Even though many women's groups supporting abortion rights condemned CBS and wanted the Tebow Family Ad pulled from the Super Bowl commercial line-up, claiming that somehow it would undermine a women's right to choose, millions of Americans viewed it yesterday. Not knowing what to expect and most holding on to a tight opinion either for or against, the Tebow Family ad didn't quite measure up to the hype; however, Tim Tebow tackled his mom!
Reactions to the commercial were swift and mixed. According to today’s Los Angeles Times, Charmaine Yoest, president of Americans United for Life, had this to say, "Focus on the Family has really been strategic. They went with the old adage 'less is more', and they put a positive message out there." Likewise, Marjorie Dannenfelser of the Susan B. Anthony List, which supports candidates who oppose abortion, was pleased. "Wow, this is so benign," she said. "It's a story of a mother's strength. That is the message that I saw." Still, the attacks against the Tebow Family Ad rage on; Terry O'Neill, president of NOW, stated, "I am blown away at the celebration of the violence against women in it." "That's what comes across to me even more strongly than the anti-abortion message. I myself am a survivor of domestic violence, and I don't find it charming. I think CBS should be ashamed of itself," O'Neill added. Abortion advocate, Amanda Marcotte, shortly following the premier of the ad, posted this "tweet" on her Twitter page: "Hey Mom! Tried to kill you from the womb and failed. How about a blind side tackle? Violence against Moms."
Cries from the depths of activism are now asserting that the Tebow Family Ad promotes domestic violence; yet, not a peep on how 88-year-old Betty White was tackled into the mud in a TV Super Bowl Ad? Maybe they are coming to rescue Betty, soon! And what about Abe?
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Ruvy
All those angry losers in the "feminist" movement just can't give up, Christine. Their insistence on shoving their ideology down everyone's throats is really amusing to me because I don't have to live with it here.
NOW sold out women long ago, and NARAL's founders now regret their acts. American women still earn less than their male couterparts, and "women's work" - child rearing - is still undervalued in the American economy.
What does that tell you about these "feminist" groups? It tells me that they are good at feathering their own nests and nobody else's. What's new under the sun, Christine?
2 - Ruvy
Even this old commentary makes more sense than these "womens" groups harping on a lousy TV ad....
3 - Arch Conservative
NOW is not a womens' rights group. NOW is a left wing political group pretending to be a womens' rights organization.
The ad was in fact benign and in no way endorsed violence against women. The ad featured a FOOTBALL player jokingly tackling his mom and was run during a FOOTBALL game. To all you man hating, flannel, wearing, crew cut dikes at NOW.....tackling is something that's part of FOOTBALL!
Terry O'Neill and Amanda Marcotte are idiots plain and simple.
Nuff said.
4 - Christine
Hey Ruvy and Arch: It is just craziness!
5 - Arch Conservative
Yeah I guess NOW and NARAL never got the memo that they don't speak for all American women.
But between NOW and NWLA (Northwest Lumberjack Alliance) I've managed to make a killing buying and selling flannel in the commodities market.
6 - zingzing
the part i liked best was that the ad followed another ad featuring football players tackling their elders. it was just so strange. what was that ad that came out several years ago? was it terry tate, office assistant? i may have the name wrong. that was funny... at least at the time.
now, i wasn't paying close attention, but did they even mention the word abortion in the ad? i suppose i could go look it up.
7 - Baronius
There's a long-standing belief in feminist circles that watching football encourages violence against women. Snopes has an article disproving the myth that Superbowl Sunday is the worst day for domestic violence against women. The myth is pretty widespread.
Feminists had already made this association, and were ready to denounce the Tebow ad anyway. So instead of seeing a slightly-sappy family message, they saw a son beating up his mother.
Good article, Christine. I've been enjoying your recent articles a lot more. (I'm not saying that you were a bad writer before. This is supposed to be a compliment. Article writing is a specific skill, and you're getting better at it.)
8 - Christine
Hey Zing: the Tebow ad is right here and no mention of abortion; in fact if you didn't know about the controversy, you wouldn't even know what the ad was about.
Baronius: Why thank you. I have only been writing since 2008 and still finding my way!
9 - zingzing
christine: "in fact if you didn't know about the controversy, you wouldn't even know what the ad was about."
not sure that's a ringing endorsement. i was off getting another beer at the time it aired, and my friends were all yelling at me to get back in there (so much so that they pretty much missed it as well), and by the time i got back in (my friend is the owner of the worst bottle opener of all time), tebow was tackling his mother and everyone was staring at the tv with blank, "wtf is going on here?" eyes.
i asked how it was and all they could say was "i don't really know." it is fantastically vague.
10 - jeannie danna
Christine,
I've considered myself to be a feminist for many years, and I certainly did not see violence against a mother when I watched that commercial. I saw love! :)
What really irked me, was that the message to eat healthy by Peta was removed and replaced by Denny's heart-attack- breakfast, Taco bell's grease, and Dr. Pepper's high-fructose-corn-syrup!
11 - Christine
Yeah vague; I think that was the general idea and the end shows the Focus on the Family website. Did you look at it yourself?
The problem with these women's groups who are attacking this ad, is that if they are REALLY for "choice," they would want both sides of the issue to be viewed. And as far as these women that see violence in the message, maybe they were smokin' pot or had too many bud lights. Not sure, however, I stay clear of most women's groups because I have never quite fit in. Even when I attempted a women's bible study group and a business one; all they did was gossip and flatter each other! Big turn-off for me, so I stand the "lone ranger!"
12 - jeannie danna
Christine,
You know, if we can't all laugh with each other when Betty White-one of this countries great comedic actors- has the gumption to do a physically demanding commercial like this at her age, then, we should go buy a sense of humor.
:] LOL?
13 - Christine
Jeannie, I am so glad to hear that! Wow, didn't know about the new PETA ad, and the Denny's commercial was lame. I love animals, so that is where I would rather take my fight!
14 - jeannie danna
I like lone rangers. :)
see ya later, Christine.
15 - jeannie danna
Christine,
opps! Did I do that?
The Peta comercial that was posted on your other article. Remember? Last Sunday, I think...
I have changed my mind and heart totally towards abortion since I've gotten older..God, how many people could exist right now to help us all...makes you cry...
I had an uncle who's girlfriend died in a back-ally abortion in the forties. She was too ashamed to go through her life as an un-wed mother. So, I always thought abortion should be a choice.
Of course , if my un-wed mother had aborted me, then, you and I would have never met.
:]-It's good to be alive!
16 - Baronius
All Superbowl ads are confusing and don't provide any reason to buy their products.
17 - Christine
J: Awwwww; that is sweet.
The PETA ad was for last year; not this year. Thought you found a new one. Okay, gotta walk my dog in the rain. Have a great day!
18 - Cindy
The problem with these women's groups who are attacking this ad, is that if they are REALLY for "choice," they would want both sides of the issue to be viewed.
I pretty much agree with that. The ad did not strike me as opposing choice. I saw it as attending to part of what reasonably might be expected to be a consideration for a woman making that decision. Abortion is a decision with consequences for a lifetime. I don't think ignoring or denying any aspect of that decision. And the ad did, in my opinion, spell out an important aspect.
Also, though I am pro-choice, my preference would be to aim toward a society that did not require abortion to prevent loss of opportunity--one in which mothers with children were not placed in a disadvantaged position.
That, to me, would truly be supportive to women.
19 - Cindy
correction: I don't think ignoring or denying any aspect of that decision [is wise].
20 - Cindy
I'm left wondering if the problem is not largely opposition to the group that placed the ad rather than the ad itself.
21 - Christine
Cindy; good insight. Yes, they hate Focus on the Family, but they are shooting themselves in the foot by their stupidity. We and they should focus more on preventing unwanted pregnancies! And as a Christian, I would "preach abstenance" (age appropriate of course) followed with "just in case condoms!"
22 - Cindy
"women's work" - child rearing - is still undervalued in the American economy
That sums it up for me Ruvy. Perfect.
23 - Dr Dreadful
[shakes head is dismay but is not surprised]
24 - Dr Dreadful
[shakes head IN dismay again at failure to proofread before hitting Post Comment button]
25 - Silas Kain
You know, I've been watching media coverage of the First Lady's new program with regard to childhood obesity. As I scan through the cable news channels I am struck that FOX News places little or no importance in focusing on this endeavor. And I thought about it. Where's Focus on the Family? They are so damned concerned about "family" that they really do NOTHING to help families thrive -- especially children.
FOX News perpetuates fat. I'll bet that the majority of FOX News aficionados are overweight. Rupert Murdoch and his organization don't want you to be healthy. They want you to sit your ass in front of the TV and watch their programming. They want YOUR demographic so they can charge exorbitant prices for advertising those burgers for a buck on their network.
Rather than continue this divisive battle between groups of thought, we should be coming together to fight a real problem -- childhood obesity. But in fighting that problem, children might get more oxygen to their brains. They may come to the realization that the American way of life is quite toxic to the physical and spiritual self. Focusing on families isn't about teaching Scripture and killing homosexuals. Of course, that's what THEY want you to think. They want you to believe that their "focus" is a righteous cause which helps make America strong. Hmm. Hitler and bin Laden used that paradigm.
We finally get a First Lady who is trying to make a positive difference. Yet she's being ignored. It just doesn't drive ratings. It doesn't help Rupert Murdoch make more money. We've become so obsessed with these so called "national" issues to the point where we've forgotten that real change begins in our neighborhoods - one street at a time. And it MUST begin with women -- mothers in particular. If Focus on the Family had their way women would be the property of men. They talk a good game but when it comes to respect and equality for the genders they're sorely lacking.
As I close, I'm going to do something really fun. I'm going to get up -- walk away from the computer, shut off the television and go for a walk. After I'm done I'll pop by my favorite coffee shop and get an iced coffee. And I'll chat with the three young women who I see on a daily basis. And I'll impart the same message I give on my daily visits -- you, young women, are our future. You, young women, have the power to change the world one kid at a time. You, young women, deserve better than the women who cam ebefore you -- settle for nothing less.
Screw Focus on the Family -- they're in it for the money and political clout. They don't give a rat's ass about families. Why? Because Hillary said it DOES take a village to raise a child. And we all know that anything Hillary says is the Devil's work and anything we can do to stop her will make Jesus happy.