In an age when everything in America is politicized, the so-called controversy over the Clint Eastwood Super Bowl ad for Chrysler is fairly silly.
Critics say that Clint was giving a boost to President Obama by saying that it’s “Halftime in America” and the second half is going to be big.
Let’s take a step back: Clint is one of the few players in Hollywood who is openly Republican, a conservative Republican. He was just interviewed last week about his favorite in the GOP presidential race and said he is still undecided.
So, despite the hysteria on the right, Clint had no intention of using the highest-viewed TV show in American history to help Obama gain a second term. As for the left, many seem shallow and squeamish about embracing anything mouthed by Clint “Make My Day” Eastwood.
Conservative operative Karl Rove, who probably views the daily weather on a political basis, laughably called the ad “offensive.” Maybe Rove doesn’t realize that he is perpetuating the same knee-jerk partisanship that Clint’s words try to snuff out.
Frankly, the ad was terrific, stylistically and literally. Though it offered no blatant sales pitches for Chrysler vehicles, it featured several references to Detroit as an inspiring symbol of downtrodden Americans making a comeback.
Maybe Clint is a conservative who reflexively opposed the federal bridge loans for Chrysler and General Motors. So what? At least he seems willing to admit that the rescue worked spectacularly, unlike the Dixie Dumbells, such as Southern Senators Richard Shelby of Alabama and Bob Corker of Tennessee.
Maybe Clint was simply willing to deliver a message that America’s second half is coming – with our engines roaring – rather than engaging in the mindless, endlessly negative hyper-partisanship that strangles Washington.
Clint Eastwood is not a conservative. He endorsed McCain last presidential election but has also hosted fundraisers for Democrats. According to Wikipedia (and many other sources), Clint states he is a libertarian.