What is your take on this?

[zabet]

Watching 'Press the Meat' this morning, this
commercial for Hummer came on....and this is
what it was about....

-----------------

http://www.hummerhope.com/

HUMMER Owners Prepared for Emergencies
It's all about being prepared.
AT LAST THERE IS HOPE
The desire to assist the American Red Cross began at the Country Roads 2001 event when we arrived shortly after devastating floods ravaged West Virginia. We felt helpless because the relief agencies didn't know us. After contacting various agencies to offer our services, we were told that liability issues prevented us from assisting. We went home resolved to setup a program with the Red Cross so we would be ready for the next disaster.

After two years of effort, we have now established a statement of understanding with the American Red Cross in South Bend who will coordinate our interaction on a national level. This means that whether you live in California or Maine, you can be a part of this new program and assist the American Red Cross in your area during times of need.

The purpose of this agreement is for Club members to provide transportation with their HUMMERs on a volunteer basis during times of disaster. Qualified Club members may be asked to provide HUMMER vehicles for transportation of necessary Red Cross individuals and/or supplies into areas that are not accessible with normal vehicles.

On November 9th, 2004, at the American Red Cross Disaster Symposium in South Bend, Indiana, our Club announced an agreement with the American Red Cross to assist them in disaster relief. The new program, known as HOPE (HUMMER Owners Prepared for Emergencies) will certify qualifying members as Red Cross volunteers who can be deployed by the local chapters of Red Cross to drive supplies and Red Cross personnel into disaster areas where other vehicles might not be able to reach

---------------------

Is this a good thing or is it a marketing ploy by Hummer?
What do you think?

[Angela Shelley]

1. Judging a jerk by his vehicle

Excuse me, I do not normally make derogatory remarks about a person´s choice of vehicle, but this story is "TOOOOO MUCH".

Hummers average 8 to 10 mpg (my car gets 40 mpg)

According to the story, the 100 Hummer drivers were just "on a pleasant field trip" when the disaster occurred.

Yes, a marketing ploy. A very arrogant marketing ploy.

[Turbineguy]

2. Proving once again

that the problem with being cynical these days is it's so hard to keep up.

[flvegan]

3. I see two sides to this

1. Looks like a marketing-ish ploy. GM looking to help itself appear excusable in selling this rolling penis extensions.

2. Lame that it's exclusive. If they REALLY wanted to help, it wouldn't be exclusive to a particular brand. Anyone with a truck or capable SUV could participate. But then, you'd look pretty silly when your H2 got stuck and a Ford F250 Dually has to pull your GM ass out. Or worse, some Range Rover crosses the flooded street and your H2 stalls out (damn Brits!!!).

However, if this little club can offer some kind of aid in a time of chaos and need, then I'm all for those actions. Face it, we can't count on our government anymore.

[zabet]

4. Appreciate the answers...

I was trying not to be
so cynical but, I honestly
thought it was a marketing
ploy.

[Double T]

5. I would believe MOST Hummer drivers are self centered, self absorbed........

individuals that don't really give a damn about the environment or much of anything except themselves. The AD is a bunch of corporate BS.

[NV Whino]

6. It's strictly a marketing ploy

There are still tons of Hummers sitting on lots that they have to sell.

This is not to denigrate people who want to help in emergencies, but IMO about the only thing Hummer people would do is load them up and get the hell out of the disaster area.

[lectrobyte]

7. Pure PR. Trying to overcome the socially uncool image that these

things have. I can't speak about all Hummer owners, but the few I do know personally wouldn't want to scratch up their $60K H2's by taking them offroad.

[lonestarnot]

8. Jackasses can also assist in disaster relief.