Chrysler's gesture of goodwill appears to have backfired on the US carmaker. For about a week Chrysler took out advertisements in some of America's highest circulating newspapers, thanking Americans for their ‘investment' in the company through the US government's multi-billion-dollar bailout plan.
"On behalf of the 1 million people who depend on Chrysler for their livelihoods, thank you for investing in Chrysler, and America," says the statement, signed by CEO Bob Nardelli on behalf of Chrysler.
Ads were taken out in newspapers like USA Today and The Wall Street Journal where prices for placement of a full-page ad can range between USD $206,000 - $264,000 and $112,000 and $217,000 respectively. Unfortunately a backlash has ensued.
"It's quite ridiculous to be spending that kind of money," says Princella Smith, national spokeswoman for American Solutions, an organisation headed by former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich. "Those ads are just a precise example of the fact that they do not get it ... and it's just in our faces."
Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist told FOXNews.com that the company should return all that money. He said: "Years ago there was a robber who was really polite. He said please and thank you while he was robbing people. At the end of the day, people had their money stolen. Saying thank you doesn't make it OK. They should give the money back."
Some reactions on Chrysler's blog: click here
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