NBC wrong to nix pro-life ad

I find it outrageous that NBC refused to carry this ad during its Super Bowl broadcast tomorrow.

Despite how you feel about abortion, all groups have the right to express their opinions. The airwaves are owned by the people and NBC and its affiliates are only licensed to use them. While I disagree with this arrangement, that is how it is. Because of that, NBC should not be rejecting ads based on the message.

What is more appalling is that NBC told CatholicVote.org that it would not accept the ad because it won't accept advocacy or issue ads. However, as is pointed out in the news release below, NBC told People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals that it would accept its now-infamous sex ad "Veggie Love" if it made certain changes toning down the sexual content (the "Veggie Love" ad can be found at the bottom of this post). So apparently, PETA ads are acceptable so long as they are not too sexual, but an anti-abortion ad, tastefully done, is not.

Funny thing about that, I don't even think PETA expected its ad to be accepted. I think it probably created the ad knowing it was too sexual for TV in hopes that NBC's rejection would spark interest in the ad on the Internet. Conversely, CatholicVote.org had no reason to expect its ad would be rejected.

I guess this is life in 21st century America. Honest debate is restricted to issue approved by the powerful.

The news release:

Network Nixes Commercial Celebrating Potential of Life

CHICAGO, Jan. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NBC has rejected an uplifting and positive pro-life ad submitted for its Super Bowl broadcast this Sunday. After several days of negotiations, an NBC representative in Chicago told CatholicVote.org today that NBC and the NFL are not interested in advertisements involving "political advocacy or issues."

Brian Burch, President of CatholicVote.org reacted: "There is nothing objectionable in this positive, life-affirming advertisement. We show a beautiful ultrasound, something NBC's parent company GE has done for years. We congratulate Barack Obama on becoming the first African-American President. And we simply ask people to imagine the potential of every human life."

"NBC told CatholicVote.org that they do not allow political or issue advocacy advertisements. But that's not what they told PETA," said Burch. "There's no doubt that PETA is an advocacy group. NBC rejected PETA's ad for another reason altogether."

According to an email posted on PETA.org, Victoria Morgan, Vice President of Advertising Standards for Universal, said: "The PETA spot submitted to Advertising Standards depicts a level of sexuality exceeding our standards." Morgan even detailed "edits that need to be made" in order for the spot to run during the Super Bowl.

"NBC claims it doesn't allow advocacy ads, but that's not true. They were willing to air an ad by PETA if they would simply tone down the sexual suggestiveness. Our ad is far less provocative, and hardly controversial by comparison," said Burch.

"The purpose of our new ad is to spread a message of hope about the potential of every human life, including the life of Barack Obama," said Burch. "We are now looking at alternative venues to run the ad over the next several weeks."

The ad aired on BET in Chicago on Inauguration Day. It has become an Internet hit with over 700,000 views in seven days. The ad was in the top 10 "most viewed" category on YouTube on Inauguration Day last week.

The ad reads: "This child's future is a broken home. He will be abandoned by his father. His single mother will struggle to raise him. Despite the hardships he will endure...this child...will become...the 1st African-American President." The ad concludes with the tagline, "Life: Imagine the Potential." The ad is the first of several ads in new campaign launched by CatholicVote.org.

The ad can be viewed at www.CatholicVote.org -- a project of the Fidelis Center for Law and Policy.

'Veggie Love': PETA's Banned Super Bowl Ad