Video: The pro-life Super Bowl ad NBC rejected
posted at 2:45 pm on January 29, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
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Well, PETA got their ad rejected, too, but not because it was political advocacy — the reason NBC gave Catholic Vote. They couldn’t really object on taste, either, especially since it’s pretty Hopey-Changey and hails The One as the potential even for the unborn of broken homes:
NBC is coming under fire from pro-life advocates for rejecting a television commercial a pro-life group hoped to run during the Super Bowl. The ad shows a beautiful picture of an unborn child during an ultrasound and asks what would happen if President Barack Obama had been a victim of abortion.
The commercial, a popular one in recent weeks within the pro-life movement, is sponsored by the pro-life Catholic group Fidelis and its CatholicVote web site.
After several days of negotiations, an NBC representative in Chicago told the group late yesterday that NBC and the NFL are not interested in advertisements involving “political advocacy or issues.” …
“But that’s not what they told PETA,” he said about the network’s recent decision to reject an ad from the animal rights group. “There’s no doubt that PETA is an advocacy group. NBC rejected PETA’s ad for another reason altogether.”
According to an email posted on the PETA web site, Victoria Morgan, Vice President of Advertising Standards for Universal, said, “The PETA spot submitted to Advertising Standards depicts a level of sexuality exceeding our standards.”
Allahpundit put the video up last week, but I’ll embed it again just to make the point that there is nothing at all objectionable about the ad. It puts forward a positive case to choose life without images of aborted children. In fact, other than unicorns and rainbows, it’s hard to see how this could possibly be less objectionable:
LifeNews claims that NBC is still working with PETA on how to edit their ad to make it air-worthy during the Super Bowl. If they don’t mind vegetable fetishes for political advocacy, I’d like to get an explanation of how an ultrasound offends their sensibilities.
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first thought that came to my mind is ‘what could have been’
gatorboy on January 29, 2009 at 2:48 PM
It’s a lot better than some women trying to have sex with vegetables.
To NBC I must say: whiskey tango foxtrot?
Chaz706 on January 29, 2009 at 2:51 PM
Great Ad, what a HUGE slap in the face for the Obama-Mommas and his cultish followers on the KILLER left… Dang, maybe once in my life, I wish 1 abortion would have happened, at least for America’s sake… But even I can’t do it… I’m glad The Messiah’s mother DIDN’T abort him!!!!
Mark Garnett on January 29, 2009 at 2:51 PM
NBC is the same network that “went green” for a week and now they’re talking about politics as though they’d never engage in such a thing?
I doubt anyone believes for a second that they’d refuse an ad which wished Obama good luck, but this ad would try to disagree with The One. We certainly can’t have that.
Esthier on January 29, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Babies are “punishment”. It might upset somebody who’s afraid of babies.
forest on January 29, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Better Ad:
Make more babies. Someone’s gotta pay for TARP 2.
lorien1973 on January 29, 2009 at 2:54 PM
That was more tasteful than you described. Very classy, and understated.
Count to 10 on January 29, 2009 at 2:55 PM
NBC = the enemy
jp on January 29, 2009 at 2:55 PM
It looks like me an advertisement for hope…almost completely non-political…they must have met for several days just to come up with a story they thought made sense.
This ad is a brilliant ad, and I might also ad, something that most every black family would want to have shown…
I think this move is more racist then political…
right2bright on January 29, 2009 at 2:55 PM
I’m guessing pre-game will feature alot of Olberman? barth
jp on January 29, 2009 at 2:56 PM
wow, very strong ad, powerful, no wonder lefties doesn’t want to air it.
sun on January 29, 2009 at 2:56 PM
That’s for our babies’s babies. We need babies for TARP 1.
Esthier on January 29, 2009 at 2:56 PM
ALL BABIES MUST BE KILLED! Nobody wants to be a Breeder!
stonemeister on January 29, 2009 at 2:57 PM
NBC = Not Berry Cool
/fail
Ugly on January 29, 2009 at 2:59 PM
I don’t get it. What’s so bad about it? It doesn’t even mention abortion. Most people won’t even know what it’s about and will assume it’s an add praising B.O.
Jewels on January 29, 2009 at 3:01 PM
I never knew that political advocacy would include pointing out that someone is alive.
-But maybe it has nothing to do with abortion. It was probably scrapped because of the, black dad abandoning him part.
Opinionnation on January 29, 2009 at 3:01 PM
I’d like to hear from say NARAL exactly which part of this ad they find politically offensive and why.
I’d also challenge them to make their on, pro-choice ad and attempt to hit similar themes of hope with it.
jp on January 29, 2009 at 3:02 PM
wonder if NBC will be using their Green Logo during the Super Bowl?
jp on January 29, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Every woman I’ve talked to who has had an abortion suffers emotionally and psychologically trying to deal with that decision.
DamnYankee on January 29, 2009 at 3:05 PM
G
Christians like you are what make America great.
Vernon Hardapple on January 29, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Ed,
You go right on playing that video. It’s awesome!
shick on January 29, 2009 at 3:06 PM
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Finally NBC did something right for a change. Catering to obama fanatics or any other special interest group, should not be allowed.
keep the change on January 29, 2009 at 3:07 PM
Pardon me for restating the obvious, but there isn’t a living soul at PMSNBC who isn’t an Obama acolyte, and who isn’t a big fan of unfettered access to abortion.
So this issue isn’t “what’s offensive about the ad?”, the issue is “certainly you don’t think we’re going to allow your right-wing opinion on our television station, do you?”
Period. End of discussion.
Jaibones on January 29, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Is that sarcasm, or are you confused about the message of the ad?
Jaibones on January 29, 2009 at 3:09 PM
We all know what a bunch of wankers there are at NBC. This is hardly surprising. What Fidelis should do is take their 2 millino bucks and show this on BET and Univision for about a year, nonstop, instead. It would probably do a lot more good.
trigon on January 29, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Me too Mark. I’m glad she didn’t either.
Sapwolf on January 29, 2009 at 3:11 PM
NBC has every right to deny this right.
We have every right to ask “Why?” and complain loudly.
Another thought- Aren’t Super Bowl ads really expensive? I’m impressed they had the $ to try this. Even if it can’t air during the Big Game, I’m hoping to see this ad & similar ones many times in the coming years.
cs89 on January 29, 2009 at 3:11 PM
I never saw it. I don’t know how someone could find that offensive. NBC sucks.
Wait a minute!!!
OLBERMANN WILL BE DOING THE SUPER BOWL PRE_GAME SHOW?!?!?!
Aw hell.
toliver on January 29, 2009 at 3:12 PM
OK, but what about Olberman’s mom?
j/k
jp on January 29, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Again, I’m quite prepared to skip this Super Bowl. With Keith Olberman as part of the studio announcers, if anyone thinks there will be no politics in the broadcast, then I have a Senate seat to sell them!
InCali on January 29, 2009 at 3:12 PM
millino = million.
Are we ever going to get an edit function? It would be nice for those of us that can’t type.
trigon on January 29, 2009 at 3:12 PM
This same ad could likely apply to several of the Players in the Super Bowl
jp on January 29, 2009 at 3:14 PM
KO’s mom did hjave an abortion. Just not the kind you were thinking of.
trigon on January 29, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Because he’s glad Obama wasn’t aborted? Seems more like a worldwide phenomenon.
Catering now means “accepting the money of”? This is ridiculous.
Esthier on January 29, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Here’s hoping the press on this will cause some folks to watch the ad who otherwise wouldn’t.
spmat on January 29, 2009 at 3:15 PM
Much praise to Catholic Vote, once again, for their astonishing videos and beautiful messages. They are living their faith there.
Follow the link if you never saw the Vote 2008 video. Turn up the sound. Incredible video.
Jaibones on January 29, 2009 at 3:16 PM
I have people coming over to watch, and I live in Pittsburgh. Does anybody mind if I sit this protest out this one time? All other cities, feel free to boycott. I will join you again on Monday morning.
jay12 on January 29, 2009 at 3:16 PM
I might take a few arrows for this…but while I do have a problem with the double standard of rejection, I’m perfectly fine with them rejecting either ad, (though since they’re still trying to sell them with less than 4 days to go it doesn’t seem a good buisness proposition.)
When I watch the Superbowl, I don’t want politics injected…I want comedy gold and a damn good game.
Of course this year I’ll be working my second job delivering pizzas for the (hopefully) generous tips that party-goers usually give…
Rogue on January 29, 2009 at 3:16 PM
Preview button works.
Esthier on January 29, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Truly an amazing ad…it will make every liberal’s head explode, so I love it even more…
ocbrat on January 29, 2009 at 3:18 PM
Yeah, I proofread about as well as I type, unfortunately. I should try to slow down, I suppose.
trigon on January 29, 2009 at 3:19 PM
Fantastic ad – great point.
But, Keep abortion safe and legal TAX IT.
Wander on January 29, 2009 at 3:20 PM
I think many more would agree were it not for the PETA ad or for the fact that NBC lets Olberman on to discuss football (and Palin during football), or global warming.
They crossed this line some time ago. The double standard is a huge issue here.
Esthier on January 29, 2009 at 3:20 PM
there are rumors that Michelle Obama is pregnant.
jp on January 29, 2009 at 3:20 PM
As opposed to providing it with tax dollars? Not a chance.
It’s the Internet. You see your own typos more than most of us.
Esthier on January 29, 2009 at 3:21 PM
In fact, I already wrote to NBC about this:
Dear Sir or Madam-
I would like to write about the tone of the pre-game and halftime shows for the Super Bowl. I realize you have Keith Olbermann on staff and am very unhappy that he will be involved in the pre-game and halftime shows. I have avoided Football Night in America and the Sunday Night games for this very reason. I will be one of the many households to turn off the Super Bowl if this announcer injects any kind of politics into the Super Bowl show. In fact, NBC just issued a statement that you are not interested in advertisements involving “political advocacy or issues”. If that is your policy on advertisement, please make it the policy for your pre-game and halftime studio reports. Please keep Keith Olbermann focussed on the game at hand, not political rantings.
InCali on January 29, 2009 at 3:23 PM
NBC can be going down the tubes, but they will insist on the right to kill babies without question. Skip the Oberman sections of the Super Bowl. I have had to skip their lousy pregame shows with him anyway all season. I find it a bunch of talking heads trying to impress each other with how clever they can be while insulting the game and the players themselves. Typical elitist garbage.
Christian Conservative on January 29, 2009 at 3:23 PM
Or how about keeping him where he belongs on MSNBC where few people even think to watch him.
Esthier on January 29, 2009 at 3:24 PM
I still can’t believe it’s controversial to encourage people not to murder their unborn babies…
Bill Scrunty on January 29, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Who the heck makes out with their vegetables?
Maybe that’s something I really don’t want to know.
I thought veggies had feelings too. If you pick them they will die right. What about the veggies pain of being cut up and eaten. Didn’t anyone ask them how they felt.
Brat4life on January 29, 2009 at 3:24 PM
Well it doesn’t take a OB/Gyn’s Ultrasound to see who NBC is in the tank for IMHO.
USMCDevilDog on January 29, 2009 at 3:25 PM
What’s an NBC?
americanpatriot on January 29, 2009 at 3:33 PM
Tips I’ve found are hit and miss, but on big nights, it can’t hurt. More deliveries = Greater likelihood of tips.
Best of luck from a former pizza delivery guy.
Chaz706 on January 29, 2009 at 3:34 PM
100% true ad.
Dr. Manhattan on January 29, 2009 at 3:37 PM
lol May I use that?
Fish on January 29, 2009 at 3:37 PM
Why not extend it to say, one month after birth, so we can have a real choice of whether we want to keep the kid or not, depending on how cranky he/she is or the color of their hair? On the other hand, we should be able to predict these things in-uterus pretty soon and with the Dems likely reversal of the ban on third trimester abortions we should be OK.
neuquenguy on January 29, 2009 at 3:41 PM
This Ad is absolute perfection……
As always never confuse Liberals with the truth…..
Bogeyfre on January 29, 2009 at 3:42 PM
Some people say that abortion is OK as long as it’s to protect the health of the mother.
Isn’t a child much more dangerous after it’s born? A fetus can’t play with matches, dad’s gun, or run with scissors.
I’ll never understand how people think aborting a baby is perfectly fine and A-OK.
Fish on January 29, 2009 at 3:47 PM
Oh I delivered after college for a year before I got into my current career field. I’ve had this second job now since last May cause I like the extra $400-$500 it puts in my pocket a month…for only working 12 days a month at it…that’s not bad.
I got prime delivery shift for this one though…4:30-8:30, pregame, kickoff and first half. What more could a delivery driver ask?
Rogue on January 29, 2009 at 3:55 PM
I doubt NBC’s political bias is as much of a factor as their profit motive. Any topic that distracts from the monetization of the event endangers their ability to profit. With GE in bad shape NBC doesn’t want the talk of the Super Bowl to be something that makes one half of the country mad at the other half over something serious. If the audience is going to debate something, let it “Tastes Great vs Less Filling” as far as NBC and the NFL is concerned.
dedalus on January 29, 2009 at 3:56 PM
dedalus on January 29, 2009 at 3:56 PM
But , at the same time they’ll let Olby make political comments at a football game which make half the country mad.
I believe that is called a double standard.
kingsjester on January 29, 2009 at 4:00 PM
So they have a gay that calls the president an idiot every day for 8 years, calls the Republican candidate and his running mate every imaginable name…this guy does the pre-game show, but they don’t want to be political?
Huh???
right2bright on January 29, 2009 at 4:03 PM
Maybe so, but I fail to see how this ad would do that any more than the PETA ad would. Both are making positive assertions about a way of life that others may disagree with, and there are far more omnivores than pro-choicers.
Esthier on January 29, 2009 at 4:05 PM
I agree on Olby. I’d have jettisoned him from sports once he began his political shtick. I don’t know any sports fans who value his insight into the game.
dedalus on January 29, 2009 at 4:05 PM
And clearly many people here are offended enough at seeing Olberman announce the sports that many won’t watch out of protest. I can’t imagine they were thinking of their profit margin when they allowed him on after all the things he’s said. NFL isn’t NASCAR, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it leans more Right than Left.
Esthier on January 29, 2009 at 4:09 PM
WOW!! That really hits below the belt….HAHAHA
jukin on January 29, 2009 at 4:11 PM
Who wants to bet Planned Parenthood is involved in this somehow?
BKennedy on January 29, 2009 at 4:14 PM
They vetoed the PETA ad didn’t they? I’m guessing they did so because it crossed the line between titillation and explicit sexual depictions. It is OK for cheerleaders to be hot and show a lot of cleavage but not OK to for sex to become the unavoidable topic of conversation for all living rooms.
It seems like groups make ads designed to be rejected by the Super Bowl so that they can avoid paying the million+ dollars for 30 seconds, but generate at least as many eyeballs on You Tube. Go Daddy seemed to that in the past. Maybe they have a “rejected” commercial again this year.
dedalus on January 29, 2009 at 4:15 PM
I got prime delivery shift for this one though…4:30-8:30, pregame, kickoff and first half. What more could a delivery driver ask?
Rogue
–Being able to deliver liquor/beer along with the pizzas.
jim m on January 29, 2009 at 4:33 PM
I agree with NARAL, and I’m unable to articulate a reason why the ad is offensive, but I wouldn’t be offended if someone pooped on the Torah and the Origin of Species. I don’t think we should spend our time getting upset because other people disagree with us. Unfortunately, many people equate disagreement with rejection. Or worse, some “pro-lifers” here conjecture negative attributes about me because I disagree with them.
Anyway, here’s thinking about NBC’s logic. Since the passions run high on both sides, the more sensitive “pro-choicers” could get pretty annoyed by the ad, simply because they strongly disagree with it. On the other hand, most people aren’t bothered by PETA, because they just find PETA silly.
thuja on January 29, 2009 at 4:37 PM
This would offend the emperor. Let the sucking up commence from the sports community.
Hening on January 29, 2009 at 4:47 PM
We can’t make more babies. Last weekend, Pelosi said we need money for “family-planning services” because it helps states “cut costs.”
A catch-22 for the Democrats.
BuckeyeSam on January 29, 2009 at 4:51 PM
Yep, for the past 4 years they’ve been running OPFOR propaganda… not to mention doing business with them.
NBC is full of traitors and it starts at the top with Immelt.
Cr4sh Dummy on January 29, 2009 at 5:05 PM
NBC nuance. Let’s call their reason just exactly what it is, BULLSHIT!
GarandFan on January 29, 2009 at 5:06 PM
Holy eff, this ad is amazing. Making the message strictly positive by paying homage to the opponent’s lord and savior is genius.
loganthompson on January 29, 2009 at 5:07 PM
Where was ‘this child’ born?
BHO Jonestown on January 29, 2009 at 5:12 PM
…….Bush’s Fault!
try again later on January 29, 2009 at 5:23 PM
I’d like one Sunday to forget politics and watch the last game of the NFL season with a beer buzz. I want to see clever commercials with bikini girls selling me Budweiser not their fuc*in political views.
repvoter on January 29, 2009 at 5:25 PM
Maybe if the ad showed them ‘making a baby’ it would have been less objectionable, and NBC would have continued to work with them to make it airable during the Super Bowl…
monotonousboy on January 29, 2009 at 5:28 PM
For those on facebook, I’ve created a facebook group to protest NBC’s decision. I will be disabling the group on Monday, so please join and forward to friends asap. Thanks.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=51242571122
DJ Tablesauce on January 29, 2009 at 5:30 PM
NBC needs to be able to “articulate a reason” for rejecting the ad, and demonstrate fairness in regards to other ads. If this is rejected for political advocacy, so should the PETA ad on similar grounds.
NBC has a right to reject whatever ads they want, but in this instance their hypocrisy is showing.
cs89 on January 29, 2009 at 5:37 PM
The only part of this ad I take exception to, is “The First African-American President.”
It would have had the same impact if they had just said “President of the United States”
Alouette on January 29, 2009 at 5:46 PM
and Keith Olberman shouldn’t be allowed on the TV screen and NBC shouldn’t change their logo to Green and turn off the lights symbolically
jp on January 29, 2009 at 5:57 PM
While I agree with your underlying sentiments above, the sad social reality is that “First African-American President” has more impact. The trick is to bring this issue up and not sound like Chip Saltzman. For now, let’s just hope the public gets bored with this milestone, but we can’t ignore the reality that for many people anti-racism trumps all other secular and religious values. The logical insanity of such a value system may become apparent to our society, but may not.
thuja on January 29, 2009 at 6:05 PM
Well, you have my agreement on the first, but I’ll have to disagree on the second. You really have to go out of your way to be upset about the NBC/Green symbolism–like an atheist who freaks out over God being mentioned at the Inauguration.
thuja on January 29, 2009 at 6:09 PM
this will win me no friends, I’m sure, but…
eff ‘em
eff pro sports
if they don’t have the (gum)balls to do what’s right–and they don’t–they can all go to hell
(spoiled, overpaid, hypocritical p#%$$&*!…)
urbancenturion on January 29, 2009 at 6:21 PM
I doubt PETA or CatholicVote ever planned on paying for and running either ad. They both got exactly what they wanted – websites, FoxNews, other organizations running their ads for free while covering the so-called controversy over their rejection by NBC. Clever strategy that obviously is working.
PatMac on January 29, 2009 at 8:02 PM
That add was perfect…I hope the most pro abortion president ever elected gets the point…
CCRWM on January 29, 2009 at 8:36 PM
The wisdom of the nimrods running NBC:
1. Give a prime-time show to one of the most hateful, miserable, ugly individuals in the US, Rosie ODonnell, that flops and fails on its first night.
2. Cancel out one of the nicest guys in entertainment, with the highest ratings in his time slot, Jay Leno, before finally wising up.
3. Put a whacked-out, ultra-liberal, hateful fool like Olbermann on your football broadcasts that draw a large conservative demographic
4. Hire the all-time ever worst football executive, Matt Millen, for your playoff and Super Bowl broadcasts to analyze and break down the game and players. Millen has a proven track record of being the worst in the entire league of doing exactly that, analyzing and judging football players.
I could go on discussing their many other failures with NBC and MSNBC but it’s beating a dead horse. I plan on watching ESPN for pre-game and half-time of the Super Bowl as I have done with all NBC football broadcasts this year. I refuse to listen to these idiots for any portion of the game.
PatMac on January 29, 2009 at 8:56 PM
Both Catholic Voters’ ads were wonderful. Whoever produced them is a genius.
PattyJ on January 29, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Great ad. It uses the word child. That’s OK, but I wonder why the word baby was not used. It seems to be the norm now to use child, and I don’t understand why. Does baby no longer connote what it used to, that is, a human aged about 1 year or less?
alice on January 30, 2009 at 12:20 AM
The real problem with this is that it suggests the One is merely human, and not a god.
That’s a huge problem for NBC.
malclave on January 30, 2009 at 12:20 AM
I like this ad a lot!!
It makes for some real thorny questions for the anti-life/limited pro-choice left.
It just drips with irony!
I’m going to call NBC on this one.
Amendment X on January 30, 2009 at 12:27 AM
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