VIDEOS: The right wing pro-business Super Bowl ad that slipped by

By GottaLaff

Who's indoctrinating our children again?



...brought to you by:



Just thought you should know. Hopefully nobody was paying attention, or sneaked off to the refrigerator and/or bathroom while it aired.

Cartoon of the Day

Click to enlarge, via.

Focus on the Family to air second ad during Super Bowl pre-game

By GottaLaff

My previous posts on this subject are here (scroll).

So!

One Super Bowl spot wasn't enough.

Nor was collaborating with CBS on writing the ads enough (something that CBS does with no other advertiser).

Now Focus on the Family is getting outright piggy. Their second ad-- yes, second-- will air during the pre-game show, starring the Tebows:

More details on the organizations ads:

Although Focus on the Family won’t reveal its ads’ details, CEO Jim Daly says the original ad was rejected by CBS. In it, Pam Tebow, who was advised by a doctor to have an abortion for medical reasons when pregnant with her son, said, “Both of our lives were at risk.”

“They felt that was too much,” he says. “So we dropped the line. We didn’t fight them.” The word “abortion” is never used.

The ad is “an open discussion on the sanctity of human life — not just the issue of abortion,” Daly says. It was made for less than $100,000 with “a bit of humor in it — in fitting with the Super Bowl theme.”

I bet it's a real laugh riot. Maybe they'll even do a CBS Tebow sit-com spin-off, "The Peoples' Anti-Choice Awards".

Oh, and in the interest of fairness, since CBS won't air this Planned Parenthood pro-choice response ad, TPC will:

President Obama to throw bipartisan Super Bowl party

By GottaLaff

Groundhog Day (well, plus a few):

President Obama will hold his second bipartisan Super Bowl party this weekend, his aides announced Friday morning. [...]

White House aides say House and Senate lawmakers, both Democratic and Republican, representing competing states on behalf of the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts have been invited. So far those who've accepted the invitations include Indiana Democratic Reps. Andre Carson, Baron Hill, and Brad Ellsworth, and Louisiana Republican Rep. Joseph Cao.

So far, only one Republican is attending, who, by the way, happens to be an independent thinker. How novel.

Military service members who've been injured fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan will also be guests, along with their spouses and children.

Yeah, Prez O sure hates the troops, doesn't he?

There will be a more complete list of attendees posted later today.

Which daring Rushpublics will venture into the Kenyan House of Muslim Marxist Commie Fascist Socialists... and make it out alive?

UPDATE: A list of expected attendees:

Members of Congress:
Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-CA)
Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA)
Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA)
Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN)
Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN)
Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN)
Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT)

Cabinet Members:
Secretary Shaun Donovan
Secretary Arne Duncan
Attorney General Eric Holder
Administrator Lisa Jackson
Secretary Janet Napolitano
Ambassador Susan Rice
Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
Secretary Eric Shinseki
Secretary Tom Vilsack

VIDEO- Super Bowl Ad Watch: Is Tim Tebow's Birth Story Even True?

By GottaLaff

This video is from MSNBC’s News Live, broadcast Feb. 1, 2010.

All my ranty posts on this subject can be found here.

Now my Twitter pal Liliana Segura sheds some new light on the veracity (or not) of the original story of the miraculous birth of "Christian extraordinaire, Tim Tebow":

Since the Tebow controversy broke, the official policy has supposedly been revised to allow advertisements from other advocacy groups as well. Yet this weekend, CBS rejected an ad from the gay dating site called ManCrunch.com, on the grounds that it "is not within the Network's Broadcast Standards for Super Bowl Sunday." [my post, including video of the ad in question, here]

Glaring hypocrisy? Absolutely.

But back to Tebow. What if his Focus on the Family-endorsed story isn't exactly true?

In a series of new interviews, the first of which was given to RadarOnline, high-profile attorney Gloria Allred argues that Pam Tebow's heart-warming story omits a rather significant detail that renders the whole thing suspicious: Namely, the fact that abortion was illegal in the Philippines in 1987. Indeed, abortion has been illegal in the Philippines since the 1930s -- even in cases of rape or incest or if the mother's health is in danger. [...]

Speaking to MSNBC's Tamron Hall this morning, Allred called the Focus on the Family ad "misleading," arguing, "[Pam Tebow] could have gone to prison for two to 6 years if she'd had an abortion." [...]

"If this ad airs and fails to disclose that abortions were illegal at the time Ms. Tebow made her 'choice,' then I intend to file a formal complaint of misleading advertising with those federal commissions," she added.

Then Liliana goes on to make a very important point: We haven't even seen this ad yet, but it has already had an impact... without having had one airing.

And after it does finally air, it will get 24/7 coverage on the newsotainment shows, the punditiots will have a field day, and the anti-choicers will have saturated the Tee Vee Machine again... without having to pay one thin dime.

Please read the entire piece here.

A Super Bowl ad we can do without

By GottaLaff

This morning on MSNBC, Alex Witt and Courtney Hazlett were analyzing past Super Bowl ads and why they were unsuccessful.

One ad in particular was targeted for having racist undertones. Hazlett opined that Super Bowl ads bomb when they are politically divisive. Divisive ads just won't do, they're a big no-no. She was emphatic about that.

However.

Not a word was uttered about the Focus on the Family's anti-choice spot. The very same one that Preachy McFacebook defended. Not. One. Word.

Call me crazy, but IMHO, the Tebow ad is just a tad politically divisive.

Which brings me to Tim Rutten's take:

The Super Bowl, which is this country's most-watched television event, also has evolved into the world's premier showcase for video advertising. Until now, though, the networks always have declined to accept issue-oriented or political spots. In recent years, for example, they've turned down ads from the liberal activist group MoveOn.org and the United Church of Christ. [...]

Tim Tebow, and his mother, Pam [...] will describe how, while working as a missionary in the Philippines and seven months pregnant with Tim, she contracted dysentery and fell into a coma. When she awoke, according to her account, doctors said the drugs they'd used to treat her virtually guaranteed a life-threatening stillbirth. They advised an abortion. She declined out of religious conviction.

So she made a--Oh, what's that word again? Oh yeah-- choice.

Is there really a difference between this sort of Super Bowl ad and the other 60-odd trying to sell you beer or cars or computers? Yes. One is a pitch; the other is proselytizing. We suffer the former as the price of life in a consumer society; we abhor the latter as a coarse invasion of privacy. There are moments when we open ourselves to moral persuasion, and moments when we're entitled to simple recreation. It's the sort of distinction on which civility relies. [...]

The Tebows' story is a tribute to this country's respect for choice -- though somebody else will have to pay to get that message across.

Unless, of course, their message is rejected.

VIDEO: Gay dating site's Super Bowl ad rejected by CBS

By GottaLaff



Love is offensive. Oh, sorry. Love is offensive if it's not between a man and a woman. And it will destroy your marriage. I can feel mine ripping apart at the seams as I watch this video. Someone... must... stop... it... now.

But at least anti-choice ads are still acceptable. Just ask Mandation McFacebook! Fair and balanced democracy in action:

Super Bowl network CBS rejected an ad Friday from ManCrunch.com, a gay dating Web site.

"After reviewing the ad, which is entirely commercial in nature, our standards and practices department decided not to accept this particular spot," said CBS spokeswoman Shannon Jacobs. "We are always open to working with a client on alternative submissions."

Standards and practices. Sounds like the names of Palin's next two kids.

H/t: BetseyB

CBS's Super Bowl Ad Malfunction

By GottaLaff

Last night I posted Lippy McFakeBlog's latest ghost written Facebook entry defending an anti-choice Super Bowl ad.

I then updated that she got her way, CBS caved, and they'll air the controversial ad.

Via the L.A. Times:

[M]edia analysts are predicting that as much as $500 million in corporate money could flood this year's political campaigns, unleashing a torrent of issue advertising that will force TV executives to weigh the ever-shifting debate about which commercials cross the line.

The CBS Super Bowl commercial, sponsored by the evangelical Christian group Focus on the Family, features University of Florida football star Tim Tebow and his missionary mother, Pam, discussing her decision 23 years ago to continue with her pregnancy despite complications.

How many abortions do you suppose any given corporation has had? Do they use birth control? Does a corporation need parental consent?

The network nonetheless finds itself in a difficult position because, several years ago, CBS rejected ads -- some intended for the Super Bowl -- from left-leaning organizations, including MoveOn.org, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the United Church of Christ, which advocates gay rights.

See how fair and balanced the new and improved free speech is?

Jehmu Greene, president of the New York-based Women's Media Center:

When CBS rejected issue advertisements by liberal groups, George W. Bush was president and a majority of the Federal Communications Commission members were Republicans. Moreover, the network already had had a painful run-in with regulators after it was slapped with stiff fines because Janet Jackson's breast was briefly exposed during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show.

Critics of CBS' policy shift said the network succumbed to financial pressures.

"They are more concerned about their bottom line than fair play," Greene said.

And that's the way it is.

Palin's latest Facebook entry: Don't ask

By GottaLaff


UPDATE (H/t: Dr. President), looks like Barbie got her wish.

Original story:

Wowzers, boys and girls, look who's back! That's two days in a row!

My stars and garters, Barbie must be exhausted from ordering Fakey McGhostWriter around:

Women’s Rights groups, like NOW, commendably call out advertisers and networks for airing sexist and demeaning portrayals of women that lead to young women’s diminished self-esteem and acceptance of roles as mere sexed-up objects.

Speaking of mere sexed-up objects...

I guess those don't count.

What a ridiculous situation they’re getting themselves into now with their protest of CBS airing a pro-life ad during the upcoming Super Bowl game. The ad will feature Heisman trophy winner Tim Tebow and his mom, and they’ll speak to the sanctity of life and the beautiful potential within every innocent child as Mrs. Tebow acknowledges her choice to give Tim life, despite less than ideal circumstances. Messages like this empower women! This speaks to the strength and commitment and nurturing spirit within women. The message says everything positive and nothing negative about the power of women – and life. Evidently, some women’s rights groups like NOW do not like that message.

Socialist fascist gay commie abortionists are like that.

NOW is looking at the pro-life issue backwards. Women should be reminded that they are strong enough and smart enough to make decisions that allow for career and educational opportunities while still giving their babies a chance at life. In my own home*, my daughter Bristol has also been challenged by pro-abortion “women’s rights” groups who don’t agree with her decision to have her baby, nor do they like the abstinence message which she articulated as her personal commitment.

Well, there was that issue of hypocrisy... Oops, did Barbie McFakeBlogger forget about that?

NOW could gain ground and credibility with everyday Americans, thus allowing their pro-women message to be heard by more than just their ardent supporters, if they made wiser decisions regarding which battles to pick. They should call attention to and embrace the Tebow’s message, instead of covertly and overtly disrespecting what Mrs. Tebow, Bristol, and millions of other women have chosen to do (in less than ideal circumstances).

My message to these groups who are inexplicably offended by a pro-woman, pro-child, pro-life message airing during the Super Bowl: please concentrate on empowering women, help with efforts to prevent unexpected pregnancies, stay consistent with your message that for too long women have been made to feel like sex objects in our “modern” culture and that we can expect better in 2010.

See above photos. Oh, and Fakey McBlogSchmutz? Empowering women includes not allowing men (and women) to make decisions about their own bodies for them.

For someone who's not into government sticking its nose into everyone's bee's wax, you sure do have difficulty processing that.

Empowerment also works better when women have the right to privacy.

Oh, one more thing. Abortion is legal.

But don’t let your double standard glare so vividly as to undo some of the good to which you could contribute.

And CBS: just do the right thing. Don’t cave. Have the backbone to run the ad.

To the Tebows: thank you. America is listening. We appreciate you.

Politicizing is so much a part of Lippy McBarbSchmutz that she even has to extend it to the Super Bowl.

How do you solve a problem like Sarah?

*Before I forget, let me remind you what Levi Johnston said about Barbie McLipSchmutz's fine parenting skills:

The Palin house was much different from what many people expect of a normal family, even before she was nominated for vice president. There wasn’t much parenting in that house. Sarah doesn’t cook, Todd doesn’t cook—the kids would do it all themselves: cook, clean, do the laundry, and get ready for school. Most of the time Bristol would help her youngest sister with her homework, and I’d barbecue chicken or steak on the grill.

Even before Palin became John McCain’s running mate, she seemed worried about what a grandchild would do to her political career. According to Johnston, she had a plan for how to handle her daughter’s unexpected pregnancy.

Sarah told me she had a great idea: we would keep it a secret—nobody would know that Bristol was pregnant. She told me that once Bristol had the baby she and Todd would adopt him. That way, she said, Bristol and I didn’t have to worry about anything. Sarah kept mentioning this plan. She was nagging—she wouldn’t give up. She would say, “So, are you gonna let me adopt him?” We both kept telling her we were definitely not going to let her adopt the baby. I think Sarah wanted to make Bristol look good, and she didn’t want people to know that her 17-year-old daughter was going to have a kid.

After the campaign, Johnston watched Palin turn into a different person. The result back home in Alaska was a woman ready to turn in elected office for money.

I can't wait for the next Ghosty McBlogLips post.

Wonderful new White House photos

President Barack Obama holds 3-D glasses while watching the Super Bowl game at a Super Bowl Party in the family theater of the White House. Guests included family, friends, staff members and bipartisan members of Congress, 2/1/09.

Go check them out, but this is my favorite.

Bailed-out Bank of America spent $10 million on Super Bowl party

By GottaLaff

Maybe they held the Big Do inside a private jet on their way to another Big Do... or an $800,000 tent:

ABC News reports, however, that the bank managed to scrounge up millions of dollars to be an NFL sponsor and for “a five day carnival-like” Super Bowl party just outside the stadium:

The event — known as the NFL Experience — was 850,000 square feet of sports games and interactive entertainment attractions for football fans and was blanketed in Bank of America logos and marketing calls to sign up for football-themed banking products. […]

The bank refused to tell ABC News how much it is spending as an NFL corporate sponsor, but insiders have put the figure at close to $10 million. The NFL Experience was on top of that and was inked last summer, according to the bank.

The NFL said it was a “multi-million dollar” event and that it was also spending money to put on the event. A Super Bowl insider said the tents alone cost over $800,000.

Calling Attorney General Holder...

VIDEO: Jennifer Hudson sings National Anthem at Super Bowl XLIII

By GottaLaff



Watch, listen, tear up.

Super Bowl XLIII: Commercial Watch

By GottaLaff

Are you into the forced creativity of Big Biz? Do you like those outlandishly expensive, hyper-produced commercials during the Big Game?

You can see those spiffy, overpriced Super Bowl ads here. Refresh and they update as they air on the Tee Vee Machine.

Let me add, I enjoy these as much as the next guy. I just felt the urge for a little snarkage.

Paddy adds-



Here's a link to classic ads.

VIDEO: President Obama speaks to Matt Lauer

By GottaLaff

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

UPDATE: I've added the video, and changed the blog title to reflect that.

Patented, award-winning, internationally acclaimed quick notes:

Pre-game, on his game:

"People think I'm cool... Nobody's cooler than my two girls. They take whatever comes with happiness... steadiness."

On ending the war, will a substantial number of troops be home next year in time for Super Bowl Sunday?

"Yes."

On the economy, how much worse will it get?

"We'll be in for a tough several months... It's gonna take a number of months before we stop falling, and then some time to [work our way back]."

Can you predict a number of Republican votes on the recovery bill?

"No, I can't do that."

You picked a team, right out. The Cardinals were a Cinderella story!

"I love the story... but the [other guys] campaigned for me."

Want to predict today's final score?

"Steelers will eke it out in a close one."

The Blackberry. Can I see it?

"It's like Inspector Gadget, if you touched it, it might blow up... It turns into a car if I have to make a quick getaway."

You have rock star status. But Us Weekly took you off the cover [only Sasha, Malia, and Michelle are featured], replaced by Jessica Simpson!

(President Obama peers at cover) "...who's in a weight battle apparently."

And finally:

"I'd like to give a shout-out out to our troops overseas who are watching this... "

NBC then went to a cutaway shot to some troops who were viewing the interview, who spontaneously broke out in smiles ear to ear.

Morning Open Thread & Super Bowl Alternatives

I'm sucking down the coffee, so here's list of alternatives to watching the Super Bowl for your amusement.

ABC: Wipeout Bowl I: Cheerleaders vs. Couch Potatoes
Animal Planet: Puppy Bowl V (on repeat, from 3 p.m. to 5 a.m.)
A&E: The Sopranos (noon until 4 a.m.)
BBC America: Doctor Who (3 p.m. to 8 p.m.)
Bravo: Law & Order: Criminal Intent (6 p.m. to 2 a.m.)
CMT: Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Daddy and Trading Spouses: Meet Your New Mommy (2 p.m to 10 p.m.)
Discovery: MythBusters (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Jesus: The Complete Story (a three-part special, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.)
DIY: Bathroom Renovations and Bathtastic! (7 a.m. to 3 a.m.)
FX: Chick flicks (Little Black Book, 2 p.m.; Maid in Manhattan, 4:30 p.m.; 13 Going on 30, 6:30 p.m.; The Devil Wears Prada, 8:30 p.m.)
Hallmark: I Love Lucy (8:30 a.m. to 3 a.m.)
Oxygen: America's Next Top Model (11 a.m. to 11 p.m.)
Sci Fi: Ghost Hunters International and Ghost Hunters (9 a.m. to 1 a.m.)
Spike: CSI (noon to 4 a.m.)
SPEED: Pimp My Ride (1 p.m. to 3 a.m.)
Style: Clean House (noon to 3 a.m.)
TBS: Chick Flicks (Clueless, 11:30 a.m.; My Best Friend's Wedding, 1:30 p.m.; Failure to Launch, 3:30 p.m.; What Women Want, 5:30 p.m.; My Big Fat Greek Wedding, 8 p.m.)
TLC: Dateline: Real Life Mysteries (1 p.m. to 7 p.m.) and sex documentaries (Forbidden Love: Polygamy, 7 p.m.; My Husbands Three Wives, 8 p.m.; Anatomy of Sex, 9 p.m.; Mother Knows Sex, 10 p.m.)
TNT: The Closer (noon to 11 p.m.)
USA: House (11 a.m. to 4 a.m.)

NBC rejects anti-choice ad using Obama

Idiots. Gotta covered why the video is a joke here.

A popular pro-life anti-choice video portraying President Obama as an unborn child has been rejected by NBC-TV as an ad during Sunday's Super Bowl.

"Imagine Spot 1," a YouTube video that has amassed more than 700,000 hits since its Jan. 2O premiere on Black Entertainment Television, was submitted earlier this week to NBC by Fidelis, a Chicago-based Catholic organization. Its subsidiary, CatholicVote.org, runs the 30-second spot on its Web site.

Obama's Very Inclusive Super Bowl Sunday

By GottaLaff

President Obama is a saint. I wonder if Rush Limbaugh was invited:

Steelers are represented by Arlen Specter (R) and Bob Casey (D).
-- Casey: invited and accepted. His office says he's bring "terrible towels" and something called Eat'n Park Cookies' (a Pittsburgh thing we're told)
-- haven't heard back from Specter's office *** UPDATE *** Specter's office confirms he has been invited, but staff is trying to sort his day's schedule

Cardinals are represented by Republicans John McCain and Jon Kyl.
-- McCain has been invited but will not attend
-- Kyl's office can't confirm he's been invited, but Kyl was planning on watching the game with his family

So the only definite "yes" was from a Democrat. Another Republican rebuff. Perhaps if he'd invited them to go hunting...

Palin Gets Free Ad Time During Superbowl?

By GottaLaff

Via The Mudflats:

Word has it that several pro-Palin military families here in Alaska were contacted to be part of a commercial set to air during the Superbowl pre-game show. The shooting was scheduled around Sarah Palin’s calendar so she could appear in the spot. Wonder what that little bit of PR is worth? [...] The premise of the spot is to thank the troops, and it’s being paid for by an outside private source. More details to come.

Yeah, the spot is to "thank the troops". It has nothing to do with Grandma Mc2012, it's all about the troops. Isn't she just the thoughtfulest ever?

Exactly how bad is the economy?

So bad, that NBC hasn't sold all it's Super Bowl ad time yet. Ow.

A week before Super Bowl XLIII, NBC is still in "active negotiations" to sell its last few commercial spots.

That's why some advertising wags are calling Super Bowl 2009 the Economy Bowl.

This close to game time, it's unusual to have any of the 67 time slots unsold.

The network, which will show next Sunday's game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers, had no trouble getting takers for its record-high $3 million-per-half-minute spots — before Labor Day.

After that, sales fizzled along with the economy.