Super Bowl commercials are always among the highlights of the CBS Super Bowl telecast, and the Sunday, February 7 broadcast of Super Bowl XLIV should be no exception. However, among the entertaining commercial offerings (which will surely include some by payday loan companies), there may be a Tim Tebow Superbowl ad that has pro-choice groups quite upset.

Who is Tim Tebow?

Tim Tebow is the second coming, if you believe Florida Gators football fans. He’s a former Heisman Trophy winning quarterback (2007) who led his team to three bowl victories during his college career. He’s been labeled a “can’t miss” prospect for the 2010 NFL Draft. He is also a devout Christian who is popular with the ladies. It is his faith that prompted him to team with the activist group Focus on the Family for a commercial entitled “Celebrate Family, Celebrate Life.”

That sounds well and good, but the 30-second ad has upset pro-choice groups like the Women’s Media Center with its upfront pro-life stance in the very public forum of national television.  In a letter from the group, they made their view of CBS quite clear:

“By offering one of the most coveted advertising spots of the year to an anti-equality, anti-choice, homophobic organization, CBS is aligning itself with a political stance that will damage its reputation, alienate viewers, and discourage consumers from supporting its shows and advertisers.”

Supporters of Tebow claim it is simply his life-affirming story

Multiple sources (including the video below) claim that Tim Tebow’s experience is simply a good story. Tim’s mother Pam Tebow fell ill during Tim’s pregnancy and was advised by doctors to abort. She refused. She survived; Tim was born and went on to career success. Incidentally, my wife went through a similar situation with our first child. Her first OBGYN advised abortion, but we chose otherwise. My daughter is now the sunshine of my life, along with my son.

What will happen with the Tim Tebow Superbowl ad?

Pro-choice groups argue that broadcasting one’s religious beliefs regarding life or choice is inappropriate on a national television stage such as this, where many millions will be exposed to the ideology. The Tebow Superbowl ad is, in their minds, a highly political statement that CBS endorses by default if they agree to run the advertisement. Of course that would also mean that, in a sense, they support the message of payday loan companies, which is fine by me. What do you think?

(Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/babasteve/ / CC BY 2.0)

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