Rejection of pro-life Super Bowl ad criticized by creators

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Comments: 31

Chicago, Ill., Jan 31, 2009 / 06:36 am (CNA).- NBC has rejected CatholicVote.com’s attempt to buy advertising time during the Super Bowl to show its pro-life ad. Though the network says it does not show ads involving “political advocacy or issues,” the ad’s creators have questioned whether a double standard is at work.

The ad displays an ultrasound of a baby, displaying the words “This child’s future is a broken home.” The ad says the unborn boy will be abandoned by his father and his single mother will struggle to raise him.

Despite the hardships, the ad continues, this child will become the first African-American president.

The ad then cuts to a picture of President Barack Obama.

“Life: Imagine the Potential,” the ad concludes.

On Thursday an NBC representative in Chicago told CatholicVote.com that NBC and the National Football League are not interested in advertisements involving “political advocacy or issues.”

“There is nothing objectionable in this positive, life-affirming advertisement,” Brian Burch, President of CatholicVote.com, said in a press release. “We show a beautiful ultrasound, something NBC's parent company GE has done for years. We congratulate Barack Obama on becoming the first African-American President. And we simply ask people to imagine the potential of every human life.”

As evidence of inconsistent application of Super Bowl advertising standards, Burch pointed to a controversy over an advertisement from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). The ad displayed young women in sexually suggestive poses to promote vegetarianism.

An e-mail reportedly from Victoria Morgan, Vice President of Advertising Standards for Universal, was reproduced on the PETA web site explaining the ad’s rejection: “The PETA spot submitted to Advertising Standards depicts a level of sexuality exceeding our standards.”

The e-mail to PETA detailed “edits that need to be made” in order for the ad to run.

"NBC claims it doesn't allow advocacy ads, but that's not true. They were willing to air an ad by PETA if they would simply tone down the sexual suggestiveness. Our ad is far less provocative, and hardly controversial by comparison," said Burch.

On Friday, the PETA ad was definitively banned by NBC.

Burch said CatholicVote.com was seeking other venues for the advertisement, which ran in Chicago on BET on Inauguration Day.

The ad will run on Sunday on EWTN during its “Faith Bowl II” programming, which begins at 5:30 Eastern Time. The programming analyzes the role that Catholicism and Christianity play in professional and collegiate sports.

As of Friday afternoon, the YouTube video of the CatholicVote.org ad has had more than 910,000 views since being posted to the site on January 18.

Comments: 31

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Margaret Counselman
Baltimore, MD. USA 02/08/2009 02:03 PM EST

What a shame to infer how a child may or may not be brought up or that a child may be abandoned by his parents. It is insulting to President Obama that someone would jump to this type of conclusion. Stick to the facts and maybe more people would listen.

Published by: Bob
Lancaster, PA 02/02/2009 01:35 PM EST

Rate: Very Good

I have been outraged over this whole issue but what bothered me the most is that 10 minutes into the game on the second commercial break, I saw a commercial for "Angels and Demons" the sequel to "The DaVinci Code"!. I was so disgusted that I turned the channel.

NBC's decidedly anti-Catholic move to disallow a Pro-Life message and yet advertise this movie, that as its predecessor (The DaVinci Code) knowingly bashes the Vatican and our beloved Catholic church, is a slap in the face and an insult to the faithful everywhere.

Published by: Dan
Santa Fe/NM/US 02/02/2009 01:46 AM EST

'On Thursday an NBC representative in Chicago told CatholicVote.com that NBC and the National Football League are not interested in advertisements involving “political advocacy or issues.”'

Interest since one of the first ads was for a movie starring Tom Hanks that is an attack, although 'fictional', on The Vatican. In our age I wonder how many viewed the 30 second smear as just a sound bite for a movie?

Published by: Judy Augsburger
Bluffton, Ohio 45817 02/01/2009 09:01 PM EST

Excellent Video! I'm glad people are getting to see it on YOUTUBE!

Published by: Pedro
New Jersey, USA 02/01/2009 08:06 PM EST

NBC sends a clear message to Catholics - your values are not welcome here. I will remember NBC and their advertisers. Nobody needs to tell me when a broadcasting outlet is hostile to my faith; they "broadcast" their punches themselves.

Published by: Hank
Houston, TX 02/01/2009 06:32 PM EST

Rate: Bad

This is a mean-spirited ad, under-handed, tasteless and nauseating. It's particularly ugly because it drags an innocent dead woman (President Obama's mother) into the fray and suggests a LIE, that she "made a choice," when it may have never entered her mind to not have her baby. What a horrible thing to imply about someone's mother! Even someone as hated by the Religious Right as our president. His poor mother isn't alive to defend herself against this hateful ad. I applaud NBC for its decision to not broadcast such a smear against the memory of the president's mother.

It's little wonder that so few Americans are "voting their consciences" when the "pro-life" movement appears not to have one of its own.

And, for those "pro-lifers" without consciences who are bitterly disappointed that this smear will not be televised during the Super Bowl, don't lose hope. The best is yet to come. There's always the possibility of broadcasting this scum on Mother's Day.

Published by: MARY SCHMEELKE
CLIFTON PARK, NY, USA 02/01/2009 04:54 PM EST

JUST HOW MANY OF US WOULD ACTUALLY BE HERE IF SOMEONE DECIDED WE HAD THE WRONG COLOR EYES...

Published by: Dixie Meyers
Kalamazoo, MI USA 02/01/2009 03:26 PM EST

I do not think ads aimed at the president are kind. I agree with NBC this time. You could have done a better job, creating a pro-life video, that helped the unborn. This didn't help them. Think before making another mistake with their lives. Lives are at stake, and mistakes like this will cost how many more Abortions? Prudence is the best guide, not foolishness.

Published by: Richard R. Schroeck
Erie, PA, USA 02/01/2009 02:53 PM EST

NBC's action does not surprise me. Our elevision news media, except the Fox News network, will simply not speak the truth. They are controlled by the radical left, who are doing everything in their power to promote their own agenda of distorting the true facts and misleading the American public.

Published by: btaylor
San Antonio/TX/USA 02/01/2009 12:13 PM EST

Reality Check

So, the media gods of the sports mecca refused to accept tithes and offerings from pro-lifers eager to sacrifice millions for a 30-second ad. So, what?

Should Christians aspire to contribute to the coffers of an establishment that has served only to distract us from the truth? Did we really hope, amid the godless revelry of the Super Bowl, our big bucks would change hearts in half a minute?

The redeeming factor in this fiasco is that, once again, it is blatantly obvious: It's all about abortion.

While we've been busy being entertained, 50 million innocent lives have been snatched from our midst. Their blood is on our hands. We've traded the right to birth, our discernment, and our future for a mess of pigskin and pottage.

Forget the Super Bowl. The only venue God's truth requires is a repentant heart.

Published by: George Stolin
Brentwood, NY 02/01/2009 11:37 AM EST

A very powerful and moving video. I loved it.

George

Published by: pat becker
londonderry,NH US 01/31/2009 09:16 PM EST

WE MUST KEEP TRYING,NEVER GIVE UP.
ALL LIFE IS AFFECTED,WHEN WE DENY THE PREBORN.
MAY GOD BLESS CATHOLICVOTE.COM FOR THEIR VOICE.

Published by: Chris Ruhm
Jackson, MS 01/31/2009 05:58 PM EST

The entire ad strategy is seriously flawed for several reasons.

"We congratulate Barack Obama on becoming the first African-American President."

As a Christian, I am commanded to pray for those in authority and give honor wher ehonor is do. As a pro-life American I feel it would be, at best, insincere to congralulate the president whose record is por-abortion and pro-infanticide and who in his first week expanded funding for abortion. Why would I offer congratulations to someone who approves of the murderous practice of abortion? Assessing what is at stake, engaging in niceities totally undermines the gravity of the situation.

Secondly, the potentiality argument is antithetical to the Churches teachings and unwittingly gives credence to those who abort their babies because of perceived "less potentiality," such as children with Downs Syndrome.

Rather than trying to be clever or winsome, why not confront people the the truth?

Suh as: Abortion is murder, thousands of babies are murdered in America everyday.

Do you think America (in allowing abortion)will escape the judgment of God?

If someone was going to murder your baby, do you think the economy would be your biggest problem?

Published by: KEVIN BRESLIN
ABINGTON, PA USA 01/31/2009 01:39 PM EST

WOW! WHAT A GREAT STATEMENT on life's potential, and NBC should be excoriated for its cowardice in refusing to accept such an affirmative advertisement. Instead, we'll be subjected to even more mindlessness than ever in the form of beer, booze, car and feminine hygiene products. Such a waste of time. let's start the world to thinking about the things that truly matter... the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.

Published by: Tim
Tampa, FL 01/31/2009 01:19 PM EST

This pro-life video has one of the most positive messages I've ever seen in a commercial. It should most certainly be aired to the millions of SuperBowl watchers across the world on Sunday. Hopefully, NBC will have the courage and integrity to air this pro-life commercial.

Published by: Leo Holahan
Covington GA 01/31/2009 11:12 AM EST

I will not watch Superbowl 2009 and will avoid all NBC programming in the future until they repent of and publicly apologize for this anti-Life and perhaps anti-Catholic position.

Published by: Randy
Orange 01/31/2009 09:51 AM EST

i find the video to be very offensive towards obama.i also think its every individuals right to choose which road they take when it comes to having a child or not as for all the religions of the world im a firm believer in science and feel religions need to be out right ban'd from society,all though it's everyones right to believe in what they want but no one person created us it was a long process of microorganisms,molecules,atoms ect that formed and formed and slowly created human kind as we know it. get a clue people wake up its almost 2010 time to live in the now not the mid evil times "religion wise"

Published by: Lee
Rochesster/New York/USA 01/31/2009 09:49 AM EST

If they don't relent - not likely - I will not watch the Super Bowl. Let's get more people to boycott, for money is what they understand.

Published by: Dr. Paul
Glen Burnie, Maryland 01/31/2009 08:46 AM EST

Barack Obama is not the first African-American president. He is bi-racial. What is it in America that when a person has so much as a tinge of black in his ancestry, he is considered to be all black?

Published by: Joan Dever
Naples, Fl. U.S.A. 01/31/2009 08:39 AM EST

I'm so sorry that more people will not be able to see this beautiful ad. Too bad the media controls our viewing of good things.I certainly hope the president gets to see this ad as its a compliment to him and all the people in our world that had a difficult beginning. Thank you so much for making this ad please try to use it whenever and wherever possible.

Published by: Kathy
Elburn,Il. USA 01/31/2009 08:27 AM EST

Anyone that's surprised that NBC won't allow this ad has already been brainwashed by the media. NBC is probably the most liberally slanted network out there and as is common with the liberal mindset, allowing anything to be shown that questions their doctrines, is simply too dangerous.

Published by: Lynn Dailey
Newark, DE USA 01/31/2009 08:12 AM EST

President Obama supports a woman's right to choose. It is insulting and just plain wrong to use him to advocate recognizing a fetus as a legal person with rights requiring government protection. I support NBC's refusal to air such an offensive ad.

Published by: James Nolan
Timonium, MD, 21093, 01/31/2009 07:59 AM EST

God is for prolife and so am I am, a catholic for prolife. Aborations are murder

Published by: John Q. Public
Bangkok, Thailand 01/31/2009 07:57 AM EST

Personally, I find it reprehensible for any Church to use a public forum such as a football game to advertise a political position that violates the separation of Church and State. Abortion is the law of the land. If Catholics don't want one, that's perfectly fine with me; but don't impose your position on others who do not accept your values.

Published by: Joe S.
New York, NY U.S. 01/31/2009 07:47 AM EST

typical liberalism from the tv networks. The exploitation of sex and death is fine, but the celebration of life is off limits. With these people at the helm for the next 4 years and the Republican Party basically brain dead and reeling from the damage done by a naked socialist named George W Bush, this country is in big trouble.

Published by: Deacon David
Dexter, MI USA 01/31/2009 07:45 AM EST

The obvious double standard is outrageous. Obama, who's life was sparred, approved $330M in his stimulus package for abortions, yet NBC doesn't have the moral backbone to show the ad. Outrageous! USCCB, our bishops and our pastors needs to step forward on this issue. My prayer is that all Christians will let NBC know their ProLife stand with their pocketbook, as well as their prayers, and voices!

Published by: RCharles
Ft. Myers, FL 01/31/2009 07:45 AM EST

Once again the catholic church is on the wrong side of history. Perhaps subtle but the message is the same, trying to convince the public that abortion is wrong. And the public has voted overwhelmingly for a pro-abortion candidate. It is absurd to argue that by adding a few million additional humans the world will be better off when we are already stretched to feed everyone here. The church has been wrong before, e.g., inquisition, Galileo, birth control restrictions, etc. Everyone agrees the inquisition and Galileo trial were wrong. Today, most catholics use birth control; the church is wrong here and it's wrong on abortion as well.
RCG

Published by: peter ivy
chaska mn 01/31/2009 07:43 AM EST

Greetings: please let me know when you'd like me to lecture your
Sunday school classes on science and reason: how to overcome obtuse superstitions by free will and critical thinking.

Published by: George
Seoul, Korea 01/31/2009 07:30 AM EST

Do you think they would have allowed it if it was a pro-choice ad stating "This foetus's future could have been as a crack-addicted multiple murderer. Abortion. Imagine the lives saved."? Of course not. Same issue.

Published by: dave h
traverse city michigan 01/31/2009 07:29 AM EST

I have little use for the tactics of the "pro life" movement, however in this case I strongly agree that NBC appears to be reacting to the objectives of the ad authors, rather than the content of the ad. This is "thought police" in my opinion.

Published by: Realist
KC 01/31/2009 07:23 AM EST

Life - it's a beautiful choice. Get one.

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