Yes, the federal government is running an Census commercial during the Super Bowl, at a cost of $2.5 million to the American taxpayers. Because someone in the federal government evidently thought he was working for Budweiser.

Taxpayers might want to pay close attention to this Sunday’s Super Bowl broadcast or they’ll miss Uncle Sam’s 30-second, $2.5-million reminder to stand up and be counted.

That’s what the Census Bureau paid CBS to get their message notched somewhere between a National Lampoon reprisal, a weird dude with big glasses, a beer-can house and men without pants.

$2.5 million for a 30-second commercial. Which is fine if you’re a private company using private funds to invest in making your business well known or keeping it in the forefront of people’s minds. But we’re talking about the federal government using taxpayer funds for a commercial to remind people to take part  in the Census. A Super Bowl ad was necessary?

There’s good news, though. This $2.5 million is actually dwarfed by the total amount the Census Bureau intends to spend over the next four months. $130 million. To tell people about a much-noted, much-publicized decennial survey that first took place in 1790.

Because no one would’ve known with the Census only being covered by newspapers, 24-hour news networks, nightly news programs, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, news websites, MySpace, late night comedy programs…and basic civics in grade school. No, we needed a $130 million advertising budget and $2.5 million Super Bowl ad.