The Chrysler commercial - It's Halftime, America, which aired during the Super Bowl last night, is getting a lot of attention. The commercial is simple but poignant. Clint Eastwood intones with gravity:
"It's halftime. Both teams are in their locker room discussing what they can do to win this game in the second half. 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."
Eastwood continues in his narration about how Detroit faced a similar challenge, but they came back just as America will return stronger and better than ever. While this is a message of hope, the Chrysler commercial has come under fire as possibly bearing a political message in favor of President Obama. Indeed Chrysler is indebted to the federal government in which Chrysler received a $12.5 billion bailout to prevent the auto industry's bankrupcy and collapse.
At first the Chrysler commercial made me feel bitter. Chrysler's comeback was funded by tax-payer dollars, but then I realized how many more jobs lost and how many more Americans would be hurt and affected by Chrysler closing its doors forever.
While the commercial could be seen as a veiled political message in support of President Obama, who championed the auto industry bailout, the message of hope and the return of a stronger, better America transcends politics. Ultimately it's the American dream that our tomorrow will be better than today. Perhaps we need to look past the political messages during election season and take to heart the Chrysler commercial's best message:
“This country can’t be knocked out with one punch. We get right back up again, and when we do the world’s gonna hear the roar of our engines.”
Comments