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Focus on the Family will air a 30 second anti-choice ad that features University of Florida football star Tim Tebow, during the popular sports event, the Superbowl.
All headline news has stated the ad will be about Tebow’s mother choice not to have an abortion when she was pregnant with him. This went against her doctor’s advice, based on her complicated pregnancy.
The New York Times has written that selling “issue ads” during this sports event is unprecedented. Several women’s groups have been outspoken about their opposition to this ad. Most notably, the Center for Reproductive Rights has expressed its opposition to this ad, sanctioned by CBS.
How much will the ad cost? Well, approximately $2.8 million. The New York Daily News maintains that the money came from “very generous and committed friends.” For years now Focus on the Family has been under financial constraints. It has laid off staff for a total of six times since 2005, and recently laid off almost 8 percent of the staff in September of 2009.
Founder James Dobson announced that he will be leaving the organization to start a new organization and a new radio show, called “James Dobson on the Family.” He has been hosting a daily radio show with a loyalty of 1.5 million listeners.
I am not one of the listeners and so cannot comment on the contents of his radio show.
The controversy surrounding this ad has reached mainstream TV news stations. From watching these newscasts, I learned that Tebow wears bible verses on his football uniform. The man certainly likes to draw attention, and appearing in an anti-choice ad will bring even more attention to him.
There is something about all this that just screams “inappropriate.” These ads have no place being aired during a football game. What is wrong with CBS? Was the money just too good to be ignored?
The Center for Reproductive Rights points out that Tebow’s mother was in the Philippines when her doctor suggested ending the pregnancy, due to her serious condition. In the same paragraph the Center says that it is too bad that Philippine women do not have the same option or reproductive choice as Ms. Tebow. Abortion is illegal in that country, and the law does not allow for any exceptions, including saving the life of a mother.
Add a Comment15 Comments
While we are all Ga Ga over Pam Tebow, we should also thank Eunice Durden for giving birth to another Heisman Trophy winner, O.J. Simpson. She made home-made braces for his rickets that he wore till age five. O.J. Simpson is currently serving his nine sentence at the Lovelock Correctional Center in Lovelock Nevada. Mothers are Great!
January 29, 2010 - 5:23pmThis Comment
I totally agree with you.
January 29, 2010 - 1:40pmAnna
This Comment
The SuperBowl is a very inappropriate place to advertise this issue. This is a Women's issue. I firmly believe that the day a man can get pregnant is the day he has a say. This is not something that should be splashed across the television during a sporting event.It is, has been and always should be a private issue for the individual woman.
January 29, 2010 - 1:18pmThis Comment
Hello,
January 28, 2010 - 6:33pmI don't know what went through the mind of Tim's mother. I have lived in Brazil (was actually born in Rio), and know that it is possible to obtain a safe abortion there, provided by a doctor, if you can afford it. If you cannot afford this, then you put your health at risk of course. Abortions may be illegal there but that has never stopped women from having them, either in Brazil or anywhere else in the world. In order to prevent injuries and sometimes death in so called back alley abortions, it is imperative that abortion procedures be made legal, everywhere.
Anna
This Comment
I live in Brazil, where the laws are similar to those in the Philippines. Those who perform abortions can receive up to 4 years in prison. Sadly, abortions still do happen here. Quite possibly the law discouraging abortion influenced Tim's mother to decide against it and Tim was born. Had she lived in the USA, Tim may never have been born.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAXCek6lAxI
January 28, 2010 - 5:37pmThis Comment