Controversy "Imported From Detroit"

Image via WikipediaOver 110 million American TV viewers watched the Super Bowl Sunday night.  Besides the game (won by the New York Giants 21-17 over the New England Patriots) and the Unholy Finger wagged by hip hop star M.I.A during Madonna's halftime performance, there were the commercials that advertisers spent millions to get on the air.

Oh sure, there were cute dogs and sexy women selling everything from beer and snack food to brokerage firms and websites.  But the one that stood out included none of the above.  Instead, it was Clint Eastwood giving us a pep talk for Chrysler on why it's "Halftime In America".

If for some reason you haven't seen the ad yet, go to You Tube right now.  We'll wait.

There it was.  Amid the bleakness of modern-day Detroit, Eastwood is telling us that America has been down before, but never out.  And it's not gonna happen this time, either.  This may not be "Morning In America", but it certainly isn't "go ahead, make my day" either.  Oh yes, there's a few cars in here too, just to remind you that the sponsor is Chrysler.

This is an interesting commercial, considering that Detroit's auto industry was down on its knees a few years ago, staring at bankruptcy.  Then the government came to its rescue, bailing out Chrysler and General Motors (only Ford didn't take the bait) for billions of dollars while going through court-mandated restructuring.  Chrysler was purchased by Italian automaker Fiat, which means it's not really an American-owned company any more.

Today, people are buying cars again.  With fewer plants, dealers, workers and brands, the Detroit automakers are profitable again after paying off most of their government loans.

Politically speaking, this commercial had something for everyone.  Conservatives hate it because they opposed the bailout to begin with, and because they think it was nothing more than a campaign ad for President Barack Obama.  Progressive love it because it puts the country's economic challenges in sharp relief, and that Obama's stimulus package is working.  The White House has said that they have nothing to do with the ad, but doesn't seem to have a problem with its message.

Eastwood, who's had a long career acting and directing in the movies, is a Republican who was once mayor of Carmel, California.  He opposed the bailout, too, but he wasn't above appearing in a commercial that went beyond selling cars.  He also said that he's not politically aligned with Obama.

It's been reported that, although millions of people are still out of work, the unemployment rate is going down.  Maybe Clint Eastwood is right.  The country's about to launch a second-half comeback.  Just like the New York Giants.