January 27, 2010 1:00 PM

Tim Tebow Super Bowl Ad: CBS Willing to Consider More "Advocacy" Commercials After Abortion Flap

By
Ryan Smith
Topics
Daily Blotter
(AP Photo/Dave Martin)
(AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
NEW YORK (CBS/AP) Florida Gators star Tim Tebow may have unwittingly stepped into the contentious legal and moral abortion debate, but the network that promises to air his controversial pro-life commercial during the Super Bowl seems to be jumping in with eyes wide open.

Photo: Tim Tebow.

Despite criticism that the Tebow commercial, which is funded by Christian values group Focus on the Family, might send a message offensive to pro-choice advocates, CBS says they will run the spot during the Super Bowl, but will also consider other "responsibly produced" advocacy ads in its Feb. 7 broadcast. Presumably that means pro-choice advocates could purchase equal time.

The company said Tuesday it had received numerous e-mails, both critical and supportive, since a coalition of women's groups began a protest campaign against the ad.

Photo: Focus on the Family Founder and Chairman James Dobson in 2008.

The 30-second commercial is expected to recount the story of Pam Tebow's pregnancy in 1987. After getting sick during a mission trip to the Philippines, she ignored a recommendation by doctors to abort her fifth child.

She later gave birth to Tim, who won the 2007 Heisman Trophy and helped the Florida Gators win two BCS championships.

CBS said Tuesday that the decision to air the Tebow ad reflected a change in its policies toward advocacy spots that has evolved over the past several years.

"We have for some time moderated our approach to advocacy submissions after it became apparent that our stance did not reflect public sentiment or industry norms," said spokesman Dana McClintock. "In fact, most media outlets have accepted advocacy ads for some time."

In 2004, CBS was criticized by many liberal organizations for rejecting an ad by the United Church of Christ highlighting the UCC's welcoming stance toward gays and others who might feel shunned by more conservative churches.

CBS said Tuesday that, under its new policies, the UCC ad would have been accepted for airing.

Thirty-second commercials during the Super Bowl are selling for $2.5 million to $2.8 million.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Should Tebow express his abortion views during the Super Bowl or leave his politics off the field?

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January 26, 2010 - Tim Tebow Super Bowl Ad Drives Some Women Crazy

Add a Comment See all 71 Comments
by hamib February 9, 2010 1:33 PM EST
Thank you CBS....not for airing a pro-life message, but for not being strong-armed into worrying about the complaints that you're bound to get from something like this. Personally, I find nothing offensive about the ad and thought it was pretty touching. I just heard a NOW rep use the terms "elderly abuse" and "violence against women" when taking her position on this ad....SERIOUSLY?!? I am stunned.
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by Angels4BobSeger February 7, 2010 9:16 PM EST
I am for this wonderful ad thumbs up and God bless FOTF.
I have seen aborted babies almost full term babies that had been aborted by saline abortion. They are burned from the inside out. Hard to believe that certain people would believe in such a crime as abortion. I would say I hope they run more good ads on tv like this one here.
Reply to this comment
by Buffalobob1 February 1, 2010 7:03 PM EST
What has Tebow added to society? Is the world any better for him being born? Has he done one single beneficial thing for society?

All I have seen is him crying when he lost a football game. He can't even behave properly. Just one more egotistical spoiled brat like Gilbert Arenas or Brittany Spears. He adds nothing to this world.
Reply to this comment
by jsteidel February 4, 2010 9:55 PM EST
Even the least of us not only can add, but does add something to this world. Everybody counts. See the population clock estimate [http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html]. Of course, some may consider this viewpoint wrong. The reader might consider the implication of either viewpoint when it is applied to the rest of the 6.8 billion persons on the planet. The reader is left to wonder what viewpoints of the majority of the 6.8 billion persons might take regarding the reader, whom they do not know.
by prolifer February 4, 2010 10:58 PM EST
Buffalo, where have you been? Tim tebow spends much of his spare time in mission work, mostly in the Phillipines. He also has a prison ministry. He is a young man of humility and grace, and anyone who has met him will tell you what a wonderful human being he is. If you watched college football this year, you would have heard the sportscasters talking of his character. His mother being pro-life is a choice many mothers make. They are not telling anyone what to do, only showing what choosing life did for them. Choice is for everyone, not just for those who choose your way. pro-lifer
by bamagirl1972 January 31, 2010 11:30 AM EST
Seriously....The funny thing is that Tim's mom is talking about "choice". She made a choice to give life reguardless of the circumstances. She is not judging anyone, she is simply showing the world what can happen when you trust in God. She made a choice, a good one! I am so thankful that my son has an Athlete like Tebow to look up to rather than the Pac Man Jones's of the world. I hope CBS will run this commercial..reguardless it has probably gotten more publicity this way. It is back firing on those who are fighting it. They should have just let it run, who would have really paid attention before all of this????
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by bostonbetty January 31, 2010 9:12 AM EST
One BIG thing being ignored here, folks, is that Missy Tebow, WAS GIVEN A CHOICE ! THAT is what the debate is all about, whether a woman gets to have a choice or not ! Those hailing this ad as some kind of great victory for the Anti-Choice group haven't woken up to that point! Until you have stood in the Children's Hospital over an infant who lasted 8 weeks in the hospital, hooked up to dozens of wires and feeding tubes, eyes uncomprehending the pain and his Mother having to crawl into the crib behind him to hold him in any way, you will never understand the humanity of stopping this scenario by early abortion. Until your teen daughter comes home raped and beaten, and then finds out she is pregnant and must make public her ordeal for 9 months, you will never understand the debate. So do not think you have God on your side----the God I know is merciful.
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by saturn67777 January 31, 2010 4:03 PM EST
I agree that God is merciful. Otherwise I would be getting what I deserve. These two instances that you are speaking of are extremes. Sad and tragic extremes. What I disagree with is when people can't abstain from sex or use some other form of birth control and the result is a human being (whether you believe an unborn fetus is one or not) that is being terminated.
by grafgang6 January 30, 2010 6:10 PM EST
I applaud CBS for giving a voice to another side. As a pro-life advocate, I am secure enough in my own belief that I don't mind listening to someone express their pro-choice opinion. I don't know why others are having a problem with the opposite approach. Thank you for braving this storm.
Reply to this comment
by EqualPlay January 30, 2010 2:09 PM EST
It the Pro-Lifers have the ability to have an ad, not only the Pro-Choice but Pro-Gay should also to only be fair. The Mancruch.com commercial is funny and not offensive, time for all advocacy groups to be able to do ads, as Mancrunch.com is willing to pay cash, all the better than those who will have to be billed for their ads. What is CBS afraid of Prop 8 failing like it looks like in federal court, gays spend money just like everyone else and they play sports just like everyone else, time to broadcast like everyone else and maybe your ratings will go up to.
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by kimycamp January 30, 2010 12:23 PM EST
Thank you CBS for doing the right thing. Our nation is constantly inundated with every other belief and the highest population in our nation are Christians. Why can't we have an equal forum. This is freedom of speech personified! Blessings to you Tim Tebow. You are a man standing tall and one that I am proud to have my son and daughters admire. You represent a desire to live life honoring your creator. Not to proclaim to be perfect but professing who you strive to live your life in submission to... Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That is what we are on this planet for!
Reply to this comment
by dickmac999 January 30, 2010 3:11 PM EST
I am a Christian and I support a woman's right to make all decisions about her body, her medical care, and her reproduction. Focus On The Family is NOT a Christian group, just because they say they are. FotF is a distinctly un-Christ-like organization. Don't lump all Christians into your un-American, anti-Liberty message.
by csb-tarheel January 29, 2010 10:06 PM EST
Thank you so much for airing this commerical. It's about time that "freedom of speech" applies to all people. Being a Christian shouldn't mean that we can't voice what we believe without being told that we have "offended" others with what we believe. I can't get over that it's ok for non-Christians to "offend" Christians, but Christians can't "offend" anyone else!! Thank you.
Reply to this comment
by dickmac999 January 30, 2010 3:12 PM EST
CBS does not promote freedom of speech, they pick and choose which message will be aired. This is supporting the free market, not supporting freedom of speech, get your freedoms straight.
by EILEENNOLA January 29, 2010 2:48 PM EST
I hear the rhetoric about the "liberal media" often even though the public is constantly bombarded with Rush, FOX, Palin, etc. While the media was predominately liberal some time ago, it is not so anymore...let it go!

I would LOVE to see a CBS Superbowl commercial run by Planned Parenthood, or some other pro-choice organization, and then see the reaction of pro-lifers. I wonder if they would then defend constitutional free speech when the protected speech is NOT pro-life.
Reply to this comment
by saturn67777 January 31, 2010 3:54 PM EST
As a "pro-lifer" if I saw a pro-choice ad during the Superbowl I would disagree with its message but I would not care because CBS can air whatever they'd like or feel is appropriate with their own station.
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