There’s been a spirited media discussion about Focus on the Family’s anti-choice ad, which many progressive organizations are asking CBS to pull from the Super Bowl lineup. “Free speech” is a common theme.
Asking CBS to pull the Super Bowl ad is not about censorship or free speech – it’s about pulling a divisive agenda out of an event that is meant to unite Americans. TV execs make decisions every day about what they will and will not air in consideration of their viewers – networks don’t practice a policy of anyone can say whatever they want, whenever they want.
Bottom line, this is the first time a contentious ad has been allowed to air during the Super Bowl. CBS and the NFL are choosing to inject the abortion debate into the Super Bowl, pretending that it’s an innocuous celebration of life, when we all know that you don’t spend millions of dollars to “celebrate life.” Now CBS is asking progressives to 
help sell their ad time, but sports fans want the Super Bowl to remain about football, and we believe Americans deserve a more nuanced discussion of women’s reproductive health than a 30-second ad war could provide (and perhaps there are more important things that millions of dollars could be spent on).
We don’t stand in opposition to other campaigns and are pleased that this conversation is happening. In the last two days through the WMC’s email campaign, over 5,000 people have sent 150,000 letters to CBS, NFL, and Super Bowl advertising executives, and we are keeping up the drumbeat.
Check out our newly updated campaign page, where we are encouraging people to send in their videos of what C-B-S stands for (“Corporate Bias Sucks”) with video to NotUnderTheBus.com.
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4 Comments
There’s nothing divisive about a pro-life advertisement being broadcast during the Super Bowl. I personally feel that not only should abortion be legal, it should be required for most American women, who seem to me to be determined to behave like common whores. Abortion is not supposed to replace the use of a condom, IUD or simple self-restraint.
I think it is naive to say that asking CBS to pull the ad isn’t about Free Speech or First Amendment rights. It is. There’s no way around that. And I disagree with denying anyone their First Amendment rights…as disgusting as I may think there ideas are.
Wouldn’t the better option to asking CBS to pull the ad be to buy a spot and run a pro-choice ad as well? Then we retain our democracy and don’t contradict one of the most fundamental rights this country has – free speech for everyone…even those we disagree with. If CBS denied the Women’s Media Center from buying their own ad spot during the Superbowl, then you have the opportunity to raise an issue.
It is also difficult to not make a connection between this incredibly recent change in CBS’s policy regarding this type of ad and the recent abhorrent decision by the Supreme Court declaring corporate funding of political campaigns free speech.
Denying someone else’s right to free speech doesn’t help our cause. Taking advantage of our own right to free speech would.
Sincerely,
Lynne Bond
As one who is adopted, I have what I believe are excellent reasons to oppose abortion. I would love the opportunity to have a conversation with anyone who is willing to discuss this issue. It is important to point out that I care very much for mother and child– if not for a amazing act of sacrifice and selflessness, I would have died before ever seeing the light of day.
Friends call me Paco, and you can contact me at paco@smccutah.com.
Hopeful,
Paco
“Asking CBS to pull the Super Bowl ad is not about censorship or free speech – it’s about pulling a divisive agenda out of an event that is meant to unite Americans.”
It’s only “divisive” because YOU don’t like it. Let them have their say. Have you even seen the ad yet? No? It’s not anti-choice, it’s pro-life. Certainly you don’t want to argue that they parents should have aborted Tim Tebow, do you?
I know you talk about “tolerance” a lot. Well how about practicing what you preach and tolerate another viewpoint. It IS about freedom of speech…you want “freedom of speech” only as long as the speech doesn’t offend you. That’s not freedom.