A rebirth for Athletes and America
My favorite two minutes
on Super Bowl Sunday was Chrysler's "It's Halftime in America" commercial. I will admit I tune into the NFL's Super Bowl as much, if not more, to see what advertisers roll out as how the two teams for the sport's top prize perform.
Eighty-one year old Academy Award-winning actor/director Clint Eastwood narrates the ad. "People are out of work and they're hurting. And they're all wondering what they're gonna do to make a comeback...The people of Detroit know a little something about this. They almost lost everything. But we all pulled together. Now the Motor City is fighting again." How inspirational. How patriotic. A soaring message of American resilience.
Political consultant Karl Rove and other Republicans heard a different message - a defense of President Obama's bail out of the U.S. auto makers.
Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney famously remarked that Detroit and its auto industry should have been allowed to go bankrupt. With the revival of Detroit's car makers, Romney seems almost disappointed.
In fact, by attacking "It's Halftime in America," Republicans risk looking like they want America to lose.
Karl Rove indicated he was "offended" by Eastwood's ad. Rove accused Chrysler of making the ad to pay off a debt it owed to the Obama administration for bailing out car makers. How cynical.
Chrysler denied such an intention. Chrysler's CEO denied the company had any intention of playing politics. An Obama spokesman said the administration had no role in the ad. Clint Eastwood (former Republican Mayor of Carmel, California and well known for being apolitical) released a statement denying any political motives. An Eastwood associate said, "He (Eastwood) hopes the discussion goes back to the original intent of the ad, which was to inspire people to take pride in their country."
America is staging a comeback, just like the U.S. auto industry. "It's Halftime in America" suggests the Detroit comeback will come true for the entire country. Eastwood tells us, "This country can't be knocked out with one punch. We get right back up again. And when we do, the world is going to hear the roar of our engines...Yeah, it's halftime, America. And our second half is about to begin."
Unlike many of my "Toyota Republican" acquaintances, I take great pride in owning a 2011 Chrysler Jeep Patriot.
Playing a part in Detroit's rebirth "makes my day."
Richard O. Schwab was formerly associate head of school, and middle school head, Cincinnati Country Day School. He is currently neighborhood team leader, Glendale Organizing For America Community Team (www.gofact.blogspot.com)
