Was Chrysler’s Super Bowl Commercial Pro-Obama?
At halftime during the Super Bowl broadcast, America was treated to a true icon, Clint Eastwood, telling us that we must unite to find our recovery ahead. But some didn’t get the message. What should have been an inspiring moment (albeit one intended to sell cars) has become a political battlefield, as pundits claim that the Chrysler Super Bowl commercial was a blatant statement of support for President Obama.
The ad shows familiar images of conflict and deterioration in the US, underneath Eastwood’s signature gravelly growl. “It’s halftime in America,” he says, “and our second half is about to begin.”
Critics have suggested that the ad is intended to promote government bailouts, as Chrysler received one in 2008. Government intervention and spending has become massively unpopular in the current campaign cycle.
The ad never mentions the bailout, and Chrysler has been running ads about Detroit’s revival and rebirth for over a year.
Karl Rove, a chief adviser of George W. Bush, bizarrely called the ad “a sign of… Chicago-style politics” where “the president of the United States and his political minions are, in essence, using our tax dollars to buy corporate advertising.” But the auto bailout was signed by President Bush himself, although it was carried out under Obama.
However, Democrats have embraced the commercial and its message. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney did say that the ad illustrated Obama’s decision to save the industry, and several party leaders have tweeted the “Halftime in America” slogan.
As for Eastwood, he told Fox News he is “certainly not politically affiliated with Mr. Obama.” The film legend is a well-known Republican. He was elected mayor of Carmel, CA as a Republican, recently said he liked Herman Cain, and was once considered as a Vice Presidential nominee for the GOP. Eastwood voted for McCain in 2008, but hasn’t endorsed anyone in the current field. Finally, he actually denounced auto bailouts in an interview just a few months ago.
What do you think?
[Source: CBS News]
