The Big 3 are being punished for:
1) Years of failure,
2) Unions
The questions are tougher, in part, because there aren't many who are happy with how the FI bailouts have turned out. Republicans who barely believed in the FI bailout are now justifiably pessimistic about providing money to the Big 3.
Personally, I think the difference between the Big 3 and banks is that the Big 3 produce tangible products made by a large number of employees. This sort of production has been the cornerstone of the US economy in the past, but obviously the US is having a hard time competing on production of ANY product.
As much as it will hurt, GM and Chrysler should go through the bankruptcy process for their own sake.