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Was Clint Eastwood’s ‘Halftime In America’ Super Bowl commercial an endorsement for Obama?

Feb 6, 2012, 1:14 PM EDT

7 Comments
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According to Clint Eastwood, it’s halftime in America. Could that be interpreted as a call for a second half for Barack Obama? Controversy abounds today over the Chrysler Group’s “Halftime in America” Super Bowl commercial (watch it following the jump), which aired at halftime (natch) on Sunday.

Rush Limbaugh was sitting in Robert Kraft’s luxury box for the Super Bowl, so he probably didn’t see this. But Karl Rove did, and he’s not amused.

“I was, frankly, offended by it,” said Karl Rove on Fox News Monday. “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.”

Eastwood, an Obama minion? Not likely: Clint is a fiscal conservative, and supported John McCain for president in 2008 (in fact, he’s never voted for a Democrat for president). Moreover, he’s on record as being against the auto industry bailouts, telling the Los Angeles Times last year: “But I’m a big hawk on cutting the deficit. I was against the stimulus thing too. We shouldn’t be bailing out the banks and car companies. If a CEO can’t figure out how to make his company profitable, then he shouldn’t be the CEO.”

But in the Chrysler ad, Eastwood emerges from the shadows, a la Dirty Harry, and growls about the nation’s fighting spirit as it applies to making cars. Excerpt:

It’s halftime in America, too. People are out of work and they’re hurting. And they’re all wondering what they’re going to do to make a comeback. And we’re all scared, because this isn’t a game.

“The People of Detroit know a little something about this. They almost lost everything. But we all pulled together, and now Motor City is fighting again.”

Has Clint come over to Obama’s side?

Conservative commentator Michelle Malkin tweeted: “Agh. WTH? Did I just see Clint Eastwood fronting an auto bailout ad???”

And Michael Moore tweets:

@MMFlint Michael Moore
And Clint, the consensus is u done a good thing standing up 4 Detroit–& your sermon seemed 2 b a call 2 give O his “second half.” #sellcars

Or was this just Clint Eastwood playing a role to earn a paycheck? That’s what actors do, after all. The answers are shrouded in mystery.

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  1. udub - Feb 6, 2012 at 2:35 PM

    The commercial was ‘Halftime in America’ not ‘Halftime in the Obama Administration’ so I don’t understand that interpretation. America didn’t start 4 years ago so how is this a call for another Obama term?

    • hamstergram - Feb 6, 2012 at 2:55 PM

      He’s also not saying that America is going to last exactly another 236 years, either. So try and read between the lines. Karl Rove and Michelle Malkin obviously got it.

      • udub - Feb 6, 2012 at 3:14 PM

        It’s going to last closer to 236 years than 4. That’s why I don’t get the Obama connections. It’s just Rove and his cronies looking to deep into something.

  2. diegorodriguez3897 - Feb 6, 2012 at 3:08 PM

    First off, it is a great ad. Best of the night.

    Second, this is less about Obama and more about Chrysler giving credit and thanks for the help that it received it the face of stout opposition in Congress and after weathering blistering criticism as the auto bailout played out.

    If Mr. Eastwood really was opposed to the bailout then this is also his way of saying that whether or not he supported the bailout, it worked and he is on the side of getting things turned around.

    This commercial could just as easily be used by any official or candidate who supported the bailout.

    • michiganhockey11 - Feb 6, 2012 at 3:46 PM

      -This was a great ad last night.

      Chrysler’s ad last year was striclty about Detroit. This was a mere reference to Detroit struggle’s and a potential example that can be seen. Michigan and or Detroit has been in a near recession/recession for nearly a decade. And manufacturing is starting to make a comeback. That was the point. Stuff was bad, still is bad, but we’re turning the corner. Commercial is just showing/telling that we, as a people, don’t stay down when things get bad in the late rounds and the world is punching you in the mouth. You get mad and get back up.

      Thanks to Rick for pointing out the Clint is a strong conservative, personally-(which is no ones business but his own anyways), which basically makes Karl Roves comment moot.

  3. michiganhockey11 - Feb 6, 2012 at 3:47 PM

    I will say this. Clint’s voice sounded more like a mix between Christian Bale’s Batman and Jack Palance doing a Brute 44 commercial.

  4. bigdicktater - Feb 6, 2012 at 5:45 PM

    I’ve liked everything I’ve seen Clint do.

    I doubt he would have done the ad for the money, I think he’s got plenty of that.
    I think he identified with the message and the spirit, and got on board.

    Go Clint. Go America!

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