In 2004, CBS rejected an ad by the United Church of Christ
(UCC) highlighting its welcoming stance toward homosexuals. But CBS said this
week that its policies toward advocacy spots had evolved in the last several years.
Under its new policies, CBS said the UCC ad would have been accepted.
“We have for some time moderated our approach to
advocacy submissions after it became apparent that our stance did not reflect
public sentiment or industry norms,” spokesman Dana McClintock said,
according to CBS News. “In fact, most media outlets have accepted advocacy
ads for some time.”
AFA said those “responsibly produced” ads could
promote abortion or homosexuality. On Thursday, the organization called on CBS
to reject an ad for a gay dating site, which the network reportedly is
considering for broadcast during the Super Bowl.
“A message that promotes death or sexual deviancy is not the
moral equivalent of a message that celebrates life,” the group wrote, “and CBS
must be urged to reject any such advocacy ads.”
Pro-life groups have been expressing support for the Tebow spot since the women’s group sent their protest letter to CBS on Monday.
Penny Nance, CEO of Concerned Women for America,
called NOW hypocritical for opposing the pro-life ad but not in her recollection speaking out against sexually graphic or
misogynistic content on CBS.
“I find it laughable that NOW has a problem with Tim Tebow sharing
his own story,” Nance said. “If NOW really cared about women they would stop
flacking for the abortion industry and start working on behalf of women and
resolving our concerns about real problems such as sexually exploitative and
violent content on television.”
Jerry Newcombe,
co-host of The Coral Ridge Hour, Coral Ridge Ministries’ weekly
television program, said the flap was an attempt by pro-choice groups to
silence their detractors.
“Their opposition
fits an all-too familiar pattern in which liberal groups seek to silence or
censor a message with which they happen to disagree,” he said.
He said public
opinion has shifted toward the pro-life view, pointing to a Marist
poll released this week showing 56 percent of all Americans and 58 percent of those ages
18-29 say abortion is “morally wrong.”
“The pro-life position is the one increasingly embraced by
Americans—especially younger Americans,” Newcombe said. “This Super Bowl ad
that will be seen by some 100 million people is not divisive, as critics claim,
but will merely give voice to the growing majority of Americans who cherish and
celebrate the gift of life.”
A spokesman for Focus on the Family said his group was “a
little surprised” by the uproar over the ad.
“There’s nothing political and controversial about it,”
Focus spokesman Gary Schneeberger told the AP. “When the day arrives, and you
sit down to watch the game on TV, those who oppose it will be quite surprised
at what the ad is all about.”
