Not to disrespect anyone's post here.....
I am not sure why people are so focused on the "why" of it. It has nothing to do with which companies are deserving, nothing to do with the taxpayers. It has everything to do with Obama getting re-elected. He is toast if he doesn't do this. He might be toast anyway, but he is definitely not coming back if he does not "punish" someone.
Childish, but then most politics are.