Conservatives are lining up to take shots at another Hollywood celebrity. But this time it is movie icon (and Republican) Clint Eastwood for his role in Chrysler’s “Halftime in America” Super Bowl ad below. In our previous discussion of the best commercials many people picked the ad and I put it in the top four. Frankly, as a Cowboy film nut and Eastwood fan, I loved it. Eastwood, however, was left unforgiven by that paragon of good politics: Karl Rove. Rove (who runs a huge Super PAC and pumps millions into campaigns from undisclosed contributions) denounced the commercial as
“corporate advertising” of the worst kind . . . in other words, corporate money that could be viewed as supporting President Obama. Ironically, Eastwood was a critic of the bailout, but the segment praises American workers not federal bailouts.
Rove lashed out at the commercial yesterday: “I was, frankly, offended by it. I’m a huge fan of Clint Eastwood, I thought it was an extremely well-done ad, but it is a sign of what happens when you have Chicago-style politics, and the president of the United States and his political minions are, in essence, using our tax dollars to buy corporate advertising.”
I can hardly improve on that statement, so I won’t.
Rove however may have gotten lost in the excitement. I suggest he watch this clip before giving another interview:
“HANDEL RESIGNS from KOMEN” (eniobob)
YES!!! Now Kormen will have to spend a few million on repairing their brand … just another way to spend donations on something other than a cure.
We’re offended by Karl Rove
http://leftaction.com/action/actually-karl-rove-were-offended-you
“Dear Karl: Seriously? You’re ‘offended’ by a car commercial? After all you’ve done to poison the well of American politics? Frankly, Karl, I’m offended by you.”
Dezza, that was American and patriotic, bringing back auto industry, health care insurance reform, etc, etc is not. ((*_*))
Romney and the repubs are repeating the lie that this administration has been a failure in the hopes that the lie repeated becomes the truth. They are hoping to do same with this ad: It was political, tax payer funded, Eastwood is fronting for pres, etc, etc
Just hearing the reaction from progressives on the TV and then hearing the reaction from the Right on radio last night,its really Night and Day.
And funny at the same time,the right wing are so offended,GOOD!!!!!
BTW: HANDEL RESIGNS from KOMEN.!!!
SwM,
Spot on analysis as to why Rove felt obliged to object.
GM and Chrysler could give a damn about the politics, their goal was to get people into the showrooms and the commercials were spectacularly successful if Monday’s figures are any indication.
Rove and his republican supporters have simply added icing to the cake in keeping the commercials out front and thus reaching many who did not watch the Super Bowl.
We have reached the point where in the Republican mindset uplifting an American spirit and calling for all of us to unite, is subversive. Can there be a clearer statement that their tactics are to set people against each other to keep their minds off of the predations of the 1%?
Aw, poor Kkkarl is offended? Know what I find offensive? Running the WH for eight years as though it were one long political campaign, politicizing our entire Justice Dept, outing an undercover agent for political reasons, invading a nation who posed no threat based on lies and propaganda, ignoring Congressional hearings looking into mysteriously deleted e-mails as well as other hearings investigating potential illegal activities under the lamest excuse of “presidential privilege”…those are just a few things that Kkkarl has done that I find offensive.
cattlus,
I think Capon keep a pretty high profile as well….
http://loyalopposition.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/06/detroit-automakers-are-rebounding-karl-rove-is-offended/ Mr. Rove and his candidate, Mitt Romney, are both on record as opposing the bailout of the auto industry. It was a mistake, and they don’t like to be reminded of it.
What Corporations are people and they can advertise and say anything they want….right…..
mespo,
You hit the nail on the head….
raff,
I think that Frankly is correct….
rcampbell,
Are you questioning the value of American schools….I think you are correct…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-election/9065539/US-Election-2012-Clint-Eastwood-defends-himself-over-political-Chrysler-Super-Bowl-ad.html
Excerpt:
“The row has reached such volume that even Eastwood – an 81-year-old who has traditionally voted Republican but describes himself as more libertarian than traditional conservative – felt compelled to refute claims it was to support the president’s re-election campaign.
“l am certainly not politically affiliated with Mr Obama,” he told Fox. “It was meant to be a message about just about job growth and the spirit of America.”
He said he given his fee for the spot to charity.”
13th Republican commandment: thou shalt support and never speak ill of the few, the proud, the 1% …
Who would any Republican want national unity and personal intergity? Isn’t that against their platform?
I was disappointed in Clint doing a commercial for any reason because it was a Chrysler commercial, not a “buy American” PSA (now don’t go jumping up and labeling me some kind of nationalist b/c I have a problem with the zealous “buy American” types myself.) Clint seemed like the last artist unwilling to sell out his artistic integrity. I can keep my fingers crossed and hope he did it for free, or very little, because he thought the commercial and side message were really well done (and they were.)
That said Rove is showing his training by Atwater. Make everything political and stir up the pot constantly. This the take away should have been a completely apolitical call for optimism, community and hard work, but no, good ol’ Karl had to attack an American icon simply because the ad did not attack the President.
If Rove had kept his fat mouth shut, few would have made the connection he did. Most of those would have been liberals who might have felt there could be a way to leverage the message to their benefit in the future. But, by making a big deal of this, Rove turned the good news story about an American success into a very potent Obama campaign message. And I thank him for that.
After enabling Bush $ Co with their crimes it is difficult to see how Rove can even show his face in public, let alone be considered as having credibility on any subject.
Frankly has it right. Rove is the epitome of hypocrisy.
When Rove emerges with these announcements I’m always reminded of that scene in Cast Away in which Tom Hanks is rubbing away trying to start a fire, stabs his hand, perseveres, finally finds that a crack will fan the flame and behold, fire leaps up. The difference being that Tom’s character had a really good reason for doing what he did. Rove and his cronies only have s#*@ stirring as their excuse.
“Only in Obama’s America would a GOP dog like Rove howl about the message in any way.”
What would you expect? Even his mommy knew what was up when she named him Turdblossom.
Whats funny is there was nothing political about the ad at all. It very much built on the “Imported from Detroit” theme Chrysler had established earlier. It was full of roll up your sleeves, never say die and lets get this place going again symbolism.
Only in Obama’s America would a GOP dog like Rove howl about the message in any way.