What Clint didn’t say about Detroit
The government takeovers of Chrysler and GM were accomplished by legally dubious “executive high-handedness,” not “patriotic collective action,” said Rich Lowry at the New York Post.
Rich Lowry
New York Post
With his “gravelly voiced credibility,” Clint Eastwood delivered the most memorable—and controversial—Super Bowl ad this year, said Rich Lowry. But the two-minute ad, touting Chrysler’s comeback after a government bailout, was based on half-truths and political propaganda. In the ad, Eastwood growls that Detroit is recovering because “we all pulled together.” Who is “we’’? Congress never approved the $80 billion in taxpayer money that both the Bush and Obama administrations poured into Chrysler and GM—$23 billion of which we’ll probably never get back. The government takeovers of the companies were accomplished by legally dubious “executive high-handedness,” not “patriotic collective action.” In glorifying the bailout, Eastwood didn’t mention that Chrysler and GM were saved only because they also declared bankruptcy, so they could pare down exorbitant wages and benefits, close unprofitable dealerships, and kill dated brands. The government also sold off 58.5 percent of Chrysler’s stock to Fiat; Eastwood’s “we,” presumably, must include Italy. “It’s good that Chrysler and GM are now off life support,” but if the Detroit bailout is the model for America’s future, “we should prepare for national collapse.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'Republicans want to silence Israel's opponents'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 19, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - priority delivery, USPS on fire, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published