GM vs. the NY Times - Part II
.jpg)
General Motors and Thomas "The Mustache of Wisdom" Friedman already went one round last week when the New York Time writer's strongly worded column triggered a rebuttal on GM's Fastlane Blog, but this particular maelstrom is too good to end there. The story now picks up at the General's FYI Blog, where we get to read about the automaker's trials and tribulations at getting a "letter to the editor" published in the Old Grey Lady.
GM originally submitted a 500-word response to Friedman's 800-word column, but the Times requested that it be limited to 175 words. Further negotiations resulted in a 200-word limit, but then the Times objected to GM's use of the word "rubbish" when describing Friedman's rant, stating that "it's not the tone we use in Letters". GM finally requested that its letter not be run in an excessively edited state, obviously feeling a bit miffed at the lack of an opportunity to address someone who equated the company to "a crack dealer" for offering incentives on its SUVs while ignoring the same actions by other automakers.
GM does commit a bit of a 'net faux pas by publishing its e-mail communications with the Times, but at least it's an amusing read [PDF warning].
[Source: GM FYI Blog; HT: Kaus Files]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Sid 8:58AM (6/12/2006)
GM is right to publish the email conversation on the internet. If the NYT is going to use comments such as 'crack dealer', GM has every right to use the word 'rubbish'. But of course, NYT doesn't understand that aspect of democracy. Apparently, freedom of speech is reserved only for NYT.
Reply
Steve C. 9:06AM (6/12/2006)
GM folks sound surprised that the morons at the NYT can talk about GM being the equivalent of a crack dealer and then object to GM calling that rubbish.
Reminds me of Mark Twain's famous line "never pick a fight with anyone who buys ink by the barrel."
GM should just walk away from this one as anyone who knows anything about anything knows the agenda of the NYT is about as anti-business as it gets.
Reply
Source1 9:11AM (6/12/2006)
The NYT: America's left-wing liberal megaphone.
Reply
Dr. Woo 9:12AM (6/12/2006)
I'd just like to second Steve C.'s comments.
Don't stoop to their level, GM. You're better than that.
Reply
Paul 9:18AM (6/12/2006)
God I HATE the Times. They have no idea how most people live or feel in this country (and this is coming from a democrat voting, volvo s60 driving (ok i do own a camaro also) white collar employee)will they ever learn that they radical compared to... well compared to everyone.
Reply
laserwizard 9:20AM (6/12/2006)
You just have to love GM. They put more effort in rebutting the truth than they do building great cars.
Toyota thanks, GM, for their blood and sweat spent on Editorial rebuttals.
Reply
Shawn 9:29AM (6/12/2006)
laserwizard, what truth is that? Toyota doesn't build giant trucks & SUVs? Although I guess we really shouldn't expect much from a typical New York Times reader.
Reply
Stphane Dumas 9:41AM (6/12/2006)
Shawn, the Sequioa is a big SUV and the next Tundra pick-up is bigger! The current Camry is more big then the 1st gen (1983-87), the current Corolla had the same size as the 1st-gen Camry.
And there the Toyota Century with a V-12 O_o used in Japan by CEOs, ambassadors, gouvernments employees,.... here some pics to a French site http://news.caradisiac.com/Toyota-Century (there also the Wikipedia link for additionnals infos at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Century )
Reply
Richard Warren 10:12AM (6/12/2006)
GM, while correct in attemting to correct an article, just needs to let it go. Most times trying to defend yourself against the press is one of those "choose your battles wisely" moments.
Better to keep making positive moves with product, warranty, sales and good news press releases and let the Times eat the big one in the long haul.
The Times simply shows that Yellow Journalisim is alive and well and people will still buy into it.
Reply
Karl 10:18AM (6/12/2006)
Gotta say that laserwizard is on to something. Detroit hasn't had much focus on building good cars for quite some time. But I have to give credit to GM. Don't back down, although it might be worth your while to go a little more sophisticated the NYT and curb the insults.
Reply
Paul 10:39AM (6/12/2006)
the NY Times is correct in endorsing Asian cars over the poorly designed american models. it is clear to the Times that americans no longer have the education and motorvation to design and manufacture quality products. Americans are also loosing the ability to manage large manufacturing concerns because of the need to focus only on the short term. The Times is correct in that only Asian designed and made products should be considered. Only misguided americans would waste their money on american made goods.
Reply
Joel 10:54AM (6/12/2006)
Are we going to see them pull any ad $$$'s? I wonder how much they advertise with them but that's their only real weapon or a libel suit.
Reply
Stphane Dumas 11:03AM (6/12/2006)
I wonder if around 2015-2020, Friedman will still praises Toyota with Hyundai quality rising up? http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13207035/ Toyota and Honda might face maybe sooner then later, the same path then Sony faced recently.
Reply
Tool 11:07AM (6/12/2006)
If GM Spent half that amount of time and effort making decent cars that don't have to be propped up with huge rebates--under whatever guise you want to call them--we would all be better.
Reply
Matt 11:11AM (6/12/2006)
Dying is hard.
Reply
ML 11:21AM (6/12/2006)
If Friedman was as concerned about the unnecessary waste of trees by his newspaper as he is about GM promoting crack (wasting fuel), his article might be credible. Otherwise, it is typical journalist hype and BS.
Reply
JGH 11:38AM (6/12/2006)
I think this whole argument is misdirected. The true problem with excess oil consumption in this country stems from lack of consumer awareness of the negative impacts of cheap oil. GM is not the instigator here, but is instead an enabler and participant. As a capitalist corporation, I don't blame them one bit, except for instances in which they manufacture sub-par products, which is an abidication of their responsibility to increase shareholder value.
As far as I'm concerned, the American consumer is nearly entirely to blame for our current difficulties. We've become to stupid, greedy, and short-sighted to see the hole we're steadily digging for ourselves. It's just easier to blame the big, evil corporation then it is to blame the average joe.
Reply
max 11:47AM (6/12/2006)
"14. Dying is hard.
Posted at 11:11AM on Jun 12th 2006 by Matt 0 stars"
The Times is not dead yet-certainly they have the worst reputation in journalism and their circulation has shrunk to the point where it's a miniscule market share-but they aren't gone yet. After all, they're finding new revenue-like charging for access to their web page-that'll keep them afloat for awhile.
Reply
gbh 11:58AM (6/12/2006)
Two things indicate the depth of GM's troubles.
First, that Friedman wrote that column.
Second (much more telling) that GM spent more than an intern's afternoon effort responding to that article.
Regardless of whether you personally think GM will survive of not, this behavior is a big red flag.
If GM were not on the ropes, there would be 1 rebuttal press release, then back to business.
Reply
Ted 12:03PM (6/12/2006)
Hilarious...
Friedman is a complete idiot. Talk about bias and not telling both sides to a story..
GM is right - rubbish!
Reply