Post-Super Bowl Terrorism: Bombing a Beautiful Moment

This year’s Super Bowl was one of the best, with a close finish and so many improbabilities: nearly simultaneous records set by both quarterbacks; the Patriots stopping themselves when the Giants couldn’t; and a first for this long-time fan, a running back trying to keep from scoring a touchdown. As far as superlatives go, while the Patriots were dropping wide open passes, the Giant’s Mario Manningham made a destiny inspired toe-tapping sideline catch under pressure with the Giants facing elimination.

As if improbability was the day’s theme, how about the political fallout from the two minute Inspirational dubbed “It’s Halftime in America”? When I saw it, I heard: “Detroit”, “auto industry”, people out of work, “America” and “pull together”. What I didn’t hear, interpret or dream up was anything remotely political. But conservative activists did—rebutting it as if it was the State of Union Address. Provocateurs accused creator and narrator Clint Eastwood of giving President Obama a pat on the back. The attack is imaginary and petty, but mainly shows the attackers as insensitive to American’s desire to let football players battle on a special day rather than having a battle with our neighbors.

Let’s consider the incidentals that belie claims of Democrat collusion. Tough-guy and individualist turned public servant Clint Eastwood is an admitted Republican. Eastwood became enamored with Detroit because he made the movie, “Gran Torino”, not to advocate for white (or blue) collar welfare. Which actor would most people say is likely to accompany Charlton Heston to a gun show (real or not, image is everything)? Bottom line: If Eastwood is shilling for Democrats, he is 50 years into establishing an alternate persona.

The subtext of the Super Ad was that America needs to become one People again before we can solve our most difficult issues. Eastwood waxed about past instances of “the fog of division, discord and blame” yielding to “rallying around what (was) right and (acting) as one”. If the Republican response proved anything, it is that our political leadership would rather “punk” us to keep us apart than let us spend one Sunday ensconced in what has become one of our most revered institutions. Worse, our complacency allows the Great Dividers to keep drawing a paycheck, while many of us continue to do without one.

Here’s what Republican activist Karl Rove heard or said he heard for the sake of keeping his brand out there: "I was, frankly, offended … it is a sign of what happens when you have Chicago-style politics (huh?), and the president of the United States and his political minions are, in essence, using our tax dollars to buy corporate advertising…”

That is what serves as leadership in these times—juxtaposing Eastwood’s call for (un)common action with the very cynicism that he described—almost as if on cue.

By the way, the misplaced investment in our moral displacement is certainly not a one-way street. Guys on the right can’t make money without their contemporaries on the left. How about one description of the Far Right (not the same as genuine conservatives BTW) that I read: “They would march America into a dictatorship and probably feel that things had improved as a result.... And they are so submissive to their leaders that they will believe and do virtually anything they are told.”

This is not helpful folks. At least it wasn’t written to dim our Super Bowl rapture.

Adding irony to agony, I’d even wager that many around the globe that we’re TOLD are our enemies (again, image is everything) enjoy the Super Bowl as much as we do, or at least respect its magnitude. The Chinese Vice President, whose daughter studies in the U.S., is visiting this country. The newspaper article I read said he has criticized our exporting “revolution and hunger”, but respects our movies about World War Two and “clear demarcation” between good and evil. Sounds like a Clint Eastwood fan, no?

If the fallout from politicizing Super Sunday shows us anything, is that partisanship has gone too far. It’s dangerous for America’s future. I wonder if Chinese officials are willing to trust Main Street America more than are own politicians. Are our own leaders are afraid we might get together? Who is the average American’s true enemy?

This Super Scar has me looking out for a political response to Bruce Springsteen’s “We take care of our own” at the Grammy Awards.