Last year, people around the country cheered Chrysler’s ad touting the phoenix-like rebirth of Detroit and American automakers. But it’s an election year, so the car company’s most recent TV spot, featuring Mr. Grizzle himself, Clint Eastwood, has been attacked by some as being propaganda for the Obama administration.

Conservative commentator Michelle Malkin was one of the first critics to come out against the spot, which use the phrase “It’s halftime America,” when she Tweeted “Did I just see Clint Eastwood fronting an auto bailout ad???”

And former George W. Bush administration member Karl Rove has implied that the Obama White House actually had a hand in the ad, saying that the administration was “using our tax dollars to buy corporate advertising.”

But Eastwood himself has denied any political motivation for doing the spot, saying, “It was meant to be a message just about job growth and the spirit of America. I think all politicians will agree with it. I thought the spirit was OK… I am not supporting any politician at this time.”

Fox Business has mistakenly reported that the ad was been pulled down from YouTube, when in fact it is alive and well on the Chrysler YouTube page and has already tallied more than 4.2 million views since Sunday night.

Clint Eastwood: Chrysler Commercial Doesn’t Mean I’m an Obama Supporter [SeattlePI.com]

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