My initial reaction when I saw the beginning of the 'Half Time in America' advertisement was to wonder if it was a political advertisement. It seems like a lot of people are still wondering about that. And, while the people behind the advertisement are claiming it was not intended to be political, the people behind the Susan G. Komen decision about Planned Parenthood made similar assertions. In fact, anything related to hot button topics, like abortion or the auto industry will be viewed as political. When you get right down to it, perhaps, everything is political.

So, instead of focusing on a somewhat meaningless discussion of whether or not something is political, it makes more sense to try and understand the underlying messages. The Chrysler certainly had underlying themes that are more inline with President Obama than with his challengers. The American hope, of getting right back up, a hope that Obama used very effectively in his 2008 campaign came through. The idea of working together comes through. Of course that all working together may sound like socialism to some, probably to some of the same people that oppose Government bailouts.

Looking more closely, it seemed like there were other signs in the ad. Clint Eastwood, a Republican, famously quoted by Reagan, "Go ahead, make my day". Reagan is also evoked in the title of the advertisement, "Half Time in America", echoing Reagan's 1984 re-election advertisement "Morning in America".

In the middle of the advertisement there are several black and white photographs, which made me think of Walker Evans depression era photographs in Let Us Now Praise Famous Men.

Like it, or hate it, Half Time in America is an advertisement worth thinking about, talking about and deconstructing. And, that, unlike so many of the ads which try to appeal to our interest in puppies, humor, or sex, but have little worth thinking about, is worth noting.