Healthcare Prof:
5 (1 votes)
A small group of antiabortion-rights advocates are hoping to recruit a presidential candidate so they can run graphic ads showing aborted fetuses for the duration of the Super Bowl, Congress.org reports.
The group hopes to employ the same tactic used in the course of the midterm elections by Missy Smith, an antiabortion-rights activist who unsuccessfully ran for Washington, D.C., delegate. Smith “took advantage of federal rules that prevent broadcasters from censoring election ads unless they defame others or violate copyright,” in accordance with Congress.org. In the early 1990s, the Federal Communications Commission and federals court ruled that graphic abortion images are not indecent.
Smith’s campaign spent $66,000 operating 225 graphic ads on TV stations inside the D.C. area. Smith plans to run again in 2012 and is recruiting candidates for the top 25 media markets. The group would require millions of dollars to fund a Super Bowl commercial.
Antiabortion-rights activist Randall Terry, the founder of Operation Rescue who is known for his controversial tactics, said he came up with the idea to work around broadcasters’ policy of rejecting inappropriate ads. According to Congress.org, “Even viewers who agree with the message have filed FCC complaints against the ads due to their graphic nature” (Ali, Congress.org, 11/10)
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