Analysis-Big Oil seeks to burnish U.S. image in 2007 (Reuters)

[Eugene]

ANALYSIS-Big Oil seeks to burnish U.S. image in 2007
18 Dec 2006 18:09:45 GMT
Source: Reuters

By Chris Baltimore

WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. oil industry will launch a multiyear,
multimillion-dollar public relations push early in 2007 aimed at bolstering
its sagging image.

The American Petroleum Institute has enlisted Edelman, the global public-
relations agency, and polling experts at Harris Interactive Inc. to fix what
it sees as major misperceptions in how everyday Americans view the industry.

-snip-

One industry source familiar with the campaign pegged its price tag at near $100
million over several years.

That would be funded mainly by a handful of the institute's biggest members,
such as Exxon Mobil Corp. <XOM.N>, Chevron Corp. <CVX.N> and ConocoPhillips
<COP.N>, the source said on condition of anonymity.

"I nearly fell out of my chair when I heard what they were spending," the source
said.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N18170535.htm

Aww! The poor profiteers at Big Oil have gotten a bum rap. :nopity:

[hatrack]

1. $100 million for BULLSHIT?

God forbid they spend money on, say, wind or solar or biomass?

No, that would be foolish, while investing in $100 million of public relations grease is a visionary hard-headed businessman's approach.

:eyes:

[harlinchi]

3. Until they offer reduced price oil for low-income Americans like Venzuela...

...I suspect their efforts will be in vain! Rather than make $100 million of oil available on a reduced-price basis, they'd spend it on a PR campaign. That's rich! They'd rather persuade folks that they have good intentions than to demonstrate good intentions!

[Deja Q]

2. If $100 million in talking is matched by $900 million in research...

They can develop other technologies to grab a foothold on and we will always need oil.

Is reducing the amount while maintaining quality if life really THAT difficult?

[denverbill]

4. Maybe for $100 million they can hire Rachel Ray as spokesmodel.

She can explain how it's worth the extra cost for EVCO extra virgin crude oil.

[GeorgeGist]

5. $100 million is less than .03% of profits...

Since George Bush became President in 2001, the top five oil companies in the United States have recorded profits of $342.4 billion through the first quarter of 2006:

ExxonMobil: $118.2 billion
Shell: $82.3 billion
BP: $67.8 billion
ChevronTexaco: $43.1 billion
ConocoPhillips: $31.1 billion

http://www.citizen.org/cmep/energy_enviro_nuclear/articles.cfm?ID=13912

[lakeguy]

6. hey everyone, look over here at this shiny thingy...

while we steal the natural resources right from under you and then make you buy them back at inflated costs!

[JohnWxy]

7. BTW through the hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks and program subsidies the Govt

provides the oil industry, you and I are helping defray the cost of this propaganda campaign.

Don't that make you feel good?!