Thursday, February 09, 2012

Chrysler's Super Bowl Ad Made by Obama Supporters

Did you watch the commercials during the Super Bowl? I do because it is one time of year when it's almost entertaining to be sucked into commercials. One of the Super Bowl sponsors was Chrysler. I have to admit, I really like their ads of the past year or so. They are upbeat, positive and the music is good.

That said, did you see the one during the Super Bowl narrated by Clint Eastwood? When I saw it I remember thinking, that's odd. Why did a Republican like Clint Eastwood do a commercial for Chrysler that was clearly meant to give a thumbs up to the auto bailouts and, therefore, President Obama? I even tweeted that the only reason the auto industry may be making a comeback would be due to the money of taxpayers across the nation.

You're welcome, Detroit.

As a Republican, I have to say that I favored the plan that Mitt Romney supported concerning the auto industry. Let them declare bankruptcy and rebuild from there. Romney grew up in the industry and was a voice of reason on the need for common sense, not government intervention.

So, after the public began to mention the undertones of politics in the Chrysler commercial, Eastwood issued a statement that he is not a supporter of President Obama's economic policies. He stated that he is a fiscal conservative and that the ad was not meant in a political way.

"I am certainly not politically affiliated with Mr. Obama," Eastwood told Fox News Channel in a statement. "It was meant to be a message just about job growth and the spirit of America. I think all politicians will agree with it. I thought the spirit was OK."

"I just want to say that the spin stops with you guys, and there is no spin in that ad. On this I am certain," Eastwood added. "I am not supporting any politician at this time."

So, ok, I accepted that. Maybe a political junkie like myself sees politics where there are none. Then I heard an update on a cable news program that the men who made the ad were, in fact, vocal Obama supporters. Well, do tell.

Some members of the creative team that helped produce Chrysler’s controversial Super Bowl advertisement have made pro-Obama art in the past, according to a report in The Hollywood Reporter.

The news could fuel further criticism from Republicans, who have decried the Clint Eastwood-narrated ad as an endorsement of President Obama.

According to the report, some of the individuals from Portland, Ore., firm Weiden+Kennedy who participated in the ad’s production privately created pro-Obama art in 2008.

The official bio for one of the ad’s creators, Aaron Allen, notes that he produced “a poster for the 2008 Obama campaign that was shown in several galleries and publications.”

And the ad’s art director, Jim Lasser, developed an art exhibit in New York portraying Obama’s image on the soles of athletic shoes.

In addition, another creative director, Michael Tabtabai, recently tweeted out a positive message about the president that compared him to a superhero.

The ad was suspicious because of the message, ironically enough. Though normally, a pro-America spot about coming back after falling down and all that stuff is a winner, this spot was a two minute commercial that only even uttered the name Chrysler at the very end of the commercial. One time.

Chrysler is still in debt to the U.S. taxpayer to the tune of $1.2 billion. The ad cost Chrysler $14 million. Was this the best use of its dollars? Taxpayers are entitled to demand that Chrysler learn a lesson and not spend money so loosely.

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