That Super bowl ad (with link)

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Permalink Reply by Susan on February 10, 2010 at 8:59am

WOW... that was subtle. I'm sure I missed all the Christian Code Words. But I suppose that's what they needed to do to get it past the sensors. I still think that it shouldn't matter how subtle the message. If the network says that they will not allow political statements during the Superbowl then they need to stick to it... regardless of WHO is featured. I so next year are we going to have a bunch of political adds by athletes.. that don't really say anything but mean something to those in the "know"???

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Permalink Reply by Loren Miller on February 10, 2010 at 9:19am

I think the only "code words" in the midst of that stupid 30- or 60-second idiocy were the four it ended with: "Focus on the Family." Apparently they don't think they're well enough known in their own community and figured they needed to throw something innocuous into the Super Bowl mix. It would be intriguing to see what the fallout was from that ad, outside of maybe a few thousand curious hits on their website. Other than that ... feh.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer W on February 10, 2010 at 9:14am

As long as I don't see another E*trade baby commercial, I'll be fine.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer W on February 10, 2010 at 9:46am

Urgh, really? To each its own....

It was giggly cute at first, but now I think they are trying to hard.

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Permalink Reply by Tom Thompson on February 10, 2010 at 10:04am

"Which seems really odd since this past year they announced how fundraising was down and they had to lay off staff."

Yeah, times are tough when you can barely scrape together enough money for a 30 second Superbowl commercial.

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Permalink Reply by Edward Teach on February 10, 2010 at 10:09am

LOL... I'm sure the folks who lost jobs felt their sacrifice was justified.

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Permalink Reply by Denise Royer on February 10, 2010 at 10:17am

FOF didn't have to say much in the commercial, the media carried out a lot of free advertising. If it works for godless billboards than it can work for anti-choice promotion.

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Permalink Reply by Freedom of Anonymity on February 10, 2010 at 12:29pm

I really don't see what is so provocative about this ad.

The dialog is rather mundane and ambiguous ...

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Permalink Reply by Ian on February 10, 2010 at 5:21pm

That ad represented a half million dollars that could have gone to "good works" anywhere from Haiti to homeless people in the snow; from helping raise unwanted babies born to mothers who were talked out of their abortion choice, to shelters for battered wives of penis-centric male heads of 'christian' households. That's a lot of good work avoided just to say Boo! to the moderates who objected to CBS changing their rules at the last minute.

And I agree with FOA, this was probably the most bland and unmemorable of all the Superbowl ads. It seems like mind games played by people with mind troubles - how very curious.

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Permalink Reply by Freedom of Anonymity on February 11, 2010 at 1:19am

Hey!!! Wait a second ...

Are you saying that every crucifix toting, Q'uran keeping, prayer bead rubbing, monster 4-wheel driving, high rise pickup owning, NASCAR loving, Rebel flag flying, sheep shagger has a small penis?

Hmmm, seems slightly dubious, but okay, I'll go with it. This round to Ian.

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Permalink Reply by Freedom of Anonymity on February 10, 2010 at 7:45pm

I'm not familiar with this organisation, but are they really financed well enough to go to all the trouble you describe, plus the enormous costs of even a :30 spot in a Super Bowl?

Seems like a lack of proper assessment and financial gambling ... seems too benign in the overall to have really achieved anything.

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Permalink Reply by Ian on February 10, 2010 at 9:00pm

Stunning. I had never previously look up these figures. A half million dollars is a spit in the Grand Canyon for these people.

Founder: Dr. James C. Dobson
Established: 1977
Finances: $137,848,520 (2004 Focus on the Family revenue); $24,988,036 (2004 Focus on the Family Action revenue)
Staff: approximately 1,300 employees
Publications: 2.3 million subscribers to ten monthly magazines. Magazine titles include: Focus on the Family, Citizen Magazine, Parental Guidance, Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. Focus on the Family also publishes a wide variety of books, tapes, films and videos.

More at:
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/focus-family

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