This Just In: CBS Co-Wrote Focus on the Family Ad

by Maia Spotts · 2010-02-03 16:03:00 UTC
Topics:

So, let's review: Five years ago, CBS rejected a Super Bowl ad bid from the United Church of Christ, hiding behind some no-advocacy group rule.

Three years ago a gay employee sued after he was fired for getting involved in what he categorized "advocacy causes" that aided victims of hate crimes. (The executive he sued? Current President of CBS Sports, Sean McManus.)

Then, in November, CBS censored Adam Lambert and his Big Gay Self in favor of Madonna's make out with Britney, and notorious girlfriend beater Chris Brown.

Now, this whole Tim Tebow/Focus on the Family/Super Bowl saga welcomes a brilliant new chapter with the discovery that CBS not only scrapped all former ad policies to allow it, they also had a hand in writing it.

According to The Daily Beast, unnamed CBS executives have been working with Focus on the Family for months on the controversial ad, discussing the wording of the spot, coming to "agreements" and "compromises" about the commercial's content. CBS is remaining shockingly silent on the matter, stating only that this kind of practice "isn't unusual." But why choose to personally involve the network in a contentious ad campaign, one destined to raise the ire of pro-choice, pro-equality groups around the globe? And why not do a little fact checking in the process?

CBS was quick to say no to the United Church of Christ, and spared no expense to blur, renounce and cancel Adam Lambert. But along comes Focus on the Family, and suddenly everyone is scrambling to spend months helping them fine tune this blip for an infamously bigoted organization? And in doing so involved themselves in what could be a false advertising lawsuit? Not very subtle.

All of this is adding up to a big, fat middle finger from CBS to the world of gay rights and women's rights. Having been faced with a number of opportunities to simply remain neutral, or at the least unbiased, CBS has time and time again chosen to show its hand. And it's full of cash money from flush advocacy groups. A few gay contestants on The Amazing Race and the revitalizing of Neil Patrick Harris' career isn't enough to balance out all this blatant anti-gay agenda pushing. CBS needs to start playing fair, or its advertisers need to start playing dirty.

Photo credit: majorleague

Maia Spotts is one part of a two mom, two kid household and hopes to change the way in which this country defines the strong American family.
PREVIOUS STORY:
Uganda Draws Ire From U.S. Politicians
NEXT STORY:
On Aeroflot's Birthday, Russian Activists Condemn Company's Anti-Gay Record. And You Can Help.

COMMENTS (13)

    Comment Policy

    · All fields are required to comment.

    [X]

    Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the campaign on Change.org. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments which, as determined solely in our discretion: (1) are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; (2) include content solely intended to personally attack the campaign creator, (3) are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them; and/or (4) violate our terms of service and/or privacy policy. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion. Please also be advised that: (A) we do not actively curate and/or monitor in any manner whatsoever the comments made on the Change.org platform, and (B) the creator of each campaign on Change.org may remove any comment at her/his/its discretion.