Seen the new GM ad? CLICK HERE if you haven’t. 

All I have to say is … GAG. I’m choking on iconic imagery that’s attempting to force me to feel better about the auto industry.  Sorry, I’ll need something strong to choke down THIS stuff.

I guess it’s good that someone got paid to create and produce this ad, and the companion web site mentioned in this ad, http://www.gmreinvention.com/.  Other than making this post, I’m going to keep my political emotions to myself.  In this world of shrinking jobs and marketing budgets, I am happy that some income was sent toward my fellow internet marketers.  And isn’t it wonderful that I can follow GM’s tweets and become a fan of their Facebook page?  Whee.

Although I will say, I think they could have thrown in a little more classic American imagery, because you can never get enough of flag waving and sports heroes in action at a time when our country is in financial crisis and we’ve just dumped buckets of money we’ll never get back into an auto industry that until now did not give a crap about anything other than selling more cars.  (Seriously, does Ali know he’s being used in this ad?)

Read more at AdAge.

Now for my money, I’d prefer to see ad spending for online initiatives more along the lines of GE’s Innovation site.  There’s a marketing budget usage to be proud of.

Have you plugged into the Smart Grid yet?  In one of many features on this promotional site for GE, they focus on ways to use less energy.  In this study, GE has enabled 6,600 participants in Oklahoma City to analyze their power usage and has provided tools for them to view how they are using energy so that they can make better choices.

Now THAT’S something that deserves a little flag waving and sports-iconic imagery.