NOW Attacks Sarah Palin Over Tim Tebow Ad, Says Women Need Abortions

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   Jan 29, 2010   |   9:00AM   |   WASHINGTON, DC

NOW Attacks Sarah Palin Over Tim Tebow Ad, Says Women Need Abortions

by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
January 29
, 2010

Washington, DC (LifeNews.com) — Not content to allow former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin to have the last word on the Focus on the Family ad touting Tim Tebow’s mother’s decision to not have an abortion, the National Organization for Women (NOW) is attacking Palin.

As LifeNews.com reported Palin wrote a lengthy FaceBook post talking up the ad and Pam Tebow’s decision to not have an abortion when pregnant with the college football star.

The potential 2012 presidential candidate said the ad and Tebow’s decision "empowers women" to choose life when confronted with a difficult pregnancy situation.

Palin continued her criticism of NOW, which has called on CBS to flip-flop on its decision to pull the ad.

"For a pro-life, pro-woman, pro-family ad to be seen as offensive and not empowering women is puzzling," Palin told Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren Thursday. "It makes you wonder what is NOW afraid of?"

"It certainly isn’t an offensive message," Palin said. "For NOW to have chosen this, [they are] picking a wrong battle I think, to come across sounding quite offended by hearing that a pro-life commercial will air on the Super Bowl, it’s baffling."

Now, NOW is going after Palin.

NOW President Terry O’Neill said in a new statement that Palin is "missing our point."

"The goal of the Focus on the Family ad is not to empower women. It’s to create a climate in which Roe v. Wade can be overturned," O’Neill said. "There are always going to be women who need abortions. In this country, one in three women will have an abortion."

“Focus on the Family has cynically set it up so they can say anyone who disagrees with airing this ad is disrespecting one woman and her choice. NOW respects every woman’s right to plan her own family and insists our laws do the same,” said O’Neill.

Palin ended her Facebook post with the line: “And CBS: just do the right thing. Don’t cave. Have the backbone to run the ad.”

O’Neill used a copycat response in her statement: “And CBS: Do the right thing. Pull the ad. Let’s focus on the game.”

CBS originally did not accept advocacy ads but said it changed its approach recently to conform to "industry norms."

CBS spokesman Dana McClintock told AP "we have for some time moderated our approach to advocacy submissions after it became apparent that our stance did not reflect public sentiment or industry norms."

He added that the network "will continue to consider responsibly produced ads from all groups for the few remaining spots in Super Bowl XLIV."

The 30-second Focus on the Family ad will feature Tim Tebow and his mother Pam with a tag line "Celebrating Life, Celebrating Family." The commercial is expected to run just before and during the Super Bowl.

Related web sites:
Support Tebow’s Super Bowl Ad – https://www.facebook.com/TebowSuperBowlAd

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