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Hummer promo a bummer for McDonald's So it's not just me. Last night, I was contemplating the Happy Meal box, extolling the joys of the Hummer, and the cheap, plastic version of the gas guzzling behemoth that came with it, that my son and I acquired driving back from Massachusetts yesterday. I even told my husband not to throw the box out, I was so in awe. I just couldn't believe that a promotion this wrongheaded made it all away through what I assume is a Byzantine approval process at McDonald's to its boorish conclusion: this Happy Meal box asking the kiddies "Where would you go on a Hummer adventure?" and describing how it can barrel its way over boulders and through streams (perhaps killing future Filet O’ Fish along the way). Then, I opened The New York Times this morning to discover I'm not the only one who sees a bad, cosmic connection between the overindulgence endemic to a helping of McDonald's fries and the overconsumption exemplified by the Hummer. True, most of the people the Times quotes are environmentalists, but why give them a berth, well, you could drive a Hummer through with which to criticize McDonald's? The promotion is meant to run through the end of August, but lest this backlash grow, I'd head out to my nearest McDonald's as quickly as possible. The Happy Meal box is worthy of the Bad Ideas Hall of Fame. —Posted by Catharine P. Taylor

August 10, 2006 | Permalink

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I went to the Hummer link you provided and printed the Hummer coloring pages. Absolutely ridiculous.

Posted by: | Aug 10, 2006 12:12:00 PM

Most of us are driving cars that require the fuel that fuels war. Yes, the Hummer is a gas-guzzling behemoth, but the amount of gas that the Hummer vehicle is consuming in America is very likely a tiny-itty-bitty fraction of all the fuel consumed. Is McDonald's fools for making this brand union with Hummer? Maybe. Are we all fools for not demanding alternative fuels? Yes.

Posted by: thatguy | Aug 10, 2006 1:59:54 PM

Hilarity ensuing. 1st stop after work McDonald's. 2nd stop gas station (my 87 accord is thirsty).

Posted by: andy | Aug 10, 2006 2:03:52 PM

Judging by the color of that Hummer, the kind of adventure you'd go on would probably a 4 year tour through a dusty war-torn town. Maybe it's a McDonalds-Hummer-US Army promotion.

Posted by: Doug | Aug 10, 2006 5:51:56 PM

I'm with Doug. This could be a good way to introduce - er, indoctrinate our young kids into a life filled with war. Where would you like to go on your Hummer Adventure™, Bobby? How about Fallujah? Or maybe Damascus or Tehran? This is the future we're talking about, after all.

Posted by: daniel | Aug 10, 2006 8:48:55 PM

Simple Solution to Oil “Crisis” and the price of Gasoline

Point 1:
BP’s “corrosion” problem is just another scare tactic to increase the price of oil and gasoline! Why do all these “crises” always occur in high usage months? It is no accident! There are 12 months in a year; why don’t, or why can’t, these “crises” occur in other months when there is low need and low demand. “Corrosion” is not an accident of the moment. A “corrosion crises” occurs when BP wants it to occur! Aside from the fact that oil is a lubricant, should not a pipe carrying oil corrode less than a pipe carrying water with no oil?

Point 2:
Our politicians should not be giving the oil in the ground to big oil companies for a $1/barrel royalty! They(We) should be getting at least $20/barrel above the average price of imported oil. It is very simple; 1) It is worth that much more to the oil companies; 2) The oil companies save more than $20/barrel verses foreign oil because of the costs and risks involved in importing oil; 3) The lesser cost and the savings are not passed on to the people of United States - Big Oil prices it(Our oil) as if it were imported! The oil in the ground in United States belongs to the people of our country (to our government thereby to us). It should be priced for what it is worth!

Posted by: Eric | Aug 10, 2006 9:37:17 PM

I think it's ridiculous that anyone patronizes McDonald's. The food is overpriced goop. Hummers? Well they're just assinine, so it must be some sort of a cosmic connection. I'm pretty sure the Hummer is supposed to be the Edsel of the 21st century.

Posted by: Timm | Aug 11, 2006 5:23:34 AM

I worked on Happy Meals for a little while, and was shocked to be briefed that the target audience for the TV commercial was children 3 to 9. 3 TO 9!

How many 3 year olds can even say "Happy Meal"? Probably lots thanks to people like me, unfortunately.

Posted by: J | Aug 15, 2006 12:42:03 AM

Soooo, how is this materially different from previous Hot Wheels promos? Cars the Movie? I loved pull-back-and-go cars in my happy meals growing up.

Posted by: Brian Lambeth | Aug 16, 2006 11:59:15 AM

Ok. I'm as disgusted by McDonalds indoctrinating our kids with gas guzzling Hummer paraphenalia as anyone, but Eric, seriously, you don't have any idea what you are talking about re: the BP pipeline corrosion issue. Oil wells are some of the most corrosive environments on the face of the planet. Oil does get treated on the surface before it goes to the pipeline, but it has not been "refined" by any stretch of the imagination. It still has all kinds of chemical nastiness. Besides, these pipelines are not made out of CRA's, gradual corrosion is going to occur, period. It is just a question of time. Now, this does not excuse the fact that BP has ignored the growing problem as long as they did. If they had been checking for it all along, it might not have gotten to this critical state that requires the whole dadgum thing to be shutdown. My point: educate yourself before you throw criticisms around willy-nilly. Especially ones that off-topic.

Posted by: Steven | Aug 16, 2006 1:12:26 PM

Have you considered the possibility that maybe they're just giving away these toys because they're fun to play with? Young kids, especially boys, love playing with toys like trucks and the bigger the better. I'm guessing you're one of those parents who only let their kids play with toys that are designed to develop a positive social conscience and build values such as respect for our Earth Mother. Do not be surprised in ten years when your son comes home with a dozen piercings in various locations on his face and introduces you to his boyfriend.

Posted by: Brian | Aug 16, 2006 2:14:27 PM

Yeah. And?

Posted by: john | Aug 16, 2006 3:49:37 PM

Thanks for the great link to Hummer. While searching for Hummer coloring pages for my son, I came across your site. My five year old BOY loves cool cars, trucks, and yes...Hummer. I know he'd love that cool toy Hummer is giving away. We may just have to stop by a dealership to pick one up.

Posted by: SUV Owner | Sep 8, 2006 8:32:01 PM

You guys don't believe in letting your kids imagine.

Posted by: Dan | Mar 4, 2007 10:27:57 PM

Do you know Dan, that the Hummer was traditionally built by the AM General Corporation and was pivotal for its military use during Operation Desert Storm. Its sheer magnitude also caught the eyes of the general public outside of the war. The next step seemed obvious.

Posted by: Limousine | May 15, 2007 9:39:05 AM

Yes. I had the same situation. I suppose that McDonald's and Hummer are cooperating! They just want to make money, more and more!

Posted by: Hummer limo | Nov 27, 2007 7:18:53 AM

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