Clint Eastwood: Super Bowl ad aimed at Americans, not politicians

Unless you were taking a Super Bowl beer break at the time, you saw the ad -- the only Super Bowl ad, it seems that mattered: Gravely voiced, squinty-eyed Clint Eastwood giving Americans the pep talk of their lives. Since then, politicians on both sides of the aisle have been howling or crowing about subliminal political messages they believe to be embedded in the Chrysler ad and what they might mean for the November election.

Well, Eastwood himself is now weighing in, telling both sides to give it a rest. There was "no spin" or selling intended in that ad, no politics, no subliminal message, no endorsements. It was simply meant to inspire Americans to do what they do best -- get back in the game, no excuses, just get back in the game.

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

Eastwood, a well-known Republican, Fox TV watcher and acquaintance of Bill O'Reilly, issued an exclusive statement to Fox's "O’Reilly Factor" producer Ron Mitchell. Here is the statement:

"I just want to say that the spin stops with you guys, and there is no spin in that ad. On this I am certain. I am certainly not politically affiliated with Mr. Obama. 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. Chrysler to their credit didn’t even have cars in the ad. Anything they gave me for it went for charity. If any Obama or any other politician wants to run with the spirit of that ad, go for it."

Now, far be it from us to argue with Dirty Harry. We'll take him at his word, especially since he seems to be inviting both sides to invoke the ad if it suits their political needs -- that's about as bipartisan as you can get in an election year.

Still, it's fascinating to see how both sides are parsing the imagery, the timing, the sponsor and, of course, Eastwood's language for hints of partisanship or even whether this is a big "Thank You" ad from Chrysler to American people, and, of course, President Obama, for the tax-funded bailout.

If you were indeed taking a beer break during the Super Bowl and missed the ad, watch it for yourself, above. And then watch the O'Reilly's segment, below, which includes interesting takes on why both sides are eager to dissect the ad's subliminal symbolism.

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-- Rene Lynch

Interested in the presidency? Apply here. No speaking required

Want to run for president without having to deliver stump speeches -- or having to speak at all?

The Washington Nationals have put out the casting call for its "racing presidents," the costumed characters who race around the ballpark during the fourth inning of home games.

To qualify to be one of the oversize mascots, applicants must be between 5-foot-7 and 6-foot-6, age 18 or older and strong enough to wear a 45-pound costume for several hours. In addition, applicants must be fast, capable of running from center field to home plate in 40 seconds.  

Racing presidents must also commit to work at least 35 games.

But hey, you don't have to participate in any debates.

The club receives about 200 to 300 applicants a year, according to Tom Davis, the club's entertainment manager. About 50 applicants will be selected for tryouts, based on responses to a questionnaire. The tryouts will be held, naturally, on Presidents Day weekend.

Winners of the job have included college students and government workers.  

The part-time work comes with a salary, but club officials declined to reveal the amount.

While only George, Tom, Abe and Teddy -- the presidents depicted on Mount Rushmore -- race during games, the club selects about 15 to 20 people.

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Does M.I.A. owe Kelly Clarkson and Madonna an apology?

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-- Richard Simon in Washington

Photo: Courtesy of the Washington Nationals

Does M.I.A. owe Kelly Clarkson and Madonna an apology?

M.I.A.'s bad behavior during the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show is dominating online chatter Monday, overshadowing what many say is Kelly Clarkson's stellar rendition of the national anthem.

The ensuing fallout has upstaged Clarkson's performance and Madonna's pageantry with a barrage of questions, among them: Who is to blame? Why didn't NBC catch it in time? Did the NFL try to head off controversy by requiring the artists to sign a decency contract? And if not, why didn't it? Will the vulgarity result in a fine?

Madonna is sure to reap publicity out of the controversy for her new single. Snippets of her halftime performance featuring "Give Me All Your Luvin'" and the flipped bird are getting nonstop attention.

But it's Clarkson who appears to have earned overwhelming kudos.

Clarkson, who was barely recognizable in her new Cleopatra-style hairdo, delivered a pitch-perfect performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" to kick off Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

According to a CBS news poll, more than 88% of respondents said she "rocked it!"

The reviews on Twitter were near-universal in their praise: "Hands down best ever." "OUTSTANDING! Man, that girl can SING!!" "@Kelly_Clarkson nails National Anthem." "THE best national anthem of all time."

And like any good performer, she left the audience wanting more.

Social media sharing site Add This said on Twitter: "We saw a 4300% spike in searches for @kelly_clarkson when she sang the National Anthem tonight! #superbowl"

Clarkson managed to put her own unique spin on a song that is notoriously difficult to sing. In doing so, the first "American Idol" winner set a new standard that has bedeviled so many artists over the years. (Most recently, Steven Tyler.)

"The Star-Spangled Banner" requires a dramatic range of a full octave and a half, which can be a feat for even the most accomplished singers.

Then, there's the tricky wording courtesy of the fact that the anthem didn't start out as a song. It began life as a poem written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 titled "Defense of Fort McHenry." It was turned into a song by adding the somewhat modified tune of John Stafford Smith's "The Anacreontic Song," and then retitled. Congress proclaimed it the national anthem in 1931.

And it has been tripping up artists ever since.

Clarkson acknowledged being nervous beforehand. "Just finished rehearsing the anthem in Indy ... wow, I'm actually really nervous about singing at the Super Bowl ha!" she posted online. "Here's hoping I nail it and don't screw it up!"

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M.I.A.'s Super Bowl finger: Now, the finger-pointing has begun

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-- Rene Lynch
Twitter / renelynch

Parents blast NBC, NFL for 'enabling' M.I.A. gesture at Super Bowl

The Parents Television Council, an advocacy group concerned about what kids see on TV, is blasting NBC and the NFL for the vulgar gesture that came in the middle of Super Bowl XLVI halftime show featuring Madonna and other performers.

About eight minutes into Madonna's act, British sensation M.I.A. appeared to curse, saying, "I don't give a … ." But it's difficult to clearly hear her on the video. 

But what came next was much more clear: She flipped her middle finger to the more than 110 million American viewers. 

The L.A.-based Parents Television Council says the blame lies squarely with the National Football League and NBC for choosing a lineup of performers with a history of shocking and controversial behavior. Using sharp language, the council said: "Instead of preventing indecent material, they enabled it. M.I.A. used a middle finger shamelessly to bring controversial attention to herself, while effectively telling an audience filled with children, '... you.' "

PHOTOS: Super Bowl 2012

NBC and the NFL have apologized. But the PTC says that's not good enough and wants those responsible to be held "accountable." The statement released by PTC President Tim Winter doesn't specify what that means or who should be held repsonsible. We have asked the PTC for clarification.

Winter accused the NFL of lying to the public last week when it promised that the halftime show would be suitable for all audiences, a new standard ushered in following Janet Jackson's infamous Nipplegate in 2004.

And the council said that NBC failed in its obligations as well. The network should have been poised to blur the vulgarity and bleep it. NBC says it tried, but apparently it did not move quickly enough. (There was an attempt to blur the screen, but it came after the offensive gesture.)

Here is the full PTC statement from Winter:

NBC fumbled and the NFL lied because a performer known as M.I.A. felt it necessary to flip off millions of families. It is unfortunate that a spectacular sporting event was overshadowed once again by broadcasting the selfish acts of a desperate performer.

Last week the NFL formally told the PTC -- and the American public -- that the Super Bowl halftime show would be 'appropriate.' Most families would agree that the middle finger aimed directly at them is not appropriate, especially during the most-watched television event of the year.

The mechanism NBC had in place to catch this type of material completely failed, and the network cannot say it was caught off guard. It has been eight years since the Janet Jackson striptease, and both NBC and the NFL knew full well what might happen. They chose a lineup full of performers who have based their careers on shock, profanity and titillation. Instead of preventing indecent material, they enabled it. M.I.A. used a middle finger shamelessly to bring controversial attention to herself, while effectively telling an audience filled with children, '... you.'

A simple apology rings hollow after yet another slap in the face to families, especially when NBC has argued before the U.S. Supreme Court that it should be allowed to air all manner of indecent material at any time of day, even when children are watching.  

Either the NFL and NBC will take immediate steps to hold those accountable for this offensive material in front of a hundred million Americans, or they will feebly sit back and do nothing. The nation -- and the PTC -- is watching.

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-- Rene Lynch
Twitter / renelynch

Photo: MIA performs at the Super Bowl halftime show. Credit: David J. Phillip / Associated Press

Super Bowl fallout: Will M.I.A.'s middle finger draw FCC fine?

 Madonna kept her promise -- there was no wardrobe malfunction during her Super Bowl XLVI halftime show. But America was shown the bird: British rapper M.I.A. gave the nation the middle finger during her solo performance.

Why? Her Twitter feed has been silent on the matter. But there's a bigger question afoot: Will NBC face a fine like CBS did after Janet Jackson's infamous slip during the 2004 Super Bowl hosted in Houston, Texas?

The nation howled, as parents tried to explain to children why Justin Timberlake ripped off Jackson's top...exposing a nipple encased in a sun-themed shield.

It became known as Nipplegate, and the flood of viewer complaints led the Federal Communications Commission to levy a record $550,000 fine against CBS, which aired the Super Bowl that year.

A phone call to the FCC was not returned by the time this story was posted online.

The NFL and NBC quickly apologized for the gesture and insisted that it was not a planned part of the show. Producers tried to blur the screen to cover it up, but it was too little too late.

In front of millions of viewers, M.I.A.  flipped the bird and appeared to sing, “I don’t give a..." although it was hard to hear what she said. (Judge for yourself: It happens at about 7:50 minutes into the above video.)

From the NFL:

"The obscene gesture in the performance was completely inappropriate, very disappointing and we apologize to our fans," said Brian McCarthy, spokesman for the NFL, told the Associated Press.

From NBC:

"The NFL hired the talent and produced the halftime show," NBC spokesman Christopher McCloskey told the news service. "Our system was late to obscure the inappropriate gesture and we apologize to our viewers."

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--Rene Lynch
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Occupy D.C.: Police cut size of camp, stop short of clearing it

Federal authorities Saturday moved into the Occupy D.C. site at McPherson Square, clearing out a number of tents but stopping short of putting an end to the 4-month-old protest. At least six people were reportedly arrested, four for refusing a police order to move and two others for crossing a police line.

Police showed up before dawn on horseback and in riot gear to enforce a ban on camping in the park. "This is not an eviction,'' Sgt. David Schlosser of the U.S. Park Police told reporters at McPherson Square.

The raid appeared to launch a containment strategy by the police. By midafternoon, the tents had been squeezed into the north half of the park, and workers were removing debris from the cleared area, which was sealed off by dozens of police, some on horseback.

The new, smaller area for the tents was encircled by steel barricades, though gaps were left for access.

Protesters complied with a police request to remove a blue tarp -- dubbed the "tent of dreams'' by demonstrators. But for the most part they appeared unimpressed by the police move, or even quietly pleased, as if the authoritarian petting-zoo feel it gave to the place reflected poorly on their oppressors.

To be sure, the streets of downtown Washington around McPherson did take on the look of a police state. District police shut down several blocks surrounding the area, snarling traffic and leaving an empty business district awash in flashing blue lights, save people headed in on foot to see what was happening.

Dozens of officers were stationed along the new "border" within the square, and although they were technically in riot gear, it was more the business casual version -- a smart, dark blue uniform under a shiny light blue helmet, with face shield up, but ready if needed. So far, it hadn’t been needed. Some were chatting with onlookers.

A bit farther back was the cavalry, a dozen officers on horses whose duty, at the moment, was to keep open a path for a garbage truck backing in to pick up debris.

A few occupiers were handling the daily duty of yelling loudly to passersby, with the theme of the moment being a demand that each park police officer identify himself and who he was working for. But the vast majority were just hanging out, many of them occupied in interviews with the media. No one seemed itching for a showdown.

One occupier, on his cellphone, could be overheard saying, “It’s not the apocalypse, man.”

The protesters can maintain a 24-hour vigil in McPherson Square and another Occupy DC site at nearby Freedom Plaza, but cannot sleep there, according to the National Park Service, which has come under pressure from congressional Republicans to enforce the sleeping ban. Tents can remain as symbols of the protest.

Washington officials have complained about a rat infestation at the McPherson Square encampment as well as a more than $1.6-million cost to the city from the Occupy D.C. protest.

In response to Saturday's enforcement action, one Occupy D.C. protester tweeted: "If the govt enforced banking regs like NPS does camping rules, we wouldn't be in this mess. Bankers arrested for fraud: still 0."

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-- Richard Simon and David Meeks in Washington, D.C.

Photo: U.S. Park Police clear the Occupy D.C. encampment at McPherson Square on Saturday in Washington. Credit: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Super Bowl parade? What about a parade for Iraq vets?

It's a pretty simple question on the eve of Super Bowl XLVI weekend: "If the Giants and Patriots Deserve a Super Bowl Parade, Don't Iraq Vets?"

That's the query posed by a new online petition posted at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, which describes itself as the nation's first and largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Last check, the petition had almost 9,000 supporters and counting and their Facebook page championing the campaign has 333,271 "likes."

But expect those petition numbers to jump. After getting some high-profile support on both sides of the political aisle, it's doubled in the last 12 hours alone. MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show" gave the cause a shout-out, and it was featured Friday morning on Forbes.com.

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You might be wondering why this is even an issue -- why don't the vets just get a parade? Well, it's complicated.

New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg said a parade would be premature because there are still so many troops overseas. He also says that military leaders have made it clear that televised images of a U.S. victory parade could jeopardize the safety of troops still overseas.

But clearly, not everyone feels that way. The city of St. Louis hosted a "Welcome Home the Heroes" parade last month that was attended by a reported 100,000 people and had 20,000 participants. And IAVA clearly wants a parade.

Here's what the organization says in its petition directed at President Obama as well as the New York and Boston mayors, each of whom are poised to oversee a ticker-tape parade for the Super Bowl XLVI winner:

If the Giants and Patriots Deserve a Super Bowl Parade, Don't Iraq Vets?

Now is the time to remember those we've lost, respect those who've served, and respond to the issues they're facing at home.

Mr. President, New York Mayor Bloomberg, Boston Mayor Menino, Mayors and government officials across America:

Stand with IAVA Members nationwide to organize a single national day of action, coordinating the efforts of cities and towns nationwide to celebrate our nation's newest heroes and connect them with the resources they have earned.

Let's work together to make history.

Finally, if you are planning to watch a commercial this Super Bowl XLVI weekend, you might want to make it this one, above, for IAVA.

It's remarkable for many reasons, but mostly because of the footage of a soldier explaining in stunningly simple terms why so many veterans have trouble making the transition from combat duty to civilian life.

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Recalling nephew, Rep. Chu says: Military hazing 'must stop'

For Rep. Judy Chu, the Capitol Hill gathering of lawmakers calling for the Pentagon to crack down on hazing in the military was personal.

Her nephew, Harry Lew, a 21-year-old Marine lance corporal who committed suicide in Afghanistan in April, was a victim of hazing, the California Democrat said.

"This must stop," she said, calling for congressional hearings on hazing in the military. "Too many patriotic young people, who only want to serve our country, are being harmed."

Since her nephew’s death, Chu said, she has received letters from others recounting their family’s own experiences with hazing in the military. "What was even more disturbing is the fact that they felt helpless in fighting it," she said, standing by a picture of a uniformed Lew with his family.

Lew underwent three hours and 20 minutes of hazing that included having to do push-ups, crunches and other exercises while wearing full body armor, according to Chu. Fellow Marines, reportedly angry that Lew fell asleep while on watch, poured sand on his face and into his mouth and kicked him and punched him, she added.

Shortly after the abuse, he shot himself to death. He wrote a note on his arm: "May hate me now, but in the long run this was the right choice I'm sorry my mom deserves to know the truth."

Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. John Kirby said in an email: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Lew and Chu families and to all those in the military who have been affected by hazing and bullying. 

"We agree with Rep. Chu that this behavior is inexcusable and completely at odds with our core values."

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta, in a stern message to service members last month, said, "I will not tolerate any instance where one service member inflicts any form of physical or psychological abuse that degrades, insults, dehumanizes or injures another service member."

Chu and several other members of Congress said in a recent letter seeking congressional hearings that, although they welcomed Panetta’s condemnation of hazing, they were "shocked to learn that some of the services do not keep track of the number of hazing incidents and they don’t have policies in place to determine if their training and education about hazing is effective."

"While some services require new service members to undergo training about hazing during basic training, others do not," the letter says. "And it seems that there is no policy in place that prescribes a minimum appropriate response to hazing incidents to help correct a culture of hazing and prevent further incidents."

Lew’s sister, Carmen, called into the Capitol Hill news conference from her Santa Clara, Calif., home to say: "We want more than anything for justice to be done.... Harry’s death left a hole in our hearts. We want to make sure no other military family will have to suffer like we did."

Earlier this week, Lance Cpl. Jacob Jacoby was sentenced to 30 days in jail and reduction in rank after pleading guilty to assault in punching and kicking Lew.

Chu said that other hazing incidents and the "lack of justice in Harry’s case show that hazing is not taken seriously by the military... "

Two other Marines face courts-martial in connection with the incident.

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Photo: Family photo of Lance Corporal Harry Lew.

Hollywood on display: Smithsonian honors Clint Eastwood

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington is home to the original star-spangled banner, Abraham Lincoln's top hat and Dorothy's ruby red slippers from "The Wizard of Oz."

And now, it will have a bit more of the Hollywood touch.

The suit worn by Humphrey Bogart in "Casablanca;" the address book of Jack Warner, co-founder of Warner Bros. Studios; Harry Potter’s robe, and drawings of Bugs Bunny are among the items that have been put on display, loaned by Warner Bros. Entertainment, which also made a $5-million gift to fund the Warner Bros. Theater at the museum.

Smithsonian officials marked the opening of the new theater and exhibits Wednesday night by presenting Clint Eastwood with the James Smithson Bicentennial Medal, awarded for "distinguished contributions to the advancement of areas of interest to the Smithsonian." Past recipients include Steven Spielberg, Julia Child and Lady Bird Johnson.

The theater will open Friday to the public with a screening of "Casablanca,'' followed over the weekend by other Bogart films. Later this year, it will present Eastwood films, plus a series focusing on early sound in the movies, and another showing the Civil War through film.

The Hollywood memorabilia, Smithsonian officials said, demonstrates the "unique brand of Hollywood storytelling and accessibility that has helped to define American culture to global audiences."

Warner’s address book is open to pages that include the names of Davis, Miss Bette; DeMille, Cecil; Dali, Salvador.

"And Disney, Walt. As if he needs a first name," museum curator Dwight Blocker Bowers joked in an interview.

"We hope this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," he added, apparently eager for more Hollywood memorabilia.

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Photo: Actor and director Clint Eastwood speaks with reporters during the opening of the Warner Bros. Theater at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in Washington on Wednesday. Eastwood was presented the Smithsonian's James Smithson Bicentennial Medal. Credit: Cliff Owen / Associated Press

Indoor tanning: Not as sunny as depicted, Congress' Democrats say

Indoor tanning comes with health risks, and congressional Democrats on Wednesday accused the indoor tanning industry of providing false and misleading information about those risks.

The criticism follows an investigation in which Democratic staff of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, including college interns, phoned salons representing themselves as teenage girls considering purchasing tanning sessions for the first time.

Committee Democrats, led by Rep. Henry A. Waxman of Los Angeles, said calls to 300 salons nationwide and a review of advertising found that the vast majority provided "false information about the serious risks of indoor tanning and made specious claims about the health benefits that indoor tanning provides."

The report comes as indoor tanning is facing greater scrutiny from lawmakers in state capitols and in Washington.

California recently became the first state to ban anyone younger than 18 from using indoor tanning beds. In Congress, lawmakers are pushing for the Food and Drug Administration to strengthen its regulation of the industry.

"Health risks are not being accurately relayed, while health benefits are being falsely claimed," Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), ranking member of the energy and commerce subcommittee on health, said in a statement. "Plain and simple, this is a public health issue that deserves the attention of our committee."

John Overstreet, executive director of the Indoor Tanning Assn. in Washington, said in an interview that most salons, by law or through business practices, seek parental consent for customers under age 18.

"If those who were conducting the survey had actually visited a professional tanning salon and were indeed under 18, they and their parents would have had a more thorough conversation about the tanning process and the potential risks of over exposure,’’ the trade group also said in a statement.  

Overstreet said the report was prepared by industry critics.

"Getting a suntan can be a very enjoyable and pleasant experience. It doesn’t have to be a problem," he added. He warned that banning anyone under age 18 from tanning salons isn’t going to stop them from seeking tans but rather create a situation "where there is no supervision."

According to the Democrats’ report, nearly all salons contacted by investigators "denied the known risks of indoor tanning.''

"Salons used many approaches to downplay the health risks of indoor tanning," the report says. During their calls, committee investigators representing themselves as fair-skinned teenage girls were told that ... “it’s got to be safe, or else they wouldn’t let us do it.”

"Tanning salons fail to follow FDA recommendations on tanning frequency. The Food and Drug Administration recommends that indoor tanning be limited to no more than three visits in the first week. Despite this recommendation, three quarters of tanning salons reported that they would permit first-time customers to tan daily."

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Photo: Tanning salons are drawing scrutiny across the nation. Credit: Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times