A very upset searcher posted his concerns in the Google Web Search Help forums over BP buying an ad for their name in Google AdWords.
If you search for [bp] in Google, up comes an ad from BP that reads "Info about the Gulf of Mexico Spill Learn More about How BP is Helping" with a display URL of www.BP.com/GulfOfMexicoResponse. Here is a picture:
The searcher said:
Having BP's propaganda show up as the 1st response to googling Gulf Oil Spill is bullsh--Your having BP's propaganda show up as the 1st response to googling the gulf Oil spill is inappropriate and a dis-service.
Clearly, this is someone who has no idea how Google AdWords works. But nevertheless, this person is upset.
This is a valid debate and Search Engine Land's piece named Fighting The Oil Spill On Google: BP Versus The Lawyers kind of gets into it. So check that out.
Forum discussion at Google Web Search Help.