Super Bowl XLIV - An Anti-abortion Ad

[Suzanne Sutton]

An Anti-abortion Super Bowl Ad

Boy tackles mom. That was about it. The ad that made former Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow and his mother, Pam, the unintended stars of Super Bowl XLIV was not a speech against abortion. Nor was it a heartwarming story about a mother ignoring doctors' advice and having her baby.

It was, instead, a lighthearted take on a mother-son relationship. In the ad, Pam Tebow holds a baby photo of Tim, now 22. "I call him my miracle baby," she says. "He almost didn't make it into this world....you know, with all our family's been through, we have to be tough."

Suddenly, she appears to be tackled and flies off-screan. "Timmy!" she scolds, popping back up. "I'm trying to tell our story here!" Tim joins her and apologizes. "You still worry about me, Mom?" "Well, yeah," says Pam Tebow. "You're not nearly as tough as I am."

The tagline, "Celebrate Family. Celebrate Life," directs viewers to the website of the sponsor, Focus on the Family, the Colorado-based evangelical Christian organization. The ad was posted there: www.focusonthefamily.com.

In the weeks leading up to the February 7, 2010 Super Bowl, the ad had been the subject of furious debate. Groups supporting abortion rights--including NOW and NARAL Pro-Choice America--condemned CBS for accepting the ad, the first political ad the network has accepted for a Super Bowl broadcast. Some anger still persisted after the ad aired.

Now president Terry O'Neill said it glorified violence against women. "I am blown away at the celebration of the violence against women in it," she said. "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."

Not all abortion-rights supporters agreed. "It's absurd to claim that this is an endorsement of violence against women," said Frances Kessling, former president of Catholics for Choice. "These people came across as affectionate, loving, funny and happy."

But, Kissling said, Focus on the Family was fortunate that abortion-rights groups raised objections. "If there had not been all of that publicity over the last 2 weeks, this ad could have passed almost unnoticed. Who would have known what they're talking about? It's so subtle."

Abortion foes said they were delighted with the way the ad turned out. "What you see is the increasing sophistication of the pro-life movement," noted Charmaine Yoest, president of Americans United for Life. "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."

Tebow's parents were living in the Philippines as missionaries when Pam Tebow contracted amoebic dysentery, then learned she was pregnant with Tim, her fifth child. Doctors told her that her placenta had detached from her uterine wall--a condition known as placental abruption--and recommended that she abort her fetus. Complications from a placental abruption can include the death of the fetus and the mother.

But Tebow gave birth to a healthy son after spending the last 2 months of her pregnancy on bedrest. In 2007, he became the first sophomore to win the Heisman trophy. --adapted from The Los Angeles Times, February 8, 2010.

Suzanne

[Guest]

Now president Terry O'Neill said it glorified violence against women. "I am blown away at the celebration of the violence against women in it," she said. "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."

Makes you wonder what planet Terry O'Neill and her kind are from.

[phkrause]

Very interesting article. I am amazed that Terry O'Neill thinks this Ad celebrates violence to women! As far as being an anti-abortion ad, I don't see that either. I see this as women who had to make a choice, and she made it. She never states anywhere that she did this because it was the right thing to do or didn't care about her life or the life of the unborn child. The ad didn't do anything for me but see a women look death in the eye and pray that the God of the universe would be with her and her unborn child, and he answered her pray.

pk

[SivartM]

I totally see where Terry O'Neill is coming from. People all over the country are probably tackling their mothers at this very moment because of this ad.

[doug yowell]

I totally see where Terry O'Neill is coming from. People all over the country are probably tackling their mothers at this very moment because of this ad.

My mom's paralyzed and in a wheelchair so I never get a really clean shot at her.

[GreatLakesGramma]

I can see where she's coming from. Some people regularly tickle, pinch, swat, or otherwise torment others, using the excuse that it's just in fun, when they know very well that it isn't fun at all to the person they're doing it to. The motivation behind it is the same as that of the person who causes actual injury, but these people keep it at a level they can get away with, and blame their victim for having no sense of humor. They're abusers just as much as the person who beats or tortures someone.

Terry O'Neill said she is a survivor of domestic abuse. She knows first-hand how abusers use things like that ad to excuse their behavior. I have friends who have been victims of domestic violence, and I'm sure they would all agree.

[pindoc]

Now president Terry O'Neill said it glorified violence against women. "I am blown away at the celebration of the violence against women in it," she said. "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."

Makes you wonder what planet Terry O'Neill and her kind are from.

Wow, I certainly don't think they're from the same planet where we live. Does she think it's violence every time kids and moms and dad wrestle on the living room floor?

My first reaction to info bout the ad was that it would be very inappropriate for SB viewers. Wasn't there an originally proposed ad that was different than what aired? Anyway, I do like the ad that aired. It was really pro-life and not anti-abortion or anti-choice. Great, very personal, presentation.

[Cosmin M.]

We always look at the small things, not the big picture when it comes to important matters. (I am referring to the part about violence.)