Groups Pressure CBS to Pull Super Bowl Pro-Life Ad

[alp227]

Source: John Eggerton, Broadcasting & Cable

The Women's Media Center, National Organization for Women and more than two dozen other groups have launched a campaign to pressure CBS into pulling a Super Bowl "pro-life" ad bought by Focus on the Family.

That campaign includes a letter it delivered to CBS Tuesday (Jan. 26), according to a spokeswoman, and e-mails its members are sending today to CBS, the NFL, and advertisers in the game.

The letter calls on CBS to reject what the groups call an anti-choice ad that advances Focus on the Family's Agenda.

They point out that CBS has rejected advocacy ads in the past, including from PETA, MoveOn.org and the United Church of Christ.

Read more: http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/445951-Groups_Pressure_CBS_to_Pull_Super_Bowl_Pro_Life_Ad.php

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I agree. Include a barf bag along with your popcorn, soda, beer, or food/drinks in case the Tebow ad sickens you. Or be prepared to run from the room like parents told their children to do after the Janet Jackson incident in 2004.

[hlthe2b]

1. To run this ad, while Dr. Tiller's murder is on trial is abhorent

Will be like a dog whistle call to all the crazies out there to do something similar.

[napi21]

2. Someone at the network decided to accept their $$ and run the ad.

I DOUBT any group(s) will be able to deter them. Just mute the channel and have a snack.

[itsrobert]

3. The point is there is no way CBS can air this ad

if they abide by their own standards and practices. Either way, the ad is a success for the group that made it. The news is out there, people will go to youtube to see it, even if it is not broadcast during the superbowl.

[Dulcinea]

4. Fair is fair.

If Move On can't air an ad during the Super Bowl, St. Tim Tebow can't either.

Also, he might want to consider that the NFL (his possible future employer) prefers that its players not attract that kind of controversy.

[chelsea0011]

5. So CBS would run an ad saying how much better the world would be

if Hitler were aborted? Is this the road they want to go down? They have announced they are changing their rules for this ad and would welcome others. I doubt it.

[lobodons]

6. If Hitler were aborted

None of us would be here right now.

[lobodons]

7. I'll go one further

I am sure there has been a future doctor who could have saved lives if not for being aborted. But I'd also bet that there have been many more that would have become rapists and murderers. Just think of all those people who would be dead right now due to a murdering non aborted person as it turned out, or lucky for them didn't turn out.

[chelsea0011]

10. Huh? my post is that the world would be abetter place.

It is not whether or not I would be here to enjoy a better world. I think what you are saying is that a change in history changes everything. Maybe so. But would not the world be a better place without Hitler? That's the question. Not whether you would be here.

[No Elephants]

13. I'm pretty sure I'd be here.

[marshall]

12. Hitler was not born into a situation where his mother would have wanted to abort him

He was the fourth of six children--his parents had prepared for a family and wanted children.

On the other hand, Alexander Hamilton's mother would be far more likely to have sought an abortion had services been available to her.

It's really difficult to second guess things like this. Some people born into difficult circumstances rise above it, others don't.

[No Elephants]

14. In reality, we don't know what Hamilton's mother would have done, either.

I know you said "likely," but when you are talking about specific people, either you have a birth or you don't. And unless you've seen some diary of hers, we have no way of knowing whether Madison's mom would habe aborted. Women have done aborted from time immemorial, yet Madison's mom did not choose that route, for whatever reason. Or, if she did, she did not succeed. And that's all we can really say.

[marshall]

8. The United Church of Christ ad is the only one I see as relevant

It depicted a guard blocking a gay couple from entering a church, with the tagline "Jesus Didn't Turn People away. Neither do we." It was rejected on the grounds that it "touches on and/or takes a position on one side of a current controversial issue of public importance."

The PETA ad on the other hand featured provocatively clad women and the insinuation that they were using vegetables for sex acts. They clearly have a valid argument to reject that outside of the statement about animals' rights.

The Moveon ad was more pointed in its political commentary, directly addressing Bush and the deficit. I can see the argument used in the present entreaty to the network, but I think the Tebow ad is more vague about connecting the issue to a particular person or party (though clearly the viewer can do the math in their heads).

I think the spotlight should be put on the connection to the Church of Christ ad. It is identical in makeup to the Tebow ad (at least the descriptions I have read online) and it points out the anti-gay bias that is controlling the network choice. Case in point--wasn't there a SuperBowl ad a year or two ago for a candy bar that ridiculed a gay man? The powers that be clearly think it is okay to make fun of the gay community but it is not acceptable to support it.

[MadMaddie]

9. So I had this very conversation with my young rightie co-worker

And he says well it's not like he's promoting the pro-life agenda, he is just saying he is glad he was born"!:eyes:

Then I say, "okay you say it's okay for NBC or whomever to play this commercial what if it were a pro-gay commercial promoting healthy relationships and marriage?":think:

I know all of you will be surprised that his reaction was.....well he was speechless....
:wow:

[Mudoria]

11. CBS should tell them to pound sand

or fork over the money for a counter ad.