Thanks go to Dave Salman for bringing this one to our attention:

From GREENWIRE 10/30/2000
THE KICKER: The senator's thrifty Insight

According to U.S. News & World Report, Utah Sen. Robert Bennett (R) is "cheapening Senate standards" by driving a "dinky" gas and electric hybrid Honda Insight, instead of a Lincoln Town Car or Cadillac.

Bennett says that although 10 senators have "clucked over" the 70 mpg Insight, none have followed his example. Bennett: "The car is not an extension of your personality or your ego. I hope the image is that I'm a senator who makes smart decisions" (Paul Bedard, Oct. 23)

From US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT 10/23/00
Washington Whispers

By Paul Bedard

Low-rent ride crashes Senate

Will someone tell Utah's Robert Bennett that he's cheapening Senate standards. His crime: He drives a dinky gas and electric Honda Insight commuter.

Talk about looking like a lowly House member; he even has the nerve to talk down the fat-cat image of senators. "Yeah, I have colleagues who drive alone in Lincoln Town Cars or Cadillacs just because they have the feeling that that's what a senator ought to look like." But: "The car is not an extension of your personality or your ego."

He says 10 senators have "clucked over" his new 70 mpg Honda, but they haven't chucked their gas guzzlers. Bennett has always kept his ego in check; he doesn't use freebie Senate tags and was an original minivan owner. "I hope the image is that I'm a senator who makes smart decisions," he says. The Republican tells us that the Honda turns heads, but not because folks are cooing over the two-term senator.

"Nobody knows who I am driving on the freeway. If they know the name Bob Bennett, they think I'm the president's lawyer."