummer

Some politicians seem to have such a dense understanding of what's going on around them, it's a wonder they were elected. Exhibit A: the mayor of Gary, Indiana, who is driving a government-purchased, gas-guzzling Hummer, despite the fact that his city is operating with a $36 million deficit.

A Mayor's Choice

Recently, Rudy Clay asked for a cap on property taxes for his city, but when Ryan Kitchell, chairman of the state panel that decides these sorts of things, learned about the purchase, he was a wee bit upset. Ever since, Clay's been doing the interview circuit, including a stint on Fox News, being grilled about his decision to buy such an expensive and unpopular -- these days -- vehicle.

If the economy wasn't in such dire shape, it would almost be funny how tone deaf some politicians can be about the economy.

Oh, never mind. It is kind of funny.