Chrysler's 'embarrassing' decision to spend $9 million on a Super Bowl ad

Chrysler broadcast an epic two-minute commercial during the Super Bowl that was less a traditional car ad than a tribute to Detroit. (See video below.) The commercial — the longest in Super Bowl history — proved a big hit with audiences and critics, who connected with its stirring imagery and hopeful message about the struggling city's future. But not everyone was left inspired by Chrysler's paean to the Motor City. A Republican congressman and other conservatives were quick to point out that Chrysler still owes the government $5.8 billion in bailout money, and that spending millions on an ad is problematic for a beleaguered company in debt. (Chrysler's CEO says the ad cost less than $9 million.) Was the car maker right to splurge on its buzzworthy spot?

The ad was too expensive and misleading: "Chrysler took $15 billion from taxpayers, to which it wasn't entitled," says J.P. Freire at The Washington Examiner, and made a commercial full of falsehoods. For instance, Chrysler did not "go through the hottest fires," as the ad suggests — unless "hottest fires" means "skipping bankruptcy and asking for a handout to protect union pensions." This hypocritical ad just goes to show "how the federal government picks winners and losers. Guess which part the taxpayers play?"

"Chrysler reveals $9 million Super Bowl ad while requesting more taxpayer dollars

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The commercial was insulting, too: It's bad enough that the U.S. spent billions to rescue Chrysler after decades of poor decisions, says Ed Morrissey at Hot Air. Now this ad, coupled with recent complaints from Chrysler's CEO that the government was charging his company outrageous interest rates, really puts things over the top. This commercial was truly "the most embarrassing gaffe" of the Super Bowl.

"The most embarrassing Super Bowl gaffe?"

The pay-off has been worth it: Despite "advance criticism of Chrysler for making a $9 million commitment," says Alissa Priddle in The Detroit News, this ad has made an almost unprecedented impact. It continues to "live large on the internet." More than 2,000 news organizations have mentioned it, generating more than 200 million web hits. On YouTube, "the video has been viewed more 1.2 million times in less than 24 hours." And the "ad is already proving its value." Web traffic to the Chrysler 200 site increased more than 1,600 percent in the hours after the ad aired.

"Chrysler scores hit with risky ad"