OUR VIEW: Superbowl network needs consistency

Viewers watching Sunday’s Super Bowl will see commercials selling beer, soda pop, movies, shoes and countless other things, but there are two ads they will not see.

CBS has chosen not to run ads from non-profit organizations MoveOn.org and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. CBS said it has a policy of not broadcasting ads about controversial public-policy issues.

MoveOn.org and PETA representatives are crying foul since CBS ran ads speaking out against drunk driving and smoking during past Super Bowls. During last year’s game on ABC, a White House-sponsored ad aired saying illegal drug users were supporting terrorists.

The MoveOn.org ad shows children working adult jobs and at the end of the spot, poses the question “Guess who’s going to pay off President Bush’s $1 trillion deficit?”

The PETA ad, however, could be considered more risqué. The ad features two scantily clad females pouncing on a pizza delivery man in a sexual manner. The women are not happy with what the man delivered; one woman says “Hey, remember the sausage,” and the screen reads, “Meat can cause impotence.”

CBS’ censorship of these ads is hard to understand given past airing of other commercials regarding public-policy issues. Censorship is rarely a good idea in any form, as every individual and organization should be allowed to have its voice heard on issues.

After viewing the ads, it is hard to understand why the MoveOn.org ad was rejected in light of other ads aired by the network. The censorship of the PETA ad is more understandable because the argument it presents is weak compared to the potentially offensive angle it uses, but censoring voices should be reserved for more extreme cases.

Does this situation qualify? See for yourself. Each ad is viewable at www.moveon.org and www.peta.org, respectively.