no, a backlash would've occurred were it not for two major changes in America:
1) The dotcom economy that made the average person more attentive to business news and more educated about stocks and business,
and
2) NAFTA.
NAFTA affects it more because, thanks to the UAW's Buy American campaign that put country of final assembly on new car window stickers, people realize Toyota and Nissan build more cars and trucks in US states, while GM & Co., are building more parts for its cars in Mexico, Canada, and elsewhere, even though the cars are assembled in the US.
Plus with all the financial missteps of GM (DirecTV spinoff, irrational labor negotiations, etc.), people realize today that it isnt the Japanese that are taking away jobs, its Detroit not putting out a competitive product. "Dey took er jahbs" isn't an effective rallying cry anymore. Now its "Do yer job asshole."