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This jerk made gazillions playing the patriotic I LOVE THE USA role

I read somewhere that he intended "Born in the USA" as something of a sarcastic swipe at America, and that he was a little amused that patriotic Americans had started treating it like an anthem. I can't validate that since I don't remember where I read that, but food for thought.

You may be right . Look at the lyrics :

Born down in a dead man's town
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
You end up like a dog that's been beat too much
'Til you spend half your life just covering up

[chorus:]
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.

I got in a little hometown jam
And so they put a rifle in my hands
Sent me off to Vietnam
To go and kill the yellow man

[chorus]

Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man says "Son if it was up to me"
I go down to see the V.A. man
He said "Son don't you understand"

[chorus]

I had a buddy at Khe Sahn
Fighting off the Viet Cong
They're still there, he's all gone
He had a little girl in Saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms

Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I'm ten years down the road
Nowhere to run, ain't got nowhere to go

I'm a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.

I read somewhere that he intended "Born in the USA" as something of a sarcastic swipe at America, and that he was a little amused that patriotic Americans had started treating it like an anthem.

You read correctly. The vast majority of people don't actually listen to music lyrics, so this this misinterpretation isn't exactly surprising.

Kinda like the talk radio show (forget the host) that uses "Independence Day" by a female country singer...the song was about a wife who can't take the abuse of her husband so she offs herself...nice theme. Some people should listen to the song before using it. I am ashamed I ever owned the Born in the USA album.