David Gibson of Politics daily agrees with Emanuel's analysis
He says the pro-life message "won big" because Focus on the Family "realized that having everyone talk about you is every bit as important as actually doing or saying something controversial."
"For weeks before the big game, the controversy over CBS' decision to reverse its previous policy barring advocacy ads to air the ad against abortion had sent Pam Tebow's story ricocheting around the Internet," he noticed.
"The pushback only generated more support for Tebow and Focus and their message, and had anti-abortion types crowing about how Pam Tebow would be discussing her difficult choice for life and urging Americans to fight abortion," he said of the reaction to pro-abortion groups attacking the ad.
Even though the ad never mentioned abortion, "everyone knew what the ad was about and the ad didn't have to say anything directly -- which is the definition of the perfect advocacy ad."
I thought the ads was very sweet. Tim and his mom were very likable and I think most people watching were glad Pam Tebow did not abort her miracle baby.
But the the pro-abortion crowd was not done. After the ad aired on Sunday, NOW president Terry O'Neil denounced it as promoting violence against women because the football player, tackled his mom.
That was too much for NOW president Terry O'Neill, who told the Los Angeles Times the ad glorified violence against women: "I am blown away at the celebration of the violence against women in it. That's what comes across to me even more strongly than the anti-abortion message. I myself am a survivor of domestic violence, and I don't find it charming. I think CBS should be ashamed of itself." (snip)You can see the whole article here.
Several newspaper columnists are taking issue with her response and Joe Henderson of the Tampa Tribune said it "trivializes real problems" women face with authentic domestic violence. (snip)
George Diaz of the Orlando Sentinel also took issue with NOW's president.
"Crazy me, I thought we could agree that the Tim Tebow pro-life ad was a nice, family-friendly commercial that in no way could be deemed offensive. I was wrong," he writes. "There’s always a lunatic fringe, ready to scream and yell. Say hello to NOW president Terry O’Neill."
"No, you should be ashamed of yourself for not having a clue. This is why our country is so polarized -- because nitwits like you are so obsessed with your point of view that you have no tolerance for anyone who may disagree with you," Diaz continues.