Tim Tebow created “somewhat” of a “ripple” in the world of sports last week when it was announced that he would be featured in a pro-life commercial that would air during this year’s Super Bowl.
It was expected that a backlash would ensue. Today, in news that should surprise no one, the expected has become a reality.
According to the Associated Press, a coalition of women’s groups — the National Organization for Women, Women’s Media Center and the Feminist majority, among others — have called for CBS to scrub their plans to air the 30-second ad.
The network has reviewed the script of the ad and approved it for airing, saying that the network would ensure that it was “appropriate for air.”
The national coalition sent a letter to CBS protesting the approval of the ad produced by the pro-life, pro-family group Focus on the Family.
“By offering one of the most coveted advertising spots of the year to an anti-equality, anti-choice, homophobic organization, CBS is aligning itself with a political stance that will damage its reputation, alienate viewers, and discourage consumers from supporting its shows and advertisers,” the letter said, in part.
Terry O’Neill, president of NOW, blasted the commercial — which is expected to feature Tebow with his mother Pam and her story of refusing to follow medical advice that would have led to aborting the Heisman winner — as being “extraordinarily offensive and demeaning.”
“That’s not being respectful of other people’s lives,” O’Neill said. “It is offensive to hold one way out as being a superior way over everybody else’s.”
Needless to say, this is very much a hot-button issue, so let’s keep the comments respectful and civil. Unlike the previous posting on this subject.
—–EXTENDED BODY:—–EXCERPT:—–KEYWORDS:—–COMMENT:AUTHOR: stnmmcEMAIL: stnmmcanich@yahoo.comIP: 72.79.141.14URL: DATE: 01/25/2010 08:18:35 PMI really do not care. If they show it I will mock him for being a crap pro QB and/or being a douche. I bet he cries during it. I wonder how much Timmy Tears go for on Ebay? If they don’t show it the game will go on as usual, with major buildup for a bunch of supposed great commercials with the inevitable major letdown. Regardless, there is nothing that can be shown that will change my views on the world and life (or my views on lil Timmy), and I will carry on as I have.In 3 years when everyone realizes that Tebow just isn’t NFL caliber QB material no one will remember this ad. Maybe he can use it in his post NFL gig as a televangelist.In another related shocking news story:Little Timmy can’t take a snap from under center. Who would have guessed, you know, other than all the experts and those of us who have not been blinded by the light.—–COMMENT:AUTHOR: pt8106EMAIL: pt8106@att.netIP: 70.157.36.209URL: DATE: 01/25/2010 08:37:54 PMI think NOW should speak for their own selves and not all women. I am a woman and not only do I feel like CBS should show the ad but I agree with the Tebow’s and their belief that life is sacred and that abortion is used all too often, mostly for birth control when people use other parts of their bodies to make decisions that should be made with their brains.NOW just needs to butt out!—–COMMENT:AUTHOR: rod9856EMAIL: b_elrod@comcast.netIP: 66.177.91.93URL: DATE: 01/25/2010 08:38:39 PMIt seems as though everyone is for free speech as long it is something agreeable to mainstream America. Focus on the Family paid the money for the advertising spot just like any other corporation. It just shows how ridiculous our society has become when only beer commerials and job search adds featuring chimpanzees are acceptable. —–COMMENT:AUTHOR: skinny pigeonEMAIL: glenhatchell@yahoo.comIP: 65.32.159.95URL: DATE: 01/25/2010 08:50:43 PMKiffin sucks. —–COMMENT:AUTHOR: facelessmanEMAIL: redskins75@gmail.comIP: 71.97.181.188URL: DATE: 01/25/2010 09:09:28 PMI dont see anyone trying to have a pro choice commercial. So Why are they allowed a pro life one. LOL we the cynical nation that it is, is indeed sad sad nation. Lets kill to make it convienent. No wonder we cant get free health care. Commercials are PAID Advertisements. PAID.If it was free these idiots would have a case..SIGH.. —–COMMENT:AUTHOR: highplainsdrifterEMAIL: njoelharris@gmail.comIP: 66.177.166.139URL: DATE: 01/25/2010 09:29:28 PMWhat would Rick Pitino say?—–COMMENT:AUTHOR: techvetEMAIL: tkustner@gmail.comIP: 99.129.233.120URL: DATE: 01/25/2010 09:41:42 PMWashhhhh!!!!! Someone disagreeing with me shouldn’t be allowed to advertise! Wahhh!!!!—–COMMENT:AUTHOR: frydorovEMAIL: frydorov@hotmail.comIP: 68.60.185.250URL: DATE: 01/25/2010 09:45:21 PMPam Tebow tried to abort Tim. But he stopped it from happening while in the womb.—–COMMENT:AUTHOR: Sonny MooksEMAIL: dabdc@aol.comIP: 72.227.170.160URL: DATE: 01/25/2010 10:01:16 PM@Skinny pigeon.Kiffin does suck, lol.—–COMMENT:AUTHOR: SeeryerEMAIL: reierc@hotmail.comIP: 99.59.219.189URL: DATE: 01/25/2010 10:06:47 PMPT8106,If Focus on the Family would not have butted in to a football game NOW would not have responded. You can agree with FoF just as NOW can disagree with them.Rod9856,CBS has rejected poltical advertising in the past, including when they refused to air an add about a church allowing gay parishoners. So the question is why would a so called liberal or mainstream network provide a spot for a conservative christian point of view but not a liberal christian point of view? That is what it is about, not beer or farting bear commercials.—–COMMENT:AUTHOR: RichieBugs83EMAIL: rickstod@gmail.comIP: 207.172.128.167URL: DATE: 01/25/2010 10:13:58 PMHi I’m Tim Tebow, I’m here to tell you that abortion is wrong according to the magical people in the sky that I talk to. Who cares? I want it to air so I can make fun of him being a GIGANTIC DOUCHE.—–COMMENT:AUTHOR: overratedgatorsEMAIL: dave.rosamond@gmail.comIP: 96.252.128.167URL: DATE: 01/25/2010 10:46:35 PMFocus on the Family are a bunch of douchebags. But they are douchebags protected by the First Amendment. Shame on NOW, and shame on anyone else who would deny them their right to voice their own opinions – regardless of whether I agree or disagree with them.—–COMMENT:AUTHOR: No-NeckEMAIL: gpastrana@att.netIP: 98.71.201.252URL: DATE: 01/25/2010 10:51:19 PMLet’s see, Go Daddy girls almost exposing their breasts…check.Budweiser with sight gag…check.Dancing chimpanzees for Etrade…check.Oh what’s this Tebow and his mom talking about pro-life. What are we going to do? I’m going to stop watching the SuperBowl.Give me a freakin break.—–COMMENT:AUTHOR: edgy1957EMAIL: edgrinnell@hotmail.comIP: 70.2.64.29URL: DATE: 01/25/2010 11:24:28 PMIt’s funny how the people who think that the commercial is fine are the first to squeal about the GoDaddy spots. Why is freedom of speech fine for one but not the other. Frankly, I don’t believe that the spot, be it pro-life or pro-choice, is appropriate for the Super Bowl. I enjoy watching the commercials to laugh and frankly, where is the target audience? The domo doesn’t even make sense.—–COMMENT:AUTHOR: gncnewEMAIL: garth@newmandoesit.comIP: 76.73.220.138URL: DATE: 01/25/2010 11:24:50 PM”(“extraordinarily offensive and demeaning.”"That’s not being respectful of other people’s lives,” O’Neill said. “It is offensive to hold one way out as being a superior way over everybody else’s.”)So wait a minute… their opinion that her decision to keep Tim alive is ‘offensive and demeaning’?WTF is that exactly? ROFL… so if I say that drinking and driving is bad because when I drank and drove I almost killed someone I guess I’m just being offensive and demeaning to all the drinkers who want to drive home?She’s retarded… oh wait, I just offended someone again.. crap!
I myself am Pro-Choice, but respect those who believe in Pro-Life. What bothers me with this commercial is if a Pro-Choice commercial ran every far right-wing lunatic coalition would be outside of CBS burning the building down and threatening to kill someone. This is a hot button topic and I think CBS is making a mistake running ads that have anything to do with the abortion issue.
Just think of the hissy fit if I paid for an ad that went: “You know, the night of my Senior Prom, my girlfriend and I did something stupid and she got pregnant. Thankfully, it’s legal to have an abortion which she promptly had. Now, the two of us are no longer together, but were able to go to college, get a degree, have careers and start our own families when we were both emotionally and financially stable. Now we have children that are part of loving homes and are well cared for, instead of a kid out of wedlock, living off of food stamps with parents that can’t stand each other.” Yeah that would go over real swell.
So, I guess we must remove all political ads from television if NOW logic follows suit. Personally, I’m pro-choice, but anti-abortion (i.e. it’s not the governments place to tell us which is right), and I see no problem with an add either way. If it’s such a big deal to this “national coalition” then maybe they should cough up the $$$ for a Super Bowl add of their own. And, if they are protesting this add, shouldn’t they be protesting GoDaddy ads too? lol. Get a life, why is this even news worthy?
Oh, and to stnmmc, what a jerk are you? A can’t stand the Gators, but I think Tebow is a great guy, I have all the admiration for him in the world. Will he or won’t he make it in the NFL? Who knows, but I can tell by his character that whichever way it goes, it won’t be what defines his life. He has given plenty of his time and life to those less fortunate, and that sir shows character and class. Much more so than someone that only knows how to whine and demean people to make themselves feel like a more manly man!
All the national networks, including CBS, have policies that rule out the broadcast of certain types of contentious advocacy ads. In 2004, CBS cited such a policy in rejecting an ad by the liberal-leaning United Church of Christ. Now they are considering running an ad from one of the most discrimintory & anti-choice groups in the country. Neither who is in the ad nor whether the subject matter is agreeable or not is not the case here, its the fact that there seems to be a double standard here.
tebow is so fake, he probably shares girls with pitino.
>>>It is offensive to hold one way out as being a superior way over everybody else’s.
ESPN Player of the Decade
This ad needs to go, Tebow and Mom have a view – So What? The majority of Americans have a different view!!
Running this or any ad is not going to change anyone’s mind. If you want to preach Pro-Life, spend this money on Abstinence Education.
If CBS runs this ad, Pro-Choice will run a 60 second ad right behind Tebow and mommy promoting their views.
So CBS, your’e in a no win situation. As a male and avid football fan, please let me just enjoy the Super Bowl without getting someone else’s moral views shoved down my throat.
BTW – I heard the Democratic Party is planning a 60 second ad to promote their newly developed “Health and Insurance Reform Agenda”.
@ JT: I’m offended by a couple of things. One in the FSU coaches salary posting. To demean the Hydrox brand of cookies as being less than Oreo’s is a direct attack against those of us that enjoy the simple pleasure gained from devouring those delicious morsels…. I demand a retraction.
Also, you said “ripple” which forces me to go to the corner store and purchase said ripple. Now, I’m going to feel unequal to the other posters while I dip my Hydrox into my ripple…… how dare you try and shame me…..
As for Tebow, I believe we need to place a call to Chuck Norris. He can settle this and tell us the proper way to act on this issue. So, I challenge us all: WWCND – What would Chuck Norris do – and live accordingly
somebody tell the tree hugging left wingers that free speech is for everybody and not just those who believe in your left wing views. nobody is forcing you to watch the commercial.don’t like it then change the channel when it comes on or better yet film your own commercial telling your views.I can promise you I won’t be watching yours!
Everyone has their own preferences for whatever they do and whatever choices they make in lift. The organizations that are trying to stop these ads are guilty of the same thing that they are accusing the makers of this commercial. Everyone is entitled to their viewpoint and their may be others who would be offended by NOW’s views that they publicize regularly. If they are truly that offended by these views, they are free to purchase their own commercial to make this known. After all the rights of both the makers of the Tebow commercial and the NOW organization are protected by the First Amendment of the USA!
That being said…what does any of this have to do with football?
PETA commercials aren’t allowed, but this brainwashing hocus pocus is?
While I respect the right of free speech, in my opinion politically polarizing commercials should not be aired. Whether I agree with the commercial or not is irrelevant, but when you get into politics, you need to give both sides equal time to present their point of view, and it seems like CBS is not which makes it look like they espouse the particular view. And during the Super Bowl is a bad time, I just want to watch the friggin game.
What’s abortion?
Good for Tebow! Attacking the foundation for a multi-million dollar business of killing babies every year! Why is Hanoi Jane not decrying such killing now.
Anything and everything that tweaks liberals is just good old fashioned fun! Way to go Te-bow!
Can’t say I have ever saw a pro-choice commercial. I have seen pro-life endorsements. If they are coughing up the money for the spot, I say let them have it.
Totally disagree with Tebow’s position on the issue..think they seem a bit arrogant too.” Don’t have an abortion because your kid too could be as wonderful as me” just doesn’t sound right to me. And associating with Focus on Family, an organization, in my opinion that is one of the most hateful ones around…well, I will do what I do when anyone from Focus on Family talks….I will not listen. Hope CBS backtracks on their refusal to air far left ads too…it’s all about money now, not values.
Free speech also includes that which you don’t happen to agree with.
I love how the so-called tolerant crowd is so quick to label things as “hateful”, etc.
Doesn’t this somehow violate the who concept of moral relativism?
The real reason that the left hates such an add is because they do not want the public to actually comprehend that abortion eliminates, assuming a healthy pregnancy to term, a human. Showing someone like Tebow and his Mom graphically hammers this home.
Whether you are for or against this, the facts of what is going on should be clear so that you can make an educated “choice”.
One would think that NOW would be more offended with the Go Daddy commercials than with the Tebow commercial.
Go Daddy commercials objectify women and their bodies while the TeBow Commercial was about a Woman making her own decision and standing by her own personal choice.