NBC"s Super Double Standard

I applaud NBC for rejecting the PETA ad for its obcene content, although given the sexual content of many Super Bowl ads in recent years this has got to be something of a 1st. & it raises an interesting question. If it had been milder, then is it safe to assume that NBC & the NFL would have accepted it? I think the answer that is implied is a resounding yes.

I see a double standard operating if that is so. & more. PETA's ad is just as much "political advocacy" ad as the CatholicVote ad. So, why reject it? & why not simply use the political advocacy reason for it as the article points out below?

The answer to that is simple. NBC didn't reject it for its sexual content. Like I said, look at some past ads that no one had qualms with. The PETA ad doesn't sound any worse or any more offensive than many of them. That is the cover they are using to keep from offending their buddies on the left who are a part of PETA. By using the content as an excuse, they are subtly implying that they are still operating under the fears of censorship because of the Republican pressure on the FCC to enforce its obcenity rules. & it does so in a way that also enables them to keep from offending the huge group of meat eaters that are NFL fans.

Their claiming political content is just a convenient cover for them rejecting an ad that is clearly Pro-Life & would reach a huge audience that includes a large number of people that might be swayed to that side of the issue. Again, they keep their buddies on the political left happy while claiming they are being neutral.

NBC Rejects Super Bowl Pro-Life Ad Featuring Unborn Baby Obama

CHICAGO, IL, January 29, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – 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 late yesterday that NBC and the NFL are not interested in advertisements involving ‘political advocacy or issues.’

Brian Burch, President of CatholicVote.org said, “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. The PETA ad depicts lingerie clad women in highly sexually suggestive poses.

“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 shows an ultrasound of an unborn baby and 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 http://www.CatholicVote.org - a project of the Fidelis Center for Law and Policy.
To express your concerns to NBC, write:

Email to: victoria.morgan@nbc.com