Wastebook - Senator Tom Coburn - U.S. Senate

Wastebook 2013In addition to taxpayer cash, the “Man of Steel” collected more than $160 million from over 100 otherpromotional tie-ins. 35 The movie itself, Superman: Man of Steel has grossed over $662 million worldwideto date 36 and it will earn more with its DVD release.The Army National Guard’s budget did not fare as well as Superman’s. As a result of the spendingrestraints imposed by the Budget Control Act of 2011, “the Army may have to reduce at least 100,000additional personnel across the Total Force – the Active Army, the Army National Guard and theArmy Reserve. When coupled with previously planned cuts to end strength, the Army could lose up to200,000 soldiers over the next ten years,” according to Army leadership. 37Yet, the Army still spent $10 million to subsidize the promotion of Superman with the hopes of enlistingnew recruits. This money couldhave been better spent on the reallife supermen and superwomen inthe Army National Guard who arecourageously risking all in thefight for truth, justice, and theAmerican way.As Superman flies away withmassive profits from sponsors andticket sales and the force size andbudget of the Army NationalGuard shrinks, the U.S. nationaldebt continues to go up, up andaway.A car in the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race was repainted blue and red withSuperman’s iconic “S” on the nose as part of the National Guard’s “Soldier ofSteel” recruiting campaign.6