Ed Whitacre, Car Salesman

Even though Nortel’s at auction again and the Microsoft-Yahoo deal is in jeopardy, I still think the week’s most interesting news is about Ed Whitacre, the longtime, now-former CEO of AT&T, starring in the new General Motors ads.

He’s not exactly star – or car salesman – material. And he’s really got to sell this 60-day full refund offer if he wants to restore the GM brand. I’ve seen Whitacre speak at conferences and he’s, well, a bit wooden. And not very forthcoming with the information. Sure, he has that “I’m a CEO” swagger (which could also have to do with his Texas roots), but if you passed him on the street, you wouldn’t feel charisma oozing from him. Is it really the best idea for a struggling American car company to make Whitacre its public face?

Then again, the brusque Whitacre might be a good choice. He is, after all, solid, if that makes sense. He’s got the stern grandfather, in-control aura going for him.

Still, come on, admit it – the image of a worked-up Whitacre trying to sell cars nobody apparently wants is funny.

However, the whole situation highlights that we all have our price. I find it amusing that someone who restored AT&T’s monopolistic roots and lobbied against net neutrality now works for a Democratic Administration. And lest you assume that I assume that all CEOs support the GOP, OpenSecrets.org confirms my suspicion: Whitacre and his wife have donated $81,000 to political candidates since 1990, with 80 percent of those funds going to Republicans.

Whitacre didn’t appreciate or invite government “interference” in his telecom dealings. It’s interesting that he is putting up with it now. Obviously the circumstances are not too painful or Whitacre wouldn’t have accepted the job (it’s not as though he needed the work – he left AT&T set for life. That is, unless he pulled an Annie Leibovitz.). I suppose the challenge of turning around what used to be one of the greatest names in America could be reason enough for Whitacre to accept the position, but we don’t just change our spots ... or do we?