There was much criticism over
Chrysler's Super Bowl ad starring Clint Eastwood giving a stirring speech, which lauded in part the recovery of the American auto makers. The controversy was largely based on the perception that this ad was essentially a stealth
campaign ad supporting
Barack Obama, who had after all masterminded the government takeover and restructuring of the auto industry, garnering himself credit for saving it when it bordered on collapse from decades of self-inflicted wounds. Naturally, those involved with the
Super Bowl ad --
Clint Eastwood included -- decried the notion that the ad had political intentions, but that notion still isn't an easy one to shake off.
Now
General Motors has come out with a new nationwide ad campaign which seems to me to make an equally subtle political endorsement -- subtly raising the promise of economic recovery, in the stories of people employed by the now-burgeoning company in places all over the country (including, naturally,
Detroit, although the other two places mentioned are in
Kentucky and
California, states not thought to be in electoral contention), boldly declaring that "Chevrolet had the greatest year in its history last year," and hinting at new technological wonders to lift markets in years ahead. All of this again can not help but remind viewers of Obama's bolstering and cheerleading role in the current state of the American car industry -- but this time without the morose, almost negativity of that
Super Bowl ad. No, this ad is all positives, promoting how good things are going in America and how much better they're going to get, all thanks to the recovery of the car-makers. The ad, naturally, makes no mention of Obama -- it doesn't have to, to get that message across.
The whole effect is highly
subliminal, and if this is indeed a concerted effort by the auto industry to back a winner for the
election, expect to see more such spots in the coming months, ads not simply showing cars winding around mountain roads, but promoting the recovery of the American auto industry. The lack of overt political content is likely enough to shield the ad makers from any legal ramifications, and in the close counsel of corporate boardrooms it is unlikely that such a motive would be made public in any event. But it is eye catching, at the least, that such a gift should be handed to Barack Obama, by this industry especially, just as the campaign season enters its high period.
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In auditing news:
As I go through the ancient records of nodes posted long past, I can't help but notice how, in that early time, daylogs were simply so much more prevalent!! Look at, for random example,
August 12, 2000 -- almost every single day is like that with 20+ daylogs for the day!!
Jack --
on page 8 of 11
Prole --
picked at random, on page 5 of 6
artman2003 --
just because -- on 5 of 10
And after these guys are done: Jet-Poop and Dannye.
Blessings, all!!