Controversy
Guess what this weekend is?
- My mom’s birthday? Check!
- Sweets’ opportunity to finish a tiling project? Check!
- A birthday party (in?)conveniently planned during the Superbowl? Check!
- THE SUPERBOWL? Check!
Unless you don’t follow sports or live under a rock, you already know the Indianapolis Colts will play the New Orleans Saints in the Superbowl this weekend. Many of us (myself included) actually like watching the game. Most of us (myself included) love watching the commercials. Traditionally, it’s an introduction to some fabulously new and innovative commercials.
This year, CBS has agreed to air what many will consider a controversial spot. Tim Tebow, the Heisman winning, University of Florida quarterback will appear with his mother. The spot highlights her pregnancy with him, how she got sick during her pregnancy while on a mission trip, how the medical community advised her to get an abortion, how she refused and how she went on to give birth to one of the greatest college athletes of our time. While Focus on the Family paid $2.5 million to not mention the word abortion, the reality is, this spot will be interpreted as a pro-life spot. And it’s gotten many people in a tizzy. Some are downright mad.
Why is this controversial?
Let me take a step back for a minute. I don’t have to remind most of you that I’m very liberally minded. I’m incredibly fortunate that I never had to make a decision regarding abortion for myself. Regardless, it’s not my place to make that decision for others. Since high school, when I traveled from Boston to Washington DC to participate in a march, I have always sided in the pro-choice camp.
That said, it doesn’t bother me if Focus on the Family wants to infiltrate my Superbowl Sunday with a spot during a game break. We live in a country that’s built on freedoms. Freedom of thought. Freedom of speech. Telling the Tebow story is not slanderous, since the Tebow’s are telling their own story. Sharing with the world that they are strongly believing Christians is not a crime. As far as I’m concerned, they have just as much of a right to be on our TVs as fast food and beer.
Some might claim that such an advocacy group should be spending it’s millions helping build strong families at the grassroots level instead of squandering it on a 30-second TV spot. Others might argue that spending those millions to get in front of an audience of millions is exactly how advocacy groups should spread the gospel. There is no correct answer.
Yet, people are mad. But, if you dig just past the surface level, you’ll realize, people’s anger is directed at CBS, not Focus on the Family. Sure, they might not have the same beliefs as Focus on the Family, but that’s not what angers these people. Not this time, at least. These people are really mad at the network for airing an advocacy spot during the Superbowl. The question is why?
The whiners claim that if CBS was consistent in airing advocacy spots, they’d be less upset. But, in the past, CBS has turned down spots from the United Church of Christ (welcoming gays into their community), PETA, Moveon.org and other potentially controversial organizations. CBS claims they have since changed policy where all such spots would be accepted if they were submitted today.
Some might further argue that just this year, CBS refused to air a spot advertising a gay-focused dating website, which would prove CBS’s statement about new policies wrong. However, CBS argues the organization missed a deadline for advertising and quite frankly, there were no spots left.
In my world, whining gets you nowhere fast. Instead of bitching and moaning over the fact that Focus in the Family ignored historical patterns and submitted this ad anyway. Instead of bemoaning the fact that you fundamentally disagree with this organization’s beliefs. Instead of coming across as a hater of the freedoms that are so solidly our country’s foundation.
Instead of doing nothing, why not do something? Do something like, I dunno, continue fighting the machine and continue submitting ads of your own!
Look, at the end of the day CBS is in the money-making business. My guess is airing controversial ads might bring an even wider audience, a curious audience, to their network on Sunday. Increased viewership is exactly what they’re hoping for because they can demand even more money for advertising spots in the future. So, it’s kind of hard to be mad at Focus on the Family for figuring out a way to share their message. And it’s kind of hard to be mad at CBS for continuing to improve their business policies and running their business to make money.
In my view, it’s hard to be mad about this situation at all. What are your thoughts?
For more information on this topic, be sure to read this, this, this and Karen’s take on it here.
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:17 am
I have to stay away from these subjects because I tend to get overly irritated for some odd reason. Heh, thanks to your link, I just went back and read my comment at another blog and the subsequent reply and was like, “Noooo, you were not hearing what I was actually *saying*!”. Um, so yeah, there is that.
I’m not mad about this advertisement. In fact, I think everyone has bigger things they should be worried about than whether or not an anti-abortion group wants to advertise during the Super Bowl. I mean, really? THIS is what we’re going to spend our times getting pissed off about?
On the flip side, I’m one of the brave souls who will raise her hand and say that I don’t like it. Just because I believe that everyone should be *allowed* their say-so, I still think this is an inappropriate venue for such social commentary. I don’t want a side of “abortion debate” with my football game, FFS.
Sorry to ramble here. I just got all stream of conscious on your blog, eek.
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:45 am
Yeah, I think it’s bs, frankly. CBS now saying “oh, we would have taken those previously-rejected slots all along, we just are out of space now!” is backpedaling nonsense. They just sold out their ad space this week, and I’ve been hearing about this Tebow ad for a lot longer than that. (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/01/business/main6163789.shtml)
I think it’s fine for the network to allow the Focus on the Family Ad- as reprehensible as I find Focus on the Family, you’re absolutely right on freedom of speech, thought, etc- but I think it’s crap that the way we find out that CBS has suddenly changed this long-standing “policy” of not airing “controversial” ads is when they announce that they’ve sold one to Dobson and Co. (I would note, too, that rampant objectification of women has long been a totally acceptable theme in SuperBowl ads, something that’s arguably more “controversial” than a church that wants to say “we open our doors to everyone” without ever saying the word “gay”)
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:09 am
I’m not really going to delve into this controversy at all as I really don’t have a feeling one way or the other. But I will say that I would love to see those formerly spurned groups resubmit their ads to CBS and see if they do indeed accept them.
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:40 am
Well I’m not American, so I should maybe keep my trap shut since I won’t be watching the ad etc. Though I have been reading those links you posted. I do boggle a bit at things like These groups are not “for” women, and they don’t want them to have a “choice.” They only want women to “choose” the path of abortion.
Er…really now? I can’t imagine a group specifically wanting all women to choose abortion. Have access to it yes, be safe and know their options, but to only take that option? I think that may be taking liberties a little. From what I can gather Tebow’s mother was recommended to have an abortion for her own health, no one was forcing her, they were telling her her options, and did indeed give her a choice. As all decent medical professional would.
If nothing else it gets people talking, and hopefully discussing things in a rational way and not just flipping out over it. I don’t know how I would feel about the ad were it here, I don’t think we have that kind of advertising. We have posters and leaflets for abortion clinics, where to get help, who to call etc, but I don’t generally see the other side.
And I went on a bit of a tangent here.
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:58 am
I agree with you 100%. At first I was all, really, during the Superbowl? Is that necessary? Now I’m okay with it because this commercial will be a great time to get up and go to the bathroom!
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:12 am
Was it Voltaire who said “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.” Thats pretty much how I feel.
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:51 am
hmmm, this is the first i’ve heard about this whole thing. i’m with you… im pretty open to any commercial and opinion. there are some commercials i dont like, so i just tune out. people are always going to be up in arms about something or other, right?
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:04 am
Um. CBS can do whatever the hell it wants. Duh.
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:13 am
I think CBS should have accepted that ManCrunch commercial (for a gay dating site). I thought it was funny! But you are 100% correct. It boils down to freedom of speech and CBS’s right to accept whatever commercials are going to make them money.
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:25 am
The inconsistency pisses me off for sure. However I hadn’t heard the argument that the gay dating ad just missed the deadline. I wonder if that’s true. I guess I don’t have enough information to issue an informed judgment.
I did read someone challenging Tim Tebow’s mother’s story, saying that she never would have been pressured to abort her child because she was living in the Philippines, where abortion was illegal at the time. Interesting stuff.
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:31 am
As you can probably imagine, I’m excited about this Pro Life commercial airing in such a prime time. Of course, I do volunteer at a pregnancy crisis center that is Pro Life all the way. I enjoyed reading your post as I know we may not see eye to eye on this subject, but you still respect the commercial. I didn’t realize CBS’ reasons for not accepting the mancrunch.com commercial, so thanks for that info. I’d been curious about how they would agree to air a pro life commercial but not a gay dating site.
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:05 am
I think that everyone has a right to their opinions and to spend money on what they like, but come ON CBS! Be a little less obviously biased?? I wish that there was more of a serious effort put into balance, honestly what do they have to lose by accepting opinions that are outside of that one track?
It makes me wonder how profitable only pitching to viewers of one political mind set really is.
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:13 am
I live under a rock. I thought the Superbowl was LAST weekend.
:-)
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:32 am
I’m with Sizzle on this one.
February 3rd, 2010 at 11:59 am
i have no problem with it for the same reason you don’t. and i agree with karen. there IS a difference in the kkk or taliban buying air time vs. focus on the family.
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:08 pm
Here’s my thoughts on all this. I’m very liberal and I’ve always supported the woman’s right to choose. I’ve read many sides to the Tebow story/ad and I do feel that some of these groups have gone a bit too far for an ad that hasn’t even aired yet.
Having said that, while the ad does not specifically mention the word or term abortion, everyone already knows what the message is. It’s an ad from Focus on the Family. It’s from a well-known sport figure who’s not been shy about his pro-life position.
CBS is in the business of making money and it’s always in their ball court which ads they feel will be the most effective for the biggest advertising television broadcast event of the year. And accepting an ad that’s geared toward the majority of their viewers is purely a business decision, regardless of the content of the ad.
Your ending line about go out and submit your own ads is spot on. CBS really does need to be fair about all of this and if they really are saying that there was no more room for ads, then I really hope they are being truthful about that. I would be mad if I found out otherwise and they were picking one side over the other.
February 3rd, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Freedom of speech baby. I may not agree with the message, but I’m all about their right to say it!
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:07 pm
I agree with a lot of the commenters on this one: I’m about as pro-choice as they come, yet I see no problem with Focus on the Family shelling out millions of its dollars to CBS to air the Tebow ad. I think it’s important to realize that the Superbowl is a money-making parade of sponsors with a football game wedged somewhere in the middle. Tebow has the right to endorse whatever product he so desires — whether it’s Doritos or FOTF. Who knows if the viewing public will see this as a PSA or as an advertisement for a product? Chances are they’ll probably be talking less about the Tebow ad and more about some of the more dynamic ones during the game. Or, quite possibly, they might talk about the game itself.
As for my feelings about CBS — I’m still mad at them for canceling “Square Pegs.” What a great show…
February 3rd, 2010 at 2:34 pm
I’m aware of the ad that is intended to run and despite its content, am not offended that CBS has chosen to run it. I am pro-choice. But I believe in the quality of the argument and the opportunity to voice one’s beliefs.
I agree with you in so many ways here. Rather than complain, I say put CBS’s new policy to test. It is unfortunate, however, that other advocacy groups were unaware of the policy change and are therefore unable to benefit as well from the viewership of the Superbowl.
February 3rd, 2010 at 4:16 pm
Apparently I live under a rock. That or I’m pleading ignorance because of my nationality :)
I’m pro-choice. Adamantly. That being said, I have no problem with Focus on the Family shelling out big bucks to advertise during the Superbowl. Just because I don’t agree with their views doesn’t mean that I don’t support their right to have them. I’d rather pro-life groups spend their time and effort on spreading their message peacefully than spending their time and energy intimidating people who are trying to enter abortion clinics. I’m not sure that CBS is being entirely honourable in this situation, though. The “missed the deadline” excuse seems a bit shady.
February 3rd, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Freedom of speech means freedom of speech. It sounds like the ad isn’t spreading hatred of any kind, so I don’t see a problem with airing it. Definitely people should fight to make sure that all points of view are allowed equally. That’s the most important thing.
February 3rd, 2010 at 5:20 pm
I truly admire you Nilsa, for being fair on this matter. Just curious, if you know, do network stations have to follow government mandated and enforced equal opportunity in advertising laws? And another thing people could do to protest this action, if it bothers them, is to boycott the network in questions and stop supporting their sponsors.
I personally have to wonder about those who are so incredibly upset. Do they have a pro-abortion (not just pro-choice) agenda? It makes me think of Margaret Sanger, co-founder of Planned Parenthood and staunch advocate of eugenics (science of purifying the human gene pool.) She founded the Americal Birth Control League in 1916 (name changed to Planned Parenthood in 1942) to eliminate what she thought were “inferior races like Orientals, Jews and Blacks.” She also initiated the Negro Project, with the aim of slowing and reversing the growth of the black population. She believed many races were genetically inferior, producing “human weeds”. She was in good company with the well known KKK (and she was a guest speaker at one of their meetings) and Adolf Hitler.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMhuajIwb6I
Are there still people today who have this goal (not just pro-choice, but pro-abortion)? Are these the people who are so angry? If so, I find THAT very frightening.
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:22 pm
Kristi – Good thing we have reputable sources such as a Youtube video to justify our ideology. I think I saw Darwin jaywalk one time. Surely someone caught that on their cellphone camera.
Say Hi to Kirk Cameron for me!
NTG
February 3rd, 2010 at 6:32 pm
Oh, sister, you know I have LOTS of thoughts on this one!
I’ll put it this way. CBS is by no means legally bound to accept any kind of advertising pitch. I mean, correct me if I am wrong, but they are a private organization that has the right of their OWN freedom of speech — which includes what they do and do not choose to air (I guess I am seconding Kristi’s question if CBS has to do the whole “equal rights” thing?). They are not obligated to answer to their viewer, in theory; they and their shareholders make the final call. That said, though it is unfortunate that they have not shown ads by other advocacy groups (have these groups approached them and offered them as much money as FotF?), they are not obliged to be a platform of advocacy. This is where the libertarian in me comes out — CBS is it’s own business that can do it’s own thing.
I am reminded of a similar instance when Target stores started going public about how they do not support or tolerate Salvation Army bell ringers outside their doors at Christmas. At first I was super bummed about this and saw Target as the bully — but then I realized that Target has the RIGHT to refuse service to anyone, including charitable groups. Though it does suck and kind of lacks the typical Christmas cheer, it is within their rights and I respect them for exerting them, even if it was in an unfavorable way.
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:25 pm
happy birthday to your mom! apparently i DO live under a rock, bc i didn’t even realize the super bowl is this weekend nor did i know who is playing! whoops! interesting stuff about cbs. so much politics goes into marketing/advertisements, it’s ridiculous! thanks for your comment on my last post btw, i value your opinion! and i’m pretty excited to try the pom bars too, as soon as i finish up my homemade bars that have a shorter shelf life i’ll be moving on to those babies!
February 3rd, 2010 at 7:51 pm
I can’t fully wrap my head around what to say here…I think I might be one of the whiners. :) If all those organizations you listed have been denied, why would they continue submitting ads? Have Christian orgs been denied just as many times? And if a female athlete wanted to tell her story about how getting an abortion enabled her to go on and focus on an incredible career – do you think ANYONE would air that? I think not. My name is Mel. I am a whiner. And I don’t like double-standards.
February 3rd, 2010 at 9:49 pm
Wow – you have a busy weekend ahead of you!
I also must live under a rock – was not at all aware of this. I’m in the conservative camp, so am pro-life. So, since I agree with what the ad is promoting, I am happy it will air. I do think it’s odd that they have turned down so many other organizations and it seems like they are coming up with lots of excuses, but I am sure that after this, anyone will be able to promote their cause.
February 4th, 2010 at 2:14 am
Obama’s desire to repeal “Don’t ask, don’t tell” can actually help to fulfill the “days of Lot” (Luke 17, cf. Gen. 19), the fulfillment of which will hurry up the return of the Heavenly Commander-in-Chief who will make all things straight (pun intended)! Interesting Google articles include “Obama Supports Public Depravity,” “Separation of Raunch and State” and “David Letterman’s Hate Etc.”
For some dessert visit Yahoo and type in “Obama Avoids Bible Verses.”
PS – You’re invited to use these new pro-life slogans: “Unborn babies should have the right to keep and bear arms – and legs and ears and eyes etc.!” and “Unborn babies should have the same right to be born alive that abortionists had!”
February 4th, 2010 at 10:42 am
ooh, i like your reasoning. if i had a tv, or cable, i’d be really interested in the ads, i’m sure. i’ll have to wait for them to be online before i can make a decision. either way, i think CBS is a total hypocrite and i agree with Mel Heth.
February 4th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
I not super excited about ad mostly because during the super bowl i want to see ads for beer and snacks and in the spirit of the game. Not politics and religion and issues that divide the country. I don’t want to be preached at when I’m trying to watch sports…
Also, on the topic specifically, they apparently don’t mention that in the Philippines, where all of this took place, abortion has been illegal since the 1930s (or something like that) so really, she might not have been able to have one anyway. So, that is like making an issue where one wasn’t.
February 5th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Clearly you know how I feel about this and clearly I agree with you. Stop bitching and moaning and DO SOMETHING!!!
I’m linking to your post on my blog. :)
February 5th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
Wowzers! How did I miss the post that brought out the crazies?
February 5th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
My mom’s birthday is this weekend too! On Sunday. :) Honestly, I could care less about football, the Superbowl or what ads CBS decides to run. I am prochoice, of course. I just don’t really have a strong opinion about this one. Maybe they will allow other organizations to advertise soon too, or maybe not. It might not be fair, but seems like it’s CBS’ decision to make.
February 6th, 2010 at 4:57 pm
I first heard about this in the waiting room of a doctor’s office. There was one of “those” people there — that person that has to strike up conversations with complete strangers about any topic (potentially controversial or not) and the ignore their signs of obvious discomfort. Anyway, he was a big fan of the commercial, and specifically described it as anti-abortion. I find it kind of amusing because, to me, their story could also fulfill my particular brand of pro-choice, which is that a woman should choose whatever SHE wants. Mrs. Tebow obviously CHOSE to keep her pregnancy, and to that I say you go girl. I’m glad that she wasn’t forced to have a procedure or treatment that she disagreed with, and I hope that things always stay that way. I would hate to see abortion forced on someone as much as I would hate to see that option taken away. I wish more pro-lifers would understand that pro-choice is not pro-abortion, it is really about the choice — the choice to keep, or the choice to terminate, both without judgment.
That said, the skeptic in me finds both CBS and the story in general a bit sketchy. All of CBS’s explanations sound empty and fake, and frankly, the Tebow’s story sounds a little unlikely. I always thought that abortion was only indicated in cases where the baby’s presence was essentially killing the mother. Like something has gone haywire with the immune system and the only way for the body to realize the invader isn’t attacking it is to remove what it sees as the invader. I’m not calling them liars, I’m not a medical professional so I’m definitely no expert. I just look at their story with a little more skepticism and a little less emotion.