David Goetzl of MediaPost.com reports today that CBS has “approved a script” for the Super Bowl ad produced by the group Focus on the Family. Tim Tebow and his mother Pam will be the centerpieces of the 30-second spot, which reportedly will fetch $2.8M.
(Anti-gay press release on Focus on the Family official site)
Goetzl reports the Focus on the Family ad “will not carry a pro-life message — at least an overt one.” A spokesman for CBS said the network, “will review the video version of the spot before giving it the final green light, but does not anticipate any hurdles.”
There’s been a lot of debate about the ad, given that many view religion-based Focus on the Family as a political advocacy group. The group’s leader, Dr. James Dobson, is well-known for his on the record opposition to abortion, gay marriage and homosexuality.
Much of Dobson’s widely-recognized political influence is chronicled by Washington Post website Slate.com in a 2004 piece by Michael Crowley titled, “James Dobson, The Religious Right’s New Kingmaker.”
Part of the concern for the approval of an ad from a group fronted by Dobson is that in 2004, CBS rejected a Super Bowl ad produced by the United Churches of Christ. CBS Executive Vice President Martin Franks said at the time, “The network simply does not accept any advocacy advertising of any kind.”
That’s the context for the ad that you will see Tebow headlining on Super Bowl Sunday. For all I know, the spot will be a benign affirmation of family values - as interpreted by Tebow and his mom. No biggie.
(Focus on the Family Founder: “[gay marriage] will destroy the Earth.”)
A larger issue though is Tebow generating awareness for a group with a well-chronicled, aggressive anti-gay agenda. An agenda that is often interwined with political interests.
No better example of that is a speech Focus on the Family founder Dobson gave on behalf of United States Senator Tom Coburn at a political rally in Oklahoma City in 2004. The DAILY OKLAHOMAN reported from the event:
Dobson warned those attending the Friday afternoon rally at Oklahoma Christian University that the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman must be protected.
He cited examples of countries such as Norway that have allowed same-sex couples to marry as proof that fewer men and women get married. Dobson said 80 percent of children are born out of wedlock in Norway.
“Homosexuals are not monogamous. They want to destroy the institution of marriage,” Dobson said.
“It will destroy marriage. It will destroy the Earth.”
Dobson urged rally attendees to reach out to homosexuals and “bring them to Jesus.”
He also urged supporters in attendance to fast and pray on the Thursday and weekend before the Nov. 2 election and to go to the polls to elect Coburn to the Senate.
Dobson said a vote for (Coburn opponent) Carson, “even if you think he’s right,” would be a vote for U.S. Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D.; Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass.; and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont.
“Patrick Leahy is a God’s people hater,” Dobson said.
“I don’t know if he hates God, but he hates God’s people.”
Dobson said Coburn was exactly the kind of senator Oklahoma needs.
“I am passionate in my support of Dr. Tom Coburn,” Dobson said.
“This man absolutely has to be sent back to Washington.”
In case you missed that, the guy who has long fronted the organization Tebow cut the Super Bowl spot for said that gay marriage will, “destroy the earth.”
To reiterate, the content of Tebow’s Super Bowl ad for Focus on the Family is probably not the issue here. It’s his association with Dobson and the publicity he’ll bring to Dobson’s intolerant agenda.
Focus on the Family knows it can’t get away with airing its provocative views on abortion, gay marriage and homosexuality on a Super Bowl broadcast. But associating itself with Tebow to countless millions is the next best thing.
You wonder if Tebow knows the track record of the man who helped facilitate the Super Bowl ad he’ll appear in.
I hope not.
UPDATE: After I published this post, I spoke to a high-ranking network television executive not from CBS. I asked him why he thought CBS was clearing the Focus on the Family ad. He said, “I think it’s a money decision first and foremost, and Tebow’s presence gives them cover.”
5:20 pm on January 20th, 2010
Well, Tebow will need a new career after he gets cut from the NFL. We all know he’s a bible thumper, so this is a good fit for him. I am sure I don’t agree with anything he has to say, but ***k it, he can do whatever he wants.
5:39 pm on January 20th, 2010
This is not 2004. The networks will take money from anybody willing to give it too them.
5:43 pm on January 20th, 2010
Does Tebow even know if he’s gay or not?
5:47 pm on January 20th, 2010
Most of the worlds bigger religions, Christianity, Muslim, Judaism are against homosexuality. So for a Christian group to be opposed to homosexuality makes them against the mainstream…well the mainstream of the world are made up almost entirely of those religions above. Props to Dr. Dobson and FOF for their continued good work….
5:51 pm on January 20th, 2010
Jeff Kent approves:
http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/kent-donates-15-for-gay-marriage-ban-proposition-20675
5:53 pm on January 20th, 2010
Dr Dobson and FOF should have MORE ads on during the Super Bowl. Keep up the good fight!
5:53 pm on January 20th, 2010
a better question — how can any heterosexual male be FOR gay marriage? I support Tebow
6:44 pm on January 20th, 2010
Hey Mel… Most of the worlds bigger religions, Christianity, Muslim, Judaism are ruining it for the rest of us.
Tebow can wave goodbye to serious endorsements. But he’ll make millions off of morons like you as a televangelist.
6:45 pm on January 20th, 2010
So? Who cares? You really want to go down this road Brooks?
Fanny Pooners need to shut up and realize they are a tiny minority. Nobody cares about them.
7:00 pm on January 20th, 2010
the LAST thing tebow needs is people like the supporters of the focus ad on this thread. talk about MORONS.
7:55 pm on January 20th, 2010
The world needs more love, not less.
8:46 pm on January 20th, 2010
Minor story, nobody cares. Free speech. Show us the nudey photos of more women, since Brooks and others who care about this, are so worried about morals and equality. More naked women Brooks.
8:55 pm on January 20th, 2010
Who gives a crap? This won’t affect his endorsements one bit. Mole hill.
8:59 pm on January 20th, 2010
Dobson and his friends are an embarrassment to real Christian folks everywhere. What a mentally twisted individual he and everyone that supports his agenda are.
And I’ll 2nd that above- bring back new pics of BrooksGirls, Brooks!!!
9:05 pm on January 20th, 2010
Good for Tebow!
9:08 pm on January 20th, 2010
So what? Tebow isn’t allowed to have an opinion? Something tells me that you didn’t rail against Carlos Delgado when he refused to stand for our National Anthem, free speach righ?. Get a life, this is a sports site, not Fox News and not the Huffington Post. I could see if you show both sides of the aisle, and how both sides suck Co$k, but quit showing your bias. This site is going down the toilet and following Deadspin into the bowels of the sports sewer. Why don’t you post another thousand articles on Tiger Woods.
9:09 pm on January 20th, 2010
1. Tebow fronting for an anti-gay group. Anyone else find this ironic?
2. I’m a heterosexual male who’s for gay marriage. Only an EXTRAORDINARY bigot would see those two things as a conflict. Like saying how can a white man be for blacks having the vote.
9:11 pm on January 20th, 2010
Also, I’m disappointed that Brooks did not use this opportunity to pull out the many videos of Tim Tebow making out with dudes and/or Urban Meyer during games. Wasted opportunity. You’re slippin’, Brooks.
9:36 pm on January 20th, 2010
I love how these morons think they know what is best for others. Wouldn’t want gays to ruin the sanctity of marriage considering how well heterosexuals are doing with it…
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/01/divorce-rates-appear-higher-in-states.html
9:56 pm on January 20th, 2010
Brooks,
No Tiger or Lane Kiffin scoops today, huh? …did you really need to digress into a polemic on homosexuality to fill in your quota of 4 blogs per day?
10:34 pm on January 20th, 2010
this is basic freedom of speech, but gay or anti-gay is not the real issue it is Christianity and frankly if this was not a Christian event it would not even make your site
11:04 pm on January 20th, 2010
p.s. i’m TIRED of christians complaining that the world is out to get them.
ridiculous.
11:17 pm on January 20th, 2010
who cares, we all dont have to like gays or agree to their sickening lifestyle…except women on women thats hot.
11:17 pm on January 20th, 2010
Wow, the homophobes are out in force today.
I’m happily married 25+ yrs, and God knows I love women. (BTW, more SbBGirls is a great idea, Brooks)
I listen to these discussions, but still can’t see how the hell gay rights threatens heterosexuals or marriage…..
11:43 pm on January 20th, 2010
No on gay marriage.
Yes on civil unions.
I know I should probably support both, but I keep seeing ole’ Slick Willie’s tale about Romeo and Juliet in my head. Somehow Romeo and Romeo or Juliet and Juliet just doesn’t sell as well.
And when I’m talking Slick Willie, I’m talking the master and not some chump from Arkansas by way of Lewinsky.
As for Tim Tebow, don’t think much of the kid. But facts are facts. Tebow could rape half of the women below the Mason-Dixon Line and he’d still be king.
Kid was a great college quarterback. In the NFL, who knows? He’ll be a network color commentator the moment he retires. Odds are, Tebow will probably wind up in the U.S. Senate. Hell, if those chumps J.C. Watts and Heath Shuler can make the House, Tebow’s Senate material. On eye black alone.
Tebow doesn’t need to know the issues. Hell, Al D’Amato never knew the issues. Most Senators couldn’t find D.C. without at least three staff members and a lobbyist.
But that’s government of, by, and for Big Bidness and Rush Limbaugh. Idiots in, Idiots out. Idiots as Heroes.
8:07 am on January 21st, 2010
Know how I know they are gay?
11:24 am on January 21st, 2010
I don’t think brooks expressed any personal opinion about what Tebow specifically was doing. But rather the implications of what he is doing.
It is disappointing to see so many anti-gay voices on this comment board. Funny thing is the same people who preach homophobia don’t see the correlation between that and terrorist who preach anti-american ways of life.
It’s all about intolerance, ignorance, and lack of understanding. Gays, lesbians, transgender are a part of our culture (hate or love it), so the best thing we can do is adapt and evolve. Love, compassion and empathy are the only ways we as a society can be whole.
Call me a hippie, but violence intolerance, and bigotry will not bring the world together….EVER!
12:10 pm on January 21st, 2010
Since everyone is fine with “boats & ho’s” commercialization of beer and web companies, I find it hypocritical that everyone has an objection to someone promoting a positive message. Mama Tebow was told by doctors to have an abortion while carrying Tim, but she chose not to. As an adopted person, and while I am not a Tebow/Gator fan, I thank God she and others like her chose to have the baby.
12:47 pm on January 21st, 2010
This site has gone downhill severely in the past 3 years, awful!!
1:15 pm on January 21st, 2010
midget,
You do add so much to the conversation.
1:09 pm on January 22nd, 2010
So we are supposed to hate Tebow because he’s religious and pro life - and that necessarily makes him antigay - which necessarily makes him a bigot - and all that is exacerbated by the possibility that he may only be a system quarterback who MAY not be able to cut it in the NFL. Yeah, he’s a real scumbag.
If only he had the intellect, open-mindedness, tolerance and NFL caliber skills of these posters he might then deserve our admiration…
1:19 pm on January 22nd, 2010
and I’m a non-believer, pro-choice, gay-tolerant but anti-gay marriage, NFL-loving, non-Florida fan.
12:54 pm on January 29th, 2010
Ashdex, that you don’t get this isn’t shocking but Brooks isn’t saying Tebow is wrong to talk about his story - which is a great one. He;s asking - and rightly so - if Tebow understand that the group he is doing it for has an agenda of fear-mongering and hate.
It’s a fair question. Brooks didn’t call hi ma bigot. Didn’t say he was anti-gay.
Being a face for them on TV makes him an advocate of that group. It’s fair to wonder if he realizes what that means.
It’s clear most here don’t.
9:04 am on January 31st, 2010
Mel…as a gay sports fan, your ignorant and hate-filled appreciation of Dobson is a sign that yet another uninformed, biggot has an internet connection. keep your hate in your home — and god help those that share your home.
9:05 am on January 31st, 2010
goes for you too JP. when one of your relatives reveals god made him or her gay, i hope they leave your hate-filled presence quick! there’s a higher being your biggotry will have to answer to