It’s an Old Story
This is old news, but I’m still a little bit pissed off about it anyway. By “a little bit pissed off”, I mean calmed down from the apoplectic rabid crazy ranting that I was doing when I first heard about this story.
The Super Bowl is a huge, huge extravagnaza, designed to attract football fans and their helpless victimsfamilies who are also watching. The two big non-football draws are the halftime show (fscking hell, did it have to be The Who???) and the commercials. The commercials are largely ignored at Chez Evil, mostly because that’s when we’re either on the phone or in the kitchen. Except for this year.
CBS has decided, in their infinite wisdom, to allow this commercial/PS announcement sponsored by Focus on the Family (sorry, I don’t link to those people; Google it) and featuring Tim Tebow, star quarterback of the Florida Gators, and his mother. It’s another spin on the classic “pro-life”/anti woman argument against abortion: A young woman had the choice to abort her unborn fetus or not. She chose not to, and that baby became…Ludwig van Beethoven/Barack Obama/George Washington/fill-in-the-blank-with-your-favorite-famous-person-here. This time it happens to be Tebow. As of today, CBS still plans on airing the commercial during the game.
If you recall, a couple of years ago the network turned down a commercial sponsored by the United Church of Christ which featured an inclusive (ie. not hostile toward LBGT people) message. At the time, the reason they gave for their decision was, “We don’t air advocacy ads.” I think that’s a fine policy. It’s a very sensible policy. I also think that in this instance it should be strictly adhered to, and the commercial should be removed from the lineup for the broadcast.
Actually, none of our teams made it to the Super Bowl this year. Not even to the playoffs almost two weeks ago. So we might settle for a nice Cajun dinner and a couple rounds of Call of Cthulhu.
There’s also the fact that there’s a good chance that the ad’s a lie: abortion has been illegal in the Philippines (where the Tebows were missionaries when she was pregnant) for 40+ years, with no exceptions for health of the mother. The idea that a Filipino doctor would advise her to get an abortion is… a stretch.
I know. FotF lying. So shocking.
That does seem to be a really old meme among the anti-women crowd. Not that it matters to those losers…
That bunch down there in the Springs are an embarrassment to our state. The one thing they’ve succeeded in doing is making central CO a laughingstock. Ugh.
That commercial would only be fair if it asked why on earth didn’t Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer’s mother get abortions.
What’s the overlap of people who want to force women to have unwanted children whilst calling the president a black hitler for wanting to provide mothers and children with cheap or free healthcare?
Yup, thought so.
Cthulhu… you’re so my soulmate!
That commercial would only be fair if it asked why on earth didn’t Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer’s mother get abortions.
Yep, and we would never ever see that commercial.
Ah, Cthulhu – with him, everybody’s equal. Tasty and delicious…
Yeah, my head almost exploded as well when this whole mess hit the news.
On Sunday night, i think we’re going to make up a batch of buffalo wings and tater skins, ans then play SceneIt, ot something on the Wii. I won’t give those lying sacks of puss at CBS (oh no, we don’t run controversial-issues during the SuperBowl) a minute of my time.
*tightest hugs* And yeah, we got the intarwebs probs fixed at home finally.
*huge hugs* Loved how they backpedaled their “we don’t run advocacy ads” statement – “no advocacy ads unless it’s a big-name college star and his anti-women buddies”. Yes, I’m well aware that’s not how it was actually worded…(not directed at you, luv)
I’m thinking it’ll be a Super Mario Kart kind of day here…
I decided not to watch the commercials this year because in the past few years every single commercial is SO sexualized. I don’t know why people can’t have any creativity and come up with something that is witty and funny without it being about boobs. My kids are old enough now that I don’t want them seeing those things. thank heavens for fast forward DVRs!
Yep, this. I’ve taken to alternately turning off the sound and using the commercials as a teaching tool (the less raunchy ones). We talk about what the advertisers are trying to say, and how they’re selling something to people. Sometimes that can be tough for a 2nd grader, but it’s good to start now.