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ProSense

(116,464 posts)
Tue Feb 7, 2012, 10:02 AM Feb 2012

Karl Rove’s hissy fit: “Offended” by Chrysler ad (updated)

Last edited Tue Feb 7, 2012, 10:44 AM - Edit history (1)

Karl Rove’s hissy fit: “Offended” by Chrysler ad

If Clint Eastwood sounded like Obama, it's because the GOP has ceded optimism to the Democrats

By Joan Walsh

I admit it: Chrysler’s “Halftime in America” Super Bowl ad reminded me of President Obama’s best recent speeches. Actor Clint Eastwood, the face of rugged American individualism, talked about “tough eras” and “downturns” and “times when we didn’t understand each other,” but then declared:

But after those trials, we all rallied around what was right, and acted as one. Because that’s what we do. We find a way through tough times, and if we can’t find a way, then we’ll make one…

This country can’t be knocked out with one punch. We get right back up again and when we do the world is going to hear the roar of our engines. Yeah, it’s halftime America. And, our second half is about to begin.

Karl Rove heard echoes of Obama’s rhetoric too, and implicit optimism about the direction of the country, and cried foul.

“I was, frankly, offended by it,” Rove said 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.”

<...>

The flap over the ad confirms the GOP’s serious branding problem: The problem for Rove and the rest of the GOP is that their party’s narrative has become relentlessly negative, pessimistic and uninspiring. They’ve left the language of optimism and resilience, higher ground and common ground, to the Democrats, and lately President Obama has grabbed every opportunity to employ that language...the fact is the president saved the auto industry at a time when Republicans, most notably Mitt Romney, urged him to let it die. If he gets credit for that unpopular decision, that’s because he deserves it.

- more -

http://www.salon.com/2012/02/06/karl_roves_hissy_fit_offended_by_chrysler_ad/singleton/


Updated to add:

Detroit Automakers Are Rebounding. Karl Rove Is Offended.

By DAVID FIRESTONE

The delicate Karl Rove said today he was “frankly, offended” during the Super Bowl halftime on Sunday. No, he didn’t mean his sensibilities were jolted by M.I.A.’s upraised middle finger; he was referring to the Chrysler ad that Clint Eastwood narrated, which many people who don’t share Mr. Rove’s political worldview thought was rather uplifting.

<...>

These were fighting words to Mr. Rove, who suggested they were dictated by “the President of the United States and his political minions,” who bailed out Detroit with taxpayer dollars. It’s just another example of “Chicago-style politics,” he said, whatever that means.

The White House said it had nothing to do with the ad, but it had a great deal to do with Detroit’s resurgence, and that’s what’s really offensive to Mr. Rove and other Republicans. They’d prefer to drown out the good news coming from the carmakers, such as these recent headlines:

  • Chrysler, rescued from bankruptcy by the federal government, reported $183 million in profits for last year, the first full year of earnings in the black since 2005. Worldwide sales of its cars grew by 22 percent.
  • General Motors is likely to announce 2011 income of $8 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported, the highest in its history. It is on track to make $10 billion this year, a stunning turnaround from the bankruptcy restructuring led by the Obama administration in 2009.
  • In Michigan, which for years has been one of the states hit hardest by the recession, the unemployment rate has fallen to 9.3 percent, the lowest level in more than three years.
These are inconvenient facts for both Mr. Rove and for Mitt Romney, who is on the record as opposing the automaker bailouts. The outcry being raised against the commercial is not really from people who are offended, but from those who are embarrassed.

http://loyalopposition.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/06/detroit-automakers-are-rebounding-karl-rove-is-offended/



25 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Karl Rove’s hissy fit: “Offended” by Chrysler ad (updated) (Original Post) ProSense Feb 2012 OP
Gosh, and that's from someone who helped leak the identity of an undercover CIA agent. tanyev Feb 2012 #1
If he's offended then I know for sure that was one effective ad. WI_DEM Feb 2012 #2
Three words for Karl Rove: GET OVER IT. MADem Feb 2012 #3
I have two malaise Feb 2012 #18
Personally, I'd advocate for "You're under arrest." gkhouston Feb 2012 #23
Works for me! nt MADem Feb 2012 #24
Translation: Karl Rove is peeing in his Pampers CoffeeCat Feb 2012 #4
I should probably already know this, but PotatoChip Feb 2012 #5
Yup ProSense Feb 2012 #8
He's offended because he knows if people are optimistic, the GOP LOSES. Bake Feb 2012 #6
Exactly, n/t ProSense Feb 2012 #14
He's offended democratic policies worked, because his never work Johonny Feb 2012 #7
Reality is offensive to Rove & Co. JNelson6563 Feb 2012 #9
Love it Johnny2X2X Feb 2012 #10
More surrogates zipplewrath Feb 2012 #11
Poor old KKKarl forgot that his chimp began the auto bailout. TheKentuckian Feb 2012 #12
That is the thorn in his side. It was KKKarls Idea. Kokonoe Feb 2012 #20
I think we'd be in better shape in a lot of areas, if we made a better TheKentuckian Feb 2012 #21
Since Chrysler is now majority owned by Fiat, allow me to say this to Rove in Italian WilmywoodNCparalegal Feb 2012 #13
Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe Feb 2012 #15
my local morning news guy:" I didn't think it was pro Obama, I thought it was patriotic." librechik Feb 2012 #16
The world will hear the roar of our engines! Mopar151 Feb 2012 #17
Rove knows that this will indirectly assist Obama. Dawson Leery Feb 2012 #19
Karllllllllllllll, Mommy's calling! Tom Ripley Feb 2012 #22
Why is it the most offensive people are also the most easily offended? Bozita Feb 2012 #25

tanyev

(42,552 posts)
1. Gosh, and that's from someone who helped leak the identity of an undercover CIA agent.
Tue Feb 7, 2012, 10:06 AM
Feb 2012

That ad must really be offensive.

gkhouston

(21,642 posts)
23. Personally, I'd advocate for "You're under arrest."
Mon Feb 13, 2012, 11:46 PM
Feb 2012

Yeah, it's actually four words, but I can't resist their siren song...

CoffeeCat

(24,411 posts)
4. Translation: Karl Rove is peeing in his Pampers
Tue Feb 7, 2012, 10:20 AM
Feb 2012

What a big, fat whiny little baby Karl Rove is.

Karl Rove knew that that ad was effective. It was also uplifting and it appealed to the BEST in all
of us--with optimism, hope, encouragement. The ad reminded us all that we are strong.

That's what Karl Rove and his sick, disgusting, mentally twisted gang can't stand. They need us all
just as sick as they are. They need us afraid, terrified of the world and afraid to even walk out of
our front doors. If they can propagandize us into a collective fetal position, they can control us.

Karl Rove can go fuck himself. Karl Rove in an enemy of humanity and his goal is to make as many
people as sick as possible---so he and his elitist psycho friends can gain profit and power.

Yeah, Karl--I'm sure it scared the hell out of you to see Clint Eastwood empowering the American people
and reminding all of us that the strength lies within ourselves. Wouldn't want American's having hope
now would you? We're all supposed to turn on Glenn Beck, become sick, angry and traumatized and hunker
down in our homes while you unAmerican bastards destroy our democracy.

Go to hell, Karl Rove. You'll never break the American spirit. You won't be included in the history
books, because you're just a footnote. But the people will remember you for the disgusting worm that you are.

PotatoChip

(3,186 posts)
5. I should probably already know this, but
Tue Feb 7, 2012, 10:30 AM
Feb 2012

isn't Clint Eastwood a conservative IRL? I may be wrong, but I've always been under the impression that he was. I suppose whether he is or isn't is inconsequential in the whole scheme of things. However, if indeed he is, I find it all the more amusing to see Turd Blossom with his panties in a bunch over such a commercial done by one of their own.

Bake

(21,977 posts)
6. He's offended because he knows if people are optimistic, the GOP LOSES.
Tue Feb 7, 2012, 10:32 AM
Feb 2012

And that's all he cares about--power.

Screw you, KKKarl.

Bake

Johnny2X2X

(19,060 posts)
10. Love it
Tue Feb 7, 2012, 11:17 AM
Feb 2012

They should have just left it alone, the more noise they are making about it the more petty and anti American they look. The more they talk about it the more a huge Obama success is highlighted. The auto bailouts are one of the great success stories of government intervention in US history and they were completed under Obama. Rove and FOX are basically giving Obama a free campaign commercial every time they bring up this Super Bowl ad.

zipplewrath

(16,646 posts)
11. More surrogates
Tue Feb 7, 2012, 11:37 AM
Feb 2012

We need more "surrogates" need to be going through Detroit and Michigan and getting photo ops with WORKING Americans in the "rescued" auto industry. Pelosi should probably make an appearance some where.

TheKentuckian

(25,026 posts)
21. I think we'd be in better shape in a lot of areas, if we made a better
Mon Feb 13, 2012, 11:11 PM
Feb 2012

effort to give credit where credit is due for where many of "our" policies and proposals come from.

Most of the most contentious shit is right out of the Reich Wing think tanks and/or some of the most firey critics and/or started bt BushCo.

Rmoney/Gingrich-care

Cap and trade

Auto bailout

TARP

The DREAM Act

All of the TeaPubliKlan co-sponsors of the original binding Catfood Commision even dropped to be contrary.

All of it, not to mention the stuff they are mum on.

librechik

(30,674 posts)
16. my local morning news guy:" I didn't think it was pro Obama, I thought it was patriotic."
Tue Feb 7, 2012, 05:00 PM
Feb 2012

Last edited Tue Feb 7, 2012, 06:09 PM - Edit history (1)

thank you silly morning zoo guy! Even you can tell what's what!

Mopar151

(9,983 posts)
17. The world will hear the roar of our engines!
Tue Feb 7, 2012, 05:01 PM
Feb 2012

Vintage dragsters fire up en masse at the California Hot Rod Reunion - almost all are 1st generation Chrysler Hemi's! "Back in the Day" these were evil, dangerous monsters, and the cars that race as "vintage" dragsters have enough added safety equipment and technology that the look and feel has changed. So these museum pieces are restored, brought out and fired up just for the thrill.
I love the smell of nitro in the morning - 'specially 98%, push started right in front of me.

Dawson Leery

(19,348 posts)
19. Rove knows that this will indirectly assist Obama.
Tue Feb 7, 2012, 05:07 PM
Feb 2012

The GOP/Teaklan has been doing everything to take down Obama.

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