According to a story in the Daily Beast, CBS worked closely with 'Focus on the Family' developing the Tim Tebow ad for months!
The major broadcast networks have avoided political advocacy ads for years, so CBS's decision to air the Tebow ad caught abortion rights advocates off guard. But Focus on the Family, the Colorado Springs-based conservative Christian group founded by Dr. James Dobson, says that it has actually been working closely with CBS executives for months on the ad's script.
"There were discussions about the specific wording of the spot," said Gary Schneeberger, spokesperson for Focus on the Family. "And we came to a compromise. To an agreement." Schneeberger declined to comment on exactly how CBS changed the ad's message.
CBS has said that in the last year, in an acknowledgment of "industry norms," it loosened previous restrictions on advocacy advertisements, accepting ads that pushed for health reform and environmental activism.
CBS has been criticized by a coalition of women's groups as well as GLAAD for its alliance with the virulently homophobic group Focus on the Family, an evangelical group that works actively against gay rights and advocates for overturning Roe v. Wade.
Tim Tebow defended his participation in the ad last week, saying he's standing up for what he believes.
Watch the video, AFTER THE JUMP…
Apparently, given its participation, this is what CBS believes too.
BACKGROUND…
GLAAD Calls on CBS to 'Come Clean' on 'Homophobic Double Standard' [tr]
GLAAD Calls on CBS to Explain Decision to Air Tim Tebow 'FOTF' Super Bowl Ad [tr]
Women's Groups Urge CBS to Scrap Tebow Focus on the Family Ad [tr]
Tim Tebow Defends Participation in Super Bowl Ad [tr]
Tim Tebow Shoots Super Bowl Ad for Anti-Gay Focus on the Family [tr]
(thanks mike)
