In 2004, PETA wanted to run a commercial during the Super Bowl that would have urged people not to buy furs. MoveOn.org wanted to run a Super Bowl commercial pointing out that Bush had increased the deficit. And the United Church of Christ wanted to air an ad showing a bouncer refusing to let a gay couple enter a Church. The tagline was, “Jesus Didn’t Turn People away. Neither do we.” The Super Bowl rejected those ads because, they said, they will not run commercials that “touch on and/or take a position on one side of a current controversial issue of public importance.”
This year, a gay dating site wanted to run an ad during the Super Bowl. It was rejected. And then the far-right group Focus On The Family told the Super Bowl they’d like to run a 30-second anti-abortion ad featuring University of Florida’s star quarterback Tim Tebow and his mother. Oh, sure, said the Super Bowl, as long as you pay the $3 million price tag. To which many progressives in the U.S. are replying, “WTF?”
The ad proposes to tell the story of Tebow’s mom who, in 1987, was pregnant with Tim while she worked as a missionary in the Philippines. She contracted amoebic dysentery and, according to her, doctors told her she should have an abortion. Instead, she went ahead with her pregnancy and gave birth to the future Heisman Trophy winner who is now so grateful to Jesus, he wears Bible verses on his face during football games. He apparently also believes his mom’s experience gives him the right to tell women what they should do with their bodies — their wombs, to be precise.
Now, questions have arisen questioning whether Tebow and Mom’s story is even true. As was pointed out by numerous lawyers during the past couple of weeks, the Tebows’ Tale of Tim’s Miracle Birth leaves out an important detail that makes the story doubtful. You see, abortion has been illegal under any circumstances in the Philippines since the 1930s. Doctors who perform abortions there face six years in prison, and their patients are looking at two to six years. It’s therefore highly doubtful that a doctor would have suggested an abortion to begin with, and even if one had, who’s to know whether Mrs. Tebow took the jail sentence into consideration when making her, ahem, choice.
Needless to say, the Tebows’ ad has angered lots of people, especially women’s rights groups. The Washington Post ran an op-ed opposing the ad, and Dave Zirin, who writes for Sports Illustrated about sports and politics, said of the Super Bowl’s decision, “The hypocrisy boggles the mind.” The Women’s Media Center began a campaign to get CBS to dump the ad, at which point CBS announced that it had changed its old policy about “controversial” ads and would now allow them (tell that to the gay dating site). Meanwhile, as long as the Super Bowl is welcoming ads from far-right groups, they should consider this spoof commercial:
This article appears in Feb 2-8, 2010.
Notice how Frank doesn’t really deal with the issue at hand, which is the Super Bowl letting Tebow give an anti-abortion message when other political groups have been rejected. Frank also needs to keep up with his wingnut topics: the famous Obama Pakistan trip (how is that relevant to the Tebow thing?) happened during a time when travel to Pakistan was perfectly legal — something that was explained, and documented, a million times during the campaign. You’re slipping, Frankie, and making it more obvious than ever what a total rightwing nutjob you are.
My fellow readers, I think in 2010 we should all resolve to turn the other cheek instead of bashing Frank Griffin no matter how hateful he turns towards everyone else. I noticed that in the last few hours on New Years Eve when the rest of us were spending time with family and friends, Frank was spending his time writing several posts on this blog. This tells me that while the rest of us were with loved ones he was all alone and bitter, friendless and with a family that doesn’t want him around (even his mail order bride). Such a man should be pitied, not hated. Let’s do our best to tolerate him in the new year. Peace and God bless.
You wonder? Well too damn bad. I wish to God they would delete everything you post. You are a complete Palin-loving psycho. I guess it’s true what they are all saying about you. An out of work moma’s boy who sits around lonely and bitter because no one likes you worth a damn. So, you get on here and post hatred of that which you cannont control and it makes you mad as living hell. LOL! It makes us all laugh like hell! Too funny and too pathetic.
Sad thing is, there are very few folks who even read these stories online, and definitely not the comments. Most of the CL readers prefer the print version and is much more widespread. So, your comments go……nowhere. Sorry, but we are all laughing again, Frank!
May God have mercy on these pitiful hateful souls here in little ol Charlotte NC. Oh, and be careful Frank, if your mother doesn’t catch you up past bedtime on the computer, then maybe the police will. Wallow in your sick and twisted fantasy about how things should be, when you can’t even accept the real truth: You republican lying hatemongers are out. Face it Frankie. Now go to bed dammit!
Wow. This SOB Frank Griffin is a work of art, and a trashy one at that. Palin is a foolish whore. The only reason anyone would be afraid of her is that she will turn out to be another G.D. George Bush and put this country in the toilet again. Hated by the entire planet again because of republicans in the White House? I don’t think so!