GM forfeited right to privacy for private jet when they asked for a public bailout
While we have been fairly unsympathetic to the plight of the Big Three automakers, who have largely themselves to blame for their current mess, we did defend the decision by the CEOs to fly to Washington last week on private jets. In that post, we noted that while flying private is terrible for the environment, and very expensive, given the crisis situation they should not waste their time in airport lounges and on tarmacs, which naturally comes with commercial air travel.
However, we do agree that when these CEOs come to the government to ask for a bailout, it is appropriate for their activities to come under closer scrutiny by the government and the public. If they don’t want to be judged in the court of public opinion, they shouldn’t ask the public for subsidies.
Which is what makes GM’s decision to ask the FAA recently to keep flight plans for its private jet a secret so wrong. I’m sure GM would argue that it is a “security” issue (which is one of their stated reasons for having their management fly private in the first place), but if that’s the case, why didn’t GM ask the FAA to hide these records before CEO Wagoner faced widespread condemnation over his private jet use last week?
Instead, it is more likely that GM just wants to shield itself from more criticism. Public indignation is high right now, and GM and Wagoner probably don’t want the public making value judgments on whether specific flights he takes are appropriate or not. Too bad. As we said, once GM and the other automakers asked for a public bailout, they forfeited any rights to stay out of the court of public opinion. If they want us to invest in their companies, we get to know how they spend their money.
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Comments
One Comment on GM forfeited right to privacy for private jet when they asked for a public bailout
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beauxbear on
Sun, 30th Nov 2008 3:38 pm
Where are the PR firms who rep these automakers? Any productivity saved by flying private is not worth the terrible PR.
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