Chutzpah

Chrysler Buys 'Thank You' Ads

Full page spreads spark outrage.

Chrysler could just have taken the bailout money and run, but the company's chronic politeness is setting off fierce criticism. The company purchased full page ads this week in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and USA Today thanking Americans for "investing" (their words) in Chrysler, prompting a swift and devastating response from billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. On his personal blog, Cuban called the move "idiotic" and asked, "How does it make the next unemployed Chrysler worker feel that their entire year's salary just went for a single, ridiculous ad?" We asked Chrysler for a response and a spokesperson sent over a statement: "With the recent announcement by the White House, Chrysler LLC has the initial injection of working capital necessary to help bridge the liquidity crisis the industry is facing and help return the Company to profitability. The ad thanks America for this investment in Chrysler. As the process evolves, many individuals will have opinions. The Company has no higher priority than to satisfy the loan conditions laid out last Friday by the Government. As a result, Chrysler will not comment on individual opinion." The spokesperson added that "the overall purpose of the ad was to reinforce our long-term commitment to America."