Focus on the Family May Run Pro-Life Super Bowl Ad Featuring Tim Tebow's Mom

[Are_grits_groceries]

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) -- When football fans watch the Super Bowl next year, they may see a pro-life ad from Focus on the Family focusing on the mother of potential future NFL star Tim Tebow. Tebow is the Heisman Trophy winner and University of Florida star quarterback whose mother decided not to abort him in a crisis pregnancy.

The Super Bowl ad would be costly -- as a spot during the game and three 30-second commercials before it would reportedly run about $4 million -- but provides a unique exposure to a large national and international audience.

The ad, according to multiple sources, reportedly features the story of Tebow's birth.
http://www.lifenews.com/nat5834.html

Gah!

[Don Caballero]

1. I will boycot the Super Bowl then

I do not wish to see religious propaganda mixed in with my football. Tim Tebow really is a zero, a nothing.

[kelly1mm]

49. Really? A zero? A nothing? He is a human being and a good athlete

at least.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

This from a man who wants to dictate reproductive rights to others. n/t

[spanone]

2. rust never sleeps

[thunder rising]

3. I'm not watching. For the first time in my life I haven't watched any football this season.

It's like any addiction, first you quit, then just don't go there.

[napi21]

4. Well, I'd sure rather have them do that than protesting outside

Planned Parenthood clinics & trying to kill Abortion Docs! There are kots of other 30 sec. ads on the SB show that I ignore. I'll just include that one!

[hlthe2b]

17. It opens the door, though, for religious prosyletizing to take over

ads for all kinds of events and venues... I won't watch either, but I'll be surprised if they turn away any source of ad revenue this year, given the economic climate. It is a double edged sword, though, and one the networks would be wise to consider before embracing.

[KharmaTrain]

47. It's Already Happened...

The other day on my teevee there was a commercial about "Come home to the Catholic Church" and I regularly see spots for the LDS. And that's not to mention all those religious channels on my cable I pay for but never watch.

There's no reason why the network shouldn't air it and take their money. Doubtful it will change any minds...and those that it does were weak to begin with.

[anonymous171]

48. The door is already open to groups who have enough money to buy airtime, like FOF. nt

[ThatsMyBarack]

5. I don't even watch football, so....

I can easily avoid this!

[RagAss]

6. I hope she does it and I hope it makes the country sick to it's stomach.

I hope it's self-righteous and judgemental, projecting a holier-than-thou, exclusive air of superiority. And most of all I hope it wakes this country up to what these freaks really are all about. Separation and destruction of all who do not see this world through their deluded, pathetic eyes.

[Don Caballero]

7. I wish people would keep their religion to themselves

In a perfect world religion would not exist. We must ignore people who talk about their religion. They will go away eventually.

[onehandle]

9. It'll only be about religion if it talks about religion.

Not all pro-lifers are religious. That's a myth.

[onehandle]

8. I don't watch the Super Bowl. I do watch some of the ads online, after the fact.

The clever, interesting ones. I won't be watching this one.

[peekaloo]

10. Is that a form of tampering?

Is his mom his agent trying to impress the NFL by showing he can squeeze through a tight opening, pass against a tough defense and emerge victorious?

[Blue_In_AK]

38. Like a camel through the eye of a needle? n/t

[Ian David]

11. Good. Let them waste their money.

Hope it's sandwiched between commercials for Enzyte and Viagra.

[GoCubsGo]

12. And, it will be a lot of money wasted.

Don't Superbowl commercials cost millions?

[Hepburn]

13. I will boycott the Super Bowl this year...

...never really watch, but usually do have it on the tube just because... well, it is the Super Bowl.

[shadowknows69]

14. Well, that's some serious money these "pro-lifers" could have used to help many living families.

[Shallah Kali]

77. how many pregnant women without healthcare could they help ?

where are they when help for poor families is being cut or eliminated? Why aren't they at least lobying for full healthcare coverage for every pregnant woman and every child from birth to 18?

[lolly]

78. Yeah, I posted something like that below

How many more babies would be saved by free healthcare than will be saved by all the anti-choice ads and clinic bombings?

But, of course, saving babies is not the goal at all.

[virgogal]

15. Mute it,turn the TV off,leave the room----Lots of choices.

[surrealAmerican]

16. They will never understand that pro-choice people ...

... see nothing wrong with young women in "crisis pregnancies" choosing to have the baby. I, for one, am glad she had the choice.

[Feron]

34. Yep.

Nobody is slamming women who ,when faced with a surprise pregnancy, choose to have a baby.

Focus on the Family and their ilk are called anti-choice for a reason. They want to force everyone to live a singular approved lifestyle. Like in the bad old days when a single woman was forced to give her child up for adoption. Or women who would die because they were denied access to a safe abortion. Or denying a gay couple the chance to give a foster child a forever home.

It's not about saving babies, helping women, or even women's health: It's all about control.

[LiberalFighter]

18. Everyone needs to flood the local station with complaints when it is aired.

It appears that the Super Bowl will be televised on CBS.

[gratuitous]

19. $4 million for a 30-second ad

I wonder how the folks laid off by Focus on the Family in this past year feel about that expenditure? The message I'd get would be "you are worth less to us than 30 seconds."

[spanone]

20. you mean they may run an 'anti medical procedure' ad

it is not 'pro' anything

[66 dmhlt]

21. If you recall, back in 2004 CBC banned ads by MoveOn & PETA

They said it was against CBS policy to show ads that were political or social during the Superbowl

http://www.democracynow.org/2004/2/2/cbs_censorship_at_super_bowl_network

[asjr]

22. I wonder how much money the mother

will receive out of this. This is dedregation to the nth degree. It is shameful. Publicity know no bounds.

[nashville_brook]

23. it's Tebow's self-righteousness that will be his downfall - painting bible verses on your game face

is just uncool. now this. as if i needed any more reasons to despise gladiator sports.

and, the irony... save the unborn so they may grow up as human fodder for our Colosseum games.

[jmowreader]

53. It's Tebow's style of play that will be his downfall

Jimmy Johnson, who as a two-time Super Bowl winner would know, says Tim Tebow's not capable of playing in an NFL offensive formation. Says Jimmy:

"I don't think Tim Tebow can play in the NFL if it's in a pro style of offense. I think I think that if somebody’s gonna draft Tim Tebow, they’ve gotta do one of two things. They’ve either gotta say, 'OK he’s gonna be an H-back, he’s gonna be a blocker and a sometimes receiver' or if I’m gonna have him as a quarterback, I’m gonna have to change my entire offense and probably oughta change my coach, hire me a coach who’s gonna run a spread offense and be able to use Tim Tebow in that fashion, but in a pro style of offense, I don’t think Tim Tebow can be successful."

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

64. I've got a copy of UFC 108 if you want it. LOL.

[MadMaddie]

71. I hated that he was allowed to do it.

[we can do it]

24. One More Reason To Skip the Stupid Thing

[fishwax]

25. I'm guessing that won't happen

and that the suggestion of it on the "life news" site is simply for publicity.

[Toasterlad]

26. I Thought It Was an Immaculate Conception?

[Vickers]

27. "the story of Tebow's birth" Oh, the one with the star and everything?

:rofl:

All that money could go to worthy causes, but NOOOOOOOOOoooooooo.

[AzDar]

28. Then the Pro-Choice side should counter with an ad featuring Barbara Bush.

:thumbsup:

[GoCubsGo]

35. And, Laura Bush.

Kindasleazzzy Rice, too.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/19/AR2005071901164.html

[AzDar]

36. I was sort of picturing an ad where Babs speculates how much different the world would be had

she made a different "choice".

But I'm just sick like that...;-)

[GoCubsGo]

42. Heh.

The fact that she's pro-choice would make that all the better

[patrice]

29. Ergo, the value of life IS $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Pardon me, but, on the average, what the HELL has football ever done for Us? What real value has it contributed to society? And I am referring here to value that would not have developed somehow-otherwise.

[patrice]

30. Let's all boycott the game by meeting here and using all other social media to deluge the internet

with information about the Poor and the Working Poor and people without Health Care Insurance.

[WeDidIt]

31. Then no super Bowl for me. n/t

[Odin2005]

32. NOOOOO!

[patrice]

33. I wonder how many babies FoF saved with the million bucks Dobson made off of Ted Bundy.

[Blasphemer]

37. Colossal waste of money... nt

[northzax]

39. no offense to Mrs. Tebow

but exactly how big of a crisis pregnancy could it have been if she stayed in freaking MANILA to deliver him? I mean Manila is a fine town, don't get me wrong, but I don't think it was especially known for OBGYN services in the late 80s...

[lolly]

74. Good Point

Don't know the story--what was the situation? Was anyone suggesting (or, as I suspect they will imply) badgering her to get an abortion? Why?

My guess is that the ad will be mostly exaggerated b.s.

Remember Cassie, the poor murdered girl whose parents made a cottage industry out of the lie that "she said YES!" when asked by the Columbine killers whether she believed in G-d? Witnesses denied the story, but the parents published books and made the rounds of evangelical groups with their story. Sad situation all around.

[Initech]

40. Gag me with a rusty spoon.

:puke:

[Nikki Stone1]

41. This is actually something we need to take action on--and now.

Any suggestions?

Who do we write to?

What do we say?

Email addresses?

Fax #s

[FLDCVADem]

43. And why exactly do we need to take action?

I'm sorry, but seriously, who cares if a an organization wants to pay an outrageous sum of money for a commercial, even if it's a commercial for something we disagree with?

[Nikki Stone1]

44. If you're not interested, you don't have to be a part of it.

Those who are concerned need to take action. Consider yourself not part of the "we" in my last post. :)

[FLDCVADem]

45. Thanks for granting permission

although I neither requested it nor need it.

I'm just wondering what the big deal is about a commercial and why there needs to be some outpouring of activism to stop it.

[liquid diamond]

55. I agree. People are overreacting here.

Boycotting the Super Bowl because they don't like one fucking commercial? :rofl:

[walldude]

46. Well until yesterday I didn't know what a Tim Tebow was..

and today I care even less about his mom. I find it hilarious that because she gave birth to a football player she is considered some kind of spokesperson. I also find it amusing that 30 years ago all of Christianity got together to condemn John Lennon for claiming that the Beatles were bigger than Jesus, but now that Football is bigger than Jesus instead of condemning it they are advertising on it.

[Hello_Kitty]

50. Tebow's mom made a CHOICE

Anti-choice women want it both ways - They want to be applauded for their own sacrifice while forcing other women to do the same thing.

[jmowreader]

51. How many FoF employees will need to be laid off to cover this bill?

They laid off 500 people last year because they couldn't afford to keep them; now they're spending $4 million to run a throwaway ad (really, guys, just HOW MANY people in the US contract amoebic dysentery every year?) on the Super Bowl telecast. (I did the numbers, of course; $4 million only comes to $8000 per laid-off employee, but I'm going to assume they have part-timers there who don't make big money.)

So they DIDN'T have the money to pay their people, but they DO have the money for a TV ad? Sounds like someone needs to focus on the families who work for him.

[RB TexLa]

52. so they will be on the television when people are going to the bathroom.

so what.

[flvegan]

54. Yet PETA gets turned down each year.

Just as well, though to be honest. They get more publicity from getting turned down each year.

[Hello_Kitty]

57. And yet, oddly enough, frat boys and sports fans aren't going vegan en masse.

Maybe PETA needs to find a different target demo? :shrug:

[flvegan]

60. Even with a machine gun you'd have missed the point. n/t

[Hello_Kitty]

61. No, I totally get the point.

Women are meat, according to PETA.

[flvegan]

62. Oh, brother.

:eyes: x millions

[Hello_Kitty]

63. Oh sister.

And we sisters are not amused.

http://www.blogher.com/can-you-be-feminist-and-support-petas-marketing-strategies

[flvegan]

66. Meh.

I suppose we all choose our outrages these days.

[Hello_Kitty]

67. I suppose a lot of women are choosing to be outraged at PETA.

Which is not helping their cause in any way. Again, how many of Teh Dudez are going vegan?

[flvegan]

69. I'm sure

that their concern has been noted.

"Teh Dudez?" I don't know. I know a much larger (proportionately) number of females have altered their diet/lifestyle because of PETA's campaigns than men (of veggie folks I know/have spoken to). That's never surprised me, though. Women, at least in my experience, seem to have more empathy and compassion than men and when enlightened to the atrocities of factory farming, etc tend to want to not be part of it. Another odd thing...I have friends at PETA, and from what I hear far more donations (from individuals) come from women than men.

Hmmmm...

[Hello_Kitty]

72. And yet the big budget marketing campaigns of PETA are directed at men.

Why in holy hell would they want to run ads with naked babes during the Super Bowl if they realized that women were their target audience? That's kind of odd, and a reflection of the oversized egos of the leaders of PETA, rather than a smart direction of their advertising budget. You'd think they'd advertise on Oxygen, or other women-friendly networks. Women make 80% of household purchases, after all. But no, they choose to get the male eyeballs and the notoriety of mimicking Howard Stern. Way to save the animals, guys.

[flvegan]

73. Like I said, you missed the point.

PETA gets more attention by having ads DENIED for the Superbowl. Costs them nothing. Women aren't their "target audience" either. Their target audience is everyone. Women, proportionately, appear to respond more and likely for the reasons I stated. So yeah, way to save the animals, guys.

But hey, stay outraged. Where's the outrage against the Superbowl/NFL anyway? Cheerleaders in skimpy outfits...hello?

[Hello_Kitty]

75. Duh. The key to marketing success is getting people to do what you want.

PETA has failed in that, big time. But then, if all they want is notoriety and to raise money to pay for ridiculous marketing campaigns, I suppose you could say they succeed.

[flvegan]

79. No it isn't.

At least not on a charity level. The key to success is doing something that folks will donate to continue, progressing change, etc.

So howsabout that outrage at the NFL? I see you avoided that. Cheerleaders, you know...

Again, selective outrage I guess.

[kevinbgoode]

56. Why are we supposed to care what this woman's choice was?

Someone should point out that she is very lucky that she HAD a choice - since the organization of faux "religious" clowns footing the bill for this ad contends that no woman should have ANY choice not dictated by their organization.

I find being exposed to this public pronouncement of this woman's personal decision about having a child distasteful and unsuitable for broadcasting in front of children. Why should children be exposed to an advertisement discussion an ADULT decision? I thought Focus on the Anus was all about no discussion of sexual activity on the public airwaves - and yet promotes decisions about the results of such activity in front of millions of children who have no idea about pregnancy?

Hmm..while they are at it, why don't they parade a few women who had miscarriages before the cameras and indict "God" for murdering their babies as well?

[lolly]

76. More efficient ways to save babies

If people are really concerned about saving babies, they should take the money they spend on ads like this and pay for prenatal care for women in 3rd world countries.

I'm not being flip--money for healthcare for impoverished women would save far more babies than the $ they're spending on this ad.

But of course, it's got nothing to do with saving babies, does it?

[mmonk]

58. Anyway we can keep an eye out on this at DU to keep us informed?

If it is going to run, I want to call the local affiliate and tell them I won't be watching. I get enough politics with the war celebration at each game. I just want to watch a game without reminders about how sucky our nation is right now.

[lastliberalintexas]

59. It'd be a dumb pr move on his part

Perhaps his mother is ignoring his agency, but I can't imagine this would be something that any PR person would be happy about. Regardless of which side you are on, advertisers don't like controversy attached to their spokespeople, and this would snag him before he's even a pro. Perhaps he and his family care more about the issues than money, though, and will be donating much of his future millions to group and foster homes for the unwanted children. Uh huh.


For what it's worth, I am also the product of an unwanted, unplanned pregnancy of a teenage mom. If my mother had been able, I would not be here, and I am fine with that. Course that discussion usually involves existential issues that many of the anti-choicers ignore or don't understand.

[treestar]

65. that argument has always been stupid

anyone can find and more likely find an evil person whose mother considered it and decided against it, too.

[Terra Alta]

68. yes, that is true.

I remember reading somewhere that Hitler's mother had considered having an abortion. Not sure if it's true or not, but imagine how different the world would be if she had gone through with it.

[MadMaddie]

70. Why would the NFL allow this bullshit to ruin the game?