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Thursday, January 29, 2009
What's NBC afraid of?
NBC has decided not to air an ad from the U.S. advocacy group CatholicVote.com during the Super Bowl. The moving and powerful 30-second pro-life spot was produced and shown on Black Entertainment Television in Chicago at the time of Obama's inauguration, and has since gone on to receive three-quarters of million hits on YouTube.
There's nothing offensive about the ad; there are no questionable images; there are only irrefutable assertions and an uplifting message. Judge for yourself. And then ask: Why is NBC afraid of the truth?
Posted by Terry O'Neill on January 29, 2009 in Media | Permalink
Comments
Why are we not surprised. Sounds to me like the Unexplored Southern Area, USA, has the same politically correct road travelled in Canada so often by Pro-life advertsers here.
Did you know we have an agency which has the power to ban any and all ads it finds too controversial? The Advertising Standards Council has repeatedly refused to allow pro-life ads regardless of the content. Billboards, bus benches, and all print media have become a barren wasteland for anyone interested in the dissemination of the truth regarding information about abortion.
It is not surprising that a land which cooperates in the deaths of more that 300 children per day would not want anyone pointing to the harm such cooperation brings.
Posted by: Servant | 2009-01-29 11:15:09 AM
Q: "Why is NBC afraid of the truth?"
A: That's a stupid question.
NBC is not afraid of the truth. Only an idiot would think that they are. They are afraid of the obvious: Negative consumer reaction. Political issues that are perceived to be "controversial" (and abortion is certainly one of those) are things networks are cautious about because they don't want backlash from angry viewers. You know, the kind of people who are outraged by Janet Jackson's nipple. So they would rather not deal with the issue at all. That is also why the sexy vegetarian ads will not run.
If there are any other concerns (and I don't think there needs to be more for NBC to not want to run the ad), they might be concerned that the end of the ad seems to suggest that Obama is anti-abortion or that he has endorsed the ad. But I am sure the big issue is controversy avoidance. It's a question so easy to answer, only a fool would not know the answer and only a bigger fool would post the question in a blog. I leave conspiracy theory answers to the question for the biggest fools of all.
Posted by: Fact Check | 2009-01-29 11:26:43 AM
They also didn't allow a PETA advertisement for the Superbowl. My guess is they just didn't want to allow political type ads of any kind. Either that, or NBC is afraid of the truth that eating meat is murder.
Posted by: Ken | 2009-01-29 11:31:39 AM
NBC is not afraid of the truth. They are repulsed by it and seems they can no longer discern it. They are so enslaved by the ideology of choice, that they are unable to recognize and choose the good. Freedom of the press? Yeah...not so much.
Posted by: Robin | 2009-01-29 11:55:55 AM
What's this have to do with the truth? I'd block it. Last thing we needs is filthy Catholics on the air.
A private business gets this choice. Get over it. The Catholic church should have to pay tax.
Posted by: Chris | 2009-01-29 12:23:48 PM
Thank you Chris for the very concise enunciation of the Super Bowl ad issue. "Catholics should have to pay tax". Talk about missing the point completely.
NBC is a private company and they have the right to make these decisions. However controled they are by regulations, it should not give them the right to ban neutral ads. They have a duty to be fair and clearly in this case they are not.
Posted by: Servant | 2009-01-29 1:05:57 PM
How did he get to "filthy Catholics" so fast. But hey, that's what free speech is all about. That is until you want to talk about the truth of abortion or other sacred cows, then up pop those double standards.
As for Chris, he should be careful using that adjective when talking about our Jewish or black or homosexual brothers and sisters. That'll land him in front of the human wrongs commission for hate crimes. Filthy Catholics? In today's culture that seems to be completely acceptable.
Get back to the topic of censorship and media manipulation.
Posted by: Robin | 2009-01-29 1:13:45 PM
Chris wrote: "The Catholic church should have to pay tax."
And poor people should have to pay for their own housing.
Posted by: Shane Matthews | 2009-01-29 2:28:39 PM
The PETA ad was rejected because it had scantily clad ladies pretending to engage in foreplay with vegetables. I still can't figure out the point of the ad. Maybe it was something about vegetarians behaving like perverts! NBC told PETA that it would run the ad if it was cleaned up(many people watch the game with their underage kids). The pro-life ad was straightforward and not vulgar(or indecent). NBC claims to be a non-biased media company. However, it increasingly looks like the corporation is in the tank for the left. Hey Chris, are you related to the guy who tried to burn down the Catholic Church in San Francisco several months back? It sounds like the two of you have a lot in common. Now if you will excuse me, I'm going to have some veal for dinner! It's mmm good!
Posted by: Toby | 2009-01-29 2:40:12 PM
So anyone who disagrees with you is an idiot or a fool, eh, Fact Check? You've grown increasingly cranky lately. Practically a Stephen Hume clone. But then, dementia is not one of your kinder conditions.
Posted by: Shane Matthews | 2009-01-29 2:50:31 PM
NBC should have the right not to air what they don't want to air. It has nothing to do with freedom of press as Robin suggests. But it does have to do with Freedom. That is the freedom of NBC to air it or not.
Freedom of the press has more to do with preventing the government from preventing the press from printing something.
By the way, I would personally prefer to see it run.
Posted by: TM | 2009-01-29 4:57:04 PM
Those tribes which destroy their unborn off-spring are doomed to live or die under those which do not. Enjoy life whilst you can. Tomorrow will come for your survivors.
Posted by: dewp | 2009-01-29 9:40:06 PM
NBC is one of the most pro abortion networks out there. They are so deep in Obama's pocket that the lint has covered them over. They covered up Obama's 110% abortion approval rating and his many yes votes on withholding help for babies that survive abortion. This man has no respect for life. The ad shows that abortion takes a life and that life could be a "great leader" like Obama. Too bad Obama won't use his powers for good (he wouldn't be here if his mom killed him).
Posted by: mvh | 2009-01-30 11:27:44 AM
NBC is one of the most pro abortion networks out there. They are so deep in Obama's pocket that the lint has covered them over. They covered up Obama's 110% abortion approval rating and his many yes votes on withholding help for babies that survive abortion. This man has no respect for life. The ad shows that abortion takes a life and that life could be a "great leader" like Obama. Too bad Obama won't use his powers for good (he wouldn't be here if his mom killed him).
Posted by: mvh | 2009-01-30 11:28:12 AM
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