On Wednesday Akio Toyoda President of Toyoda Motors and the grandson of its founder will testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. I'm not sure Mr. Toyoda realizes what he is in for. Given the right of investigation and oversight by the U.S. Constitution these hearings can be very combative especially when committee members see an opportunity to not only abuse the testifying witness but as a large stage for political grandstanding. That is the cynical view. These hearings can and have lead to embarrassing moments not only for the witness bu the corporation they represent. Who doesn't recall the presidents of Americas Big 4 automakers being chastised for travailing to Washington in their corporate jets when those same companies were on the verge of financial collapse seeking because of their poor business practices while seeking a government bailout to save their ailing industry. They were treated with almost complete contempt by the members of the committee for a complete lack of foresight.

Don't think that Akio Toyoda will be treated any better by the Government Oversight Committee simply because he is Japanese. Further compounding his problems is that Toyoda North America hired two former Bush era members of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to hinder any investigation into safety problems involving Toyoda's sold in America as far back as 2004. The individuals hired had absolutely no background in automobile safety but clearly understood the workings of the NHTSA thereby allowing Toyoda to hide known safety flaws from its customers and the public.

If Akio Toyoda acts like a Japanese business executive and becomes emotional the committee members will lose all respect for him and wonder how this person became the president of the worlds largest manufacturer of automobiles.