Where have you gone, Lee Iacocca?

MARKETPLACE (9/18/06) Asks the question, Is 'Dr.Z' Kaput as Chrysler's TV Pitchman? Regardless of whether American consumers knew Dieter Zetsche was DaimlerChrysler's CEO or thought he was an actor, this campaign was destined to flop from the get-go. In general, and particularly since French, Russian and German political leaders tried to derail our effort to remove Saddam, many Americans have little interest in buying anything European. Moreover, Red Staters nationwide take offense at being lectured to by some arrogant, condescending mustachioed Euro!
Maybe Chrysler's products have been improved with German engineering, but patriotic Americans aren't happy that Detroit had to team up with foreigners to remain competitive and they certainly don't want it thrown up in their faces on TV. The only time this ad campaign even came close to hitting home was when that, "It's got a Hemi" kid with the sleeveless-plaid shirt and bad teeth was cast as the production shoot Director dismissing Dr. Z as just an "actor" and a bad one at that! Joe Six-Pack getting superior German technology without being made to feel inferior, now that's a commercial that not only would get industry attention, but would sell cars too.