WINNERS OF THE 9th GOP DEBATE (GREENVILLE): (MY PICKS)

WINNERS OF THE 9th GOP DEBATE (GREENVILLE): (MY PICKS)

SOUTH CAROLINA GOP 2016 PRIMARY: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20

WINNERS: Trump, Rubio, Bush, Kasich.

After the South Carolina primary Ben Carson may be forced to suspend his campaign.

Stay Tuned.

**** Fireworks Erupt Between Trump, Bush, Rubio & Cruz At GOP Debate

Sparks flew at the toughest and liveliest GOP primary debate yet Saturday night, as Donald Trump and Jeb Bush clashed over the Middle East and George W. Bush’s legacy, trading insults at a rapid clip – and the two Cuban-American senators in the race accused each other of lying on immigration and even questioned each other’s Spanish-speaking skills.

And just when it seemed Trump and Ted Cruz might steer clear of each other, the two leading Republican candidates entered the ring toward the end of the debate when the Texas senator questioned the billionaire businessman’s pro-life credentials.

“You are the single biggest liar. You’re probably worse than Jeb Bush,” Trump said.

Cruz stood his ground, charging that Trump would “appoint liberals” to the Supreme Court if elected.

The issue of judicial appointments was front and center at the CBS News-hosted debate in Greenville, S.C., in the wake of Justice Antonin Scalia’s death, with candidates like Cruz saying it underscores the high stakes in this election. Several candidates called for a delay in any high court appointment or confirmation.

But the barbed and often personal exchanges Saturday marked a new phase of the race, as the candidates charge into next week’s critical South Carolina primary. 

The clashes left Ohio Gov. John Kasich – the affable, second-place finisher in the New Hampshire primary – making an appeal for peace in the GOP field, albeit one unlikely to be heeded.

“I think we’re fixing to lose the election to Hillary Clinton if we don’t stop this,” Kasich said.

Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, too, warned about the coming general election and said, “We cannot be tearing each other down.”

The appeals came shortly after Cruz and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio accused each other of being soft on illegal immigration. It’s an argument they’ve had before – Cruz faults Rubio for backing a comprehensive immigration reform bill that included a path to legal status, and Rubio says Cruz was on board with that effort – but this time, it became more heated. 

And after Cruz accused Rubio of saying on Univision he wouldn’t rescind President Obama’s immigration executive orders on day one, Rubio quipped:

“I don’t know how he knows what I said on Univision because he doesn’t speak Spanish,” Rubio said.

Cruz, then, immediately began debating Rubio in Spanish. Rubio continued, saying Cruz “lies about all sorts of things” and indeed supports legalizing illegal immigrants.

“Simply false,” Cruz said.

As the Rubio-Cruz battle heated up, so did the long-simmering feud between Trump and Bush.

“This is a man who insults his way to the nomination,” Bush said of Trump. 

With Bush attempting a comeback in the race after a fourth-place finish in New Hampshire, Trump faced a feistier debate rival on stage Saturday night than he has before – boosted in part by what seemed to be a sympathetic audience.

The audience often booed Trump when he took on Bush, though Trump once again accused them of representing Bush’s “special interests and lobbyists.”

Their most personal dispute came when Trump accused Bush of promoting a policy that would get the U.S. mired more deeply in the Middle East – and blamed the former Florida governor’s brother for the problems there.

Trump initially took issue with Jeb Bush’s call to confront ISIS while also taking on Syria’s Bashar Assad and sidelining Russia.

“Jeb is so wrong,” Trump said. “You have to knock out ISIS. .... You decide what you have to do after. You can’t fight two wars at one time.”

Bush, though, said Russia is not a U.S. ally, and Assad’s hold on power prevents a resolution in the war.

 Trump then went on to repeatedly slam the decision under the George W. Bush administration to enter Iraq in the first place, calling it a “big fat mistake” that “destabilized the Middle East.”

“They lied” about WMDs, he said.

“I am sick and tired of him going after my family,” Jeb Bush countered, saying he’s proud of his brother’s efforts to keep the country safe.

Trump then invoked 9/11: “The World Trade Center came down … That’s not keeping us safe.”

Rubio, who has often been at odds with Bush, leapt to his brother’s defense, saying the Bush administration “kept us safe.”

Jeb Bush joked that he was rescinding Trump’s invitation to an upcoming rally with George W. Bush on the campaign trail.

The fireworks flew after the debate started on a somber note, discussing the legacy of Supreme Court Justice Scalia and the impact his death Saturday will have.

Several candidates urged President Obama to refrain from nominating anybody to fill the vacancy, and wait for the next president to make that decision. Trump, though, said he doesn’t expect Obama to wait, and called on Senate Republicans to hold up any nomination.

“It’s called delay, delay, delay,” Trump said.

Trump called Scalia’s death a “tremendous blow to conservatism.”

Kasich urged Obama to put the “country first” and not move forward with a nomination, a plea echoed by Rubio. Obama, though, said minutes before the start of the debate that he indeed plans to nominate a successor.

The GOP candidates, meanwhile, used opening remarks to honor Scalia’s legacy.

Cruz called him a “legal giant” who “changed the arc of American legal history.” He said Scalia’s death also “underscores the stakes of this election.”

“We are one justice away from a Supreme Court that will strike down every restriction on abortion” by states, threaten gun rights and “undermine” religious liberty, Cruz said. He said he would appoint a strict constitutionalist if elected.

Scalia’s death thrusts the issue of judicial appointments into the 2016 race, raising the possibility that the next president immediately will have to fill a high court vacancy. 

While Obama vowed Saturday to nominate a successor, it’s unclear whether he can get any appointee confirmed in the Republican-led Senate.

While the prospect of a Supreme Court vacancy now looms over the race, the South Carolina primary already was heating up on several fronts in recent days, with the candidates trading accusations on immigration and other issues.

The debate Saturday reflects that tougher tone, in a state notorious for bare-knuckle primary battles. 

Trump at one point accused Cruz of trying to spread rumors in the state that he’s not running in South Carolina – likening that to his campaign’s actions in Iowa, where representatives spread false rumors that Carson was dropping out. 

“Nasty guy, now I know why he doesn’t have one endorsement from any of his colleagues,” Trump said.

Even Kasich struggled to avoid the fray, as Bush criticized him for expanding Medicaid under ObamaCare and said that would create more debt.

“He knows that I’m not for ObamaCare,” Kasich said, before vowing to stay “positive. “

The GOP field is now down to six candidates -- after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Hewlett Packard chief executive Carly Fiorina dropped out following low finishes Tuesday in the New Hampshire primary.

A big question Saturday night, and going forward, was whether Rubio could regain his momentum – following last weekend’s lackluster performance. 

A withering attack by Christie on Rubio, which had the Florida senator repeating himself, appeared to hurt him in the New Hampshire primary. 

Rubio himself blamed his debate performance in part for his fifth-place finish in the state. 

He finished behind Trump, Kasich, Cruz and Bush. Christie, though, is no longer on stage or in the race.

Most polling in South Carolina still shows Rubio third, with Trump and Cruz in the top two positions, respectively.

Sources: CBS, Fox News, Youtube

ARIEL SHARON'S 60-Minutes Interview: Feb 26, 1928 - Jan 11, 2014 (R.I.P.)

#SHARON

ARIEL SHARON; Born: Ariel Scheinermann, February 26, 1928, in Kfar Malal just outside of TEL AVIV.

Died: January 11, 2012, at a Hospital near TEL AVIV.

Former ISRAELI Prime Minister ARIEL SHARON is dead at the age of 85.

SHARON a Tel Aviv native, survived the last 8 years of his life in a Coma.

Prime Minister SHARON was a WAR Hero, who supported expanding ISRAEL'S borders and helping JEWISH Settlers.

His death was met with both Tears & Cheers from around the world.

In 2002 ARIEL SHARON was interviewed by 60-Minutes Journalist LESLIE STAHL.

During this interview SHARON stated that he felt NO HATRED toward anyone, including former Palestinian leader YASSER ARAFAT, but loved ISRAEL with all his heart.

SHARON also expressed deep regret for NOT having Killed YASSER ARAFAT when he had the chance to do so.

Last Saturday Pres OBAMA along with other World Leaders, publicly offered his Condolences to SHARON'S Family & to the people of ISRAEL.

R.I.P.






ARTICLE: "Ariel Sharon, Former Prime Minister Of Israel, Dies At 85"


Ariel Sharon's life was one of dramatic highs and lows. As a soldier, he was both a war hero and a national disgrace. As a politician, he was a brazen leader who fought for Israel’s security, but became despised for withdrawing unilaterally from the Gaza Strip and offering Palestinians a state of their own.

His son, Gilad Sharon, announced his death Saturday, saying "he went when he decided to go."

Vice President Joe Biden said in a statement that he will lead the U.S. delegation to Israel for Sharon's funeral, which was scheduled for Monday near his ranch in the Negev Desert.

In a statement released by the White House, President Obama called Sharon "a leader who dedicated his life to the state of Israel."

"We reaffirm our unshakable commitment to Israel's security and our appreciation for the enduring friendship between our two countries and our two peoples," Mr. Obama said. "We continue to strive for lasting peace and security for the people of Israel, including through our commitment to the goal of two states living side-by-side in peace and security."

The man Israel knew as "Arik" began serving as the nation's prime minister in March 2001. A highly controversial figure as both a longtime political and military leader, Sharon was also known as "the bulldozer" for his aggressive style.

Short and burly -- he was 5-foot-7 and weighed well over 250 pounds before his debilitating stroke in 2006 -- Sharon seemed larger than life. Proud and defiant, he liked to remind Israelis that he fought in every one of the country's five wars since its founding more than half a century ago.

Born in 1928 to Russian immigrants, Sharon first fought in the Jewish militia whose founding preceded statehood in 1948. Sharon then rose swiftly through the ranks of the Israeli army, making his name on the battlefield as he went. His bold advance across the Suez Canal helped turn the tide of the 1973 Mideast war.

But Sharon also masterminded Israel's disastrous invasion of Lebanon in 1982. The unapproved military strike stopped Yasser Arafat's Palestine Liberation Organization from using Lebanon to launch attacks against Israel, but it also resulted in the massacre of hundreds of innocent Palestinians.

An Israeli commission found Sharon indirectly responsible and in early 1983, he was removed from his post as defense minister. His political future seemed doomed, but he would gradually resurrect his career, serving in parliament and holding a variety of cabinet posts.

Sharon defied international protests, leading a push to build dozens of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza. But after his party's election defeat in 1999, Sharon devoted more of his time to his sheep farm in southern Israel.

Failed peace talks and a Palestinian uprising, however, would draw him back onto the political stage. In 2001, Sharon was elected prime minister in a stunning landslide.

It was in his second term that Sharon stunned observers across the world -- including his domestic allies -- by offering Palestinians statehood and classifying Israel's rule over them an "occupation."

Prior to withdrawing from the Gaza Strip and giving 1.3 million Palestinians a degree of autonomy after decades of Israeli rule, Sharon had always maintained a contrarily hard line.

As a member of parliament, he had never voted in favor of any of Israel's peace agreements with neighboring Arab states. He consistently refused to shake the hand of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, who he called a murderer and a liar.

Sharon was a founding member and former head of the conservative Likud party. But in 2005, he broke away from the party and founded a new centrist party, Kadima ("Forward").

On Saturday, former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton noted Sharon's politics in a statement offering their condolences.

"Ariel Sharon gave his life to Israel - to bring it into being, to sustain and preserve it, and at the end of his long service, to create a new political party committed to both a just peace and lasting security," the Clintons said. "It was an honor to work with him, argue with him, and watch him always trying to find the right path for his beloved country."

In January 2006, Sharon's career was cut short when he suffered a massive stroke.

Ehud Olmert, the deputy prime minister and fellow Kadima party member, was confirmed as acting prime minister. Before suffering the incapacitating stroke, Sharon enjoyed enormous popularity and a wide lead in the polls. His Kadima party went on to win the largest number of seats in the March 2006 elections.

Supporters viewed Sharon as a leader who worked toward peace without compromising Israel's security. Many Israelis also consider him a war hero who helped defend the country during some of its greatest struggles.

Sharon's critics in Israel, however, say he undermined the peace process and surrendered too much security in exchange for peace with the Gaza pullout.

The divergent views on Sharon extended to the White House. Ronald Reagan, writing in his autobiography "An American Life," called then-defense minister Sharon "a bellicose man who seemed to be chomping at the bit to start a war."

In 2003, however, President George W. Bush referred to him as "a man of peace."

On Saturday, a spokesperson for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon released a statement saying that Ban was "saddened" by Sharon's death.

"The Secretary-General calls on Israel to build on the late Prime Minister's legacy of pragmatism to work towards the long overdue achievement of an independent and viable Palestinian state, next to a secure Israel," the statement read. "At this time of national mourning, the Secretary-General renews the commitment of the United Nations to work alongside the Government and the people of Israel for peace and security."



Sources: 60-Minutes, AP, CBS News, Los Angeles Times, Reuters, Youtube

Palin's Possible 2012 Run: "Southern Strategy" & Katie Couric Interview

As it relates to former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R) jumping into the GOP's 2012 Presidential Bid Circus to run against Barack Obama, I'll believe it when I see it.

But for right now I don't see it!

Why?

Because she resigned from her official state job as Governor to go on book tours, why would anyone in their right minds want to support her or believe she is Committed to helping govern an entire country?

In addition let's not forget her foolish answers in 2008 to Journalist Katie Couric's Interview questions regarding Foreign Policy, U.S. Supreme Court Justices & What types of books she reads.

You know the SAME interview which earned Entertainer Tina Fey an Emmy or two for mocking Palin.

Man that skit was so funnnny!

So do you really think she is intellectually capable of winning a debate against Barack Obama or beating him in a General Election?

Please People!

Hold It!

Sarah Palin may Not be the most Intelligent Woman on the planet, however she isn't Stupid by a long stretch.

In fact she's the Queen of Cunning & Subtle Racist Tea Party Rhetoric!

Sarah Palin has made it no secret what her plans are for 2012 & that she absolutely despises Pres. Barack Obama.

Simply because he's BLACK!

Not Because of "his Policies" as she so often claims when granting interviews to the Fox News network.

What are her plans for 2012?

To stir up as much Racial Hatred in the South & within the state of Arizona as possible!

Sarah Palin truly believes that if she can stir up Racial Hatred in Southern States & Arizona, she will help the GOP win big time in 2012.

Now how do I know her devious scheme is being fueled by Racism?

Because when George W. Bush was in the White House I NEVER heard a peep out of Sarah Palin about Bush's Policies.

NOT even about his "War On Terror", Weapons of Mass Destruction, Wall Street Deregulation, etc., NOTHING!!

However suddenly Barack Obama comes on the scene & she becomes this raving Political idiot!

And who cost Senator John McCain the 2008 Presidential Race?

Sarah Palin's Racially Divisive "Southern Strategy" tactics.

Yes she's the reason why so mannnnnny Young White Voters decided to cast their ballots for Barack Obama.

For some dumb reason both Sarah Palin & Newt Gingrich think that Richard Nixon's Racist, Southern Strategy plan STILL works today.

Well guess what?

It doesn't!!

Not Many Registered Voters Support or Endorse that Crazy, Racist, GOP Tea Party Rhetoric anymore.

People want Solutions NOT Division!

Just as long as they can provide EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS, who cares if the person best suited to help provide those solutions is Black Or White?

So if anyone thinks Sarah Palin will actually run against Barack Obama in 2012, perhaps you need YOUR head examined!

But if Palin thinks that by continuing to exercise Richard Nixon's Ineffective, Racially Divisive, Southern Strategy Political tactics the Republican Party will win back the White House, perhaps she needs HER head examined!

Remember NY-26 & VOTE OBAMA IN 2012!











She's Back!

As if on cue, Sarah Palin announced Thursday that she is launching a multi-state bus tour this weekend that will have her visit a number of states with important presidential primaries.

The trip will begin in Washington, D.C., on Sunday and then move on to New England, where Palin is expected to make her first stop in New Hampshire since running as the Republican VP nominee in 2008.

From Palin’s new SarahPAC website:

"The 'One Nation Tour' is part of our new campaign to educate and energize Americans about our nation's founding principles, in order to promote the Fundamental Restoration of America."

Original post at 9:49 a.m.: And just like that, she’s back in the headlines.

For the past several weeks, Sarah Palin had been largely relegated to the pile of possible-in-theory-but-unlikely-in-reality Republican candidates who were mentioned in passing as political pundits and journalists speculated on the 2012 GOP field. But, at least for now, the former Alaska governor has squeezed back into the conversation.

The fresh round of media speculation built quietly over the past several days, but by Thursday had broken through to the front page of the New York Times (“Recent Moves by Palin Hint At Candidacy”). The Wall Street Journal, likewise, offers its own take in an A7 article that leads with news about Palin’s new Arizona home.

The latest batch of articles – which also included an Associated Press story, as well as ones by Politico, the National Journal and a number of regional newspapers – are pegged to a string of recent Palin developments.

First, there was last week’s declaration that she does, indeed, have the “fire in the belly” needed to stage a bid. Then, there is her reported new $1.7 million Scottsdale home, which would give the former Alaska governor a more ideal travel hub from which to base a campaign. Throw in the rehiring of a few key staffers, the launch of a new SarahPAC website, and news of an upcoming feature film about her set for a June premiere in Iowa, and the speculation certainly seems warranted.

While Palin is unlikely to provide clarity any time soon, the renewed focus on the former Republican VP nominee will continue to cause headaches for the current crop of GOP candidates, as well as the party establishment that is hoping to rally support around them.

A Palin run would face plenty of obstacles, but her name recognition and strong base of supporters is undeniable. In the most recent Gallup poll, completed after Mike Huckabee and Mitch Daniels officially dropped out of the race, Palin trails frontrunner Mitt Romney by only two percent, 17-15. Of course, as Slate’s David Weigel notes, 15 percent is about half of what she got in the very first survey of this primary season.


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Sources: CBS, NBC, Slate, Wikipedia, World Socialist Web Site, Google Maps

Mitt Romney Praises Sarah Palin On David Letterman (Video)

Watch CBS News Videos Online




Romney Tells Letterman: Palin "Has a Rifle, You Know"


Likely 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney appeared on CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman" Tuesday as part of his tour to promote his new book, "No Apology: The Case for American Greatness."

Asked about potential rival Sarah Palin, Romney called her "terrific" and added, "she's got energy, passion." He then urged Letterman to "be careful what you say about her by the way," a reference to the feud between the two kicked off by Letterman's comments about Palin's daughter.

Letterman grinned and nodded, saying, "I've had my…," before trailing off as the audience began laughing.

Responded Romney: "She has a rifle, you know."

In his opening monologue, Letterman called Romney a "good looking Republican from Massachusetts," comparing him to new GOP senator Scott Brown, "but with pants."

The two men discussed cars and the auto industry, with Romney telling Letterman he drives a Ford Mustang. They also talked about Romney's father George, the former Michigan governor and auto executive.

They eventually turned to an incident in which Romney was punched on a flight departing from Vancouver last month.

"The fellow in the seat in front of my wife put his seat back during the takeoff procedure," said Romney, who said he "tapped him on the shoulder and reminded him" that the seat had to be upright for takeoff.

"He became somewhat agitated and they removed him from the airplane," Romney said. "He didn't like that, by the way, and gave me a good swat."

"And he broke my hair," Romney added, with a grin.

Later in the interview, the two men discussed the health care reform effort, with Romney saying "the problem is not the insurance companies." He said it was important to change the incentives to make health care more like a consumer market in order to control costs.

In his book, Romney criticizes President Obama for going "before so many foreign audiences to apologize for so many American misdeeds, both real and imagined."

"There are anti-American fires burning all across the globe; President Obama's words are like kindling to them," he writes, attacking Mr. Obama for "the steady stream of criticisms, put-downs, and jobs directed at the nation he was elected to represent and defend."

Romney kicked off the book tour Tuesday, appearing on ABC's "The View" and Fox News Channel's "Hannity" in addition to the "Late Show."

Sources: CBS, The Late Show

11 Best, Funniest 2010 Superbowl Commercials

<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=116f413e-e1fc-4b09-80e9-2c29009d76a8&amp;from=IV2_en-us_foxsports_videocentral" target="_new" title="Snickers: Betty White">Video: Snickers: Betty White</a>



2010 Super Bowl Commercials: 10 Best


Snickers -- Betty White

Any commercial with Betty White and Abe Vigoda is a winner in our book no matter what it’s about. In this case, the spunky Golden Girl is playing pickup football with the guys, though she’s struggling. “Man, you’ve been riding me all day,” she says before eating a Snickers bar that not only transforms her into a regular guy but also raises Vigoda from the dead. What, “Fish” is still alive? Twenty-eight years after People Magazine erroneously reported his demise, the answer is yes!


CBS' Late Show--Oprah, David Letterman, Jay Leno

Late night fans got the surprise of a lifetime during the second quarter of the Super Bowl tonight when they saw Jay Leno sitting side-by-side with David Letterman in a promo for CBS’ Late Show. Appearing with Oprah Winfrey, Letterman laments about how bad the party is, and Leno retorts “he’s just saying that because I’m here.” Minutes after the spot, CBS sent out word that the two late night stars taped the spot last Tuesday at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City. The spot was a revisit, of sorts, to a 2007 Super Bowl spot that featured Letterman and Winfrey. A Late Show spokesman said the spot was Letterman’s idea, and Leno and Winfrey were willing participants.

Coca Cola -- The Simpsons

The Simpson and Coke. Perfect together. Who wouldn’t like to see Monty Burns lose all his money? But the goodness of Coke makes for feel-good ending for all. Big props for a Spider-pig cameo on the swings.


Hyundai -- Brett Favre

OK, Hyundai’s commercials are getting better (with as many as they’re running, the odds are at least ONE had to be good). As much as we’re all getting sick of Brett Favre’s indecision every year, obviously he has a sense of humor about. I thought it was funny when he was saying most of the fans are younger than him, and that was before I noticed it was the 2020 MVP award he was winning. I thought he was talking about the current season. Because he’s already old.


TruTV -- Punxatawney Polamalu

Punxsutawney Polamalu. Awesome. So much better than a commercial about his hair. Let’s see PETA complain about THIS one. Unfortunately, there won’t really be six more weeks of football.


FloTV -- Spineless man

We all know this spineless male. Some of us know him all too well. Yeah, watching TV on a little screen can save some male dignity. But good luck getting your girlfriend to allow that.


Bud Light -- Stranded on an island

Passengers from an airplane crash are moping around on a desert island until the beverage cart full of Bud Lights washes up on shore. That’s when the party begins! Maybe the pilot had a few too many before he crashed the plane -- who knows? But the commercial proves that Homer Simpson was right: Beer truly is the cause of -- and solution to -- all of life’s problems.


Kia -- Toys fantasy

A life-sized sock monkey, a robot and a red monster you’ll recognize if you have kids all experience a wild weekend in a Hyundai. Not sure why this was funny, but it was.


HomeAway.com -- The Griswolds

Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo reprise their roles as quirky parents from the classic “Vacation” movies, except this time they’re exasperated travelers getting screwed by extra hotel charges. The solution, says the ad, is to rent a house. It’s a pretty good spot, but we were hoping Christie Brinkley would make an appearance at the hotel pool. This is crazy, this is crazy, this is crazy!


Google -- French love story

Really clever commercial showing only the Google searches of a traveler in Paris as he tries to find the Louvre, then a cafe, then woos a French woman, then finds a job in France, then gets instructions on how to assemble a crib for their child. It shows how Google can help create a happy life instead of being used just for finding naked pictures of celebrities.


Audi -- Green Police

Funny. Sure, we all need to be more environmentally conscious. But it’s always funny when stuff like that is taken to the extreme. If a car could allow you to go around real police checkpoints like the one in the commercial, it’d be well worth it. Until that day, I’ll try to avoid a ticket for recycling.


Sources: Fox Sports, MSNBC, CBS, Entertainment Weekly, Youtube

Tim Tebow's Ad vs Planned Parenthood & Mancrunch (Videos)

CBS Reacts To Controversial Tebow Super Bowl Ad







CBS responded to complaints over a conservative group's planned Super Bowl ad featuring football star Tim Tebow by saying that it had eased restrictions on advocacy ads and would consider "responsibly produced" ones for open spots in its Feb. 7 broadcast.

CBS said Tuesday it had received numerous e-mails -- both critical and supportive -- since a coalition of women's groups began a protest campaign Monday against the ad, which the critics say will use Tebow and his mother to convey an anti-abortion message.

Funded by the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family, the 30-second ad is expected to recount the story of Pam Tebow's pregnancy in 1987. After getting sick during a mission trip to the Philippines, she ignored a recommendation by doctors to abort her fifth child. She later gave birth to Tim, who won the 2007 Heisman Trophy and helped his Florida team win two BCS championships.

CBS said Tuesday that the decision to air the Tebow ad reflected a change in its policies toward advocacy ads that has evolved over the past several years.

"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," said spokesman Dana McClintock. "In fact, most media outlets have accepted advocacy ads for some time."

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

In 2004, CBS was criticized by many liberal organizations for rejecting an ad by the United Church of Christ highlighting the UCC's welcoming stance toward gays and others who might feel shunned by more conservative churches.

CBS said Tuesday that, under its new policies, the UCC ad would have been accepted for airing. The network said that it has run ads in the past year or so with divergent views on topics such as the health care overhaul, climate change and energy policy.

Thirty-second commercials during the Super Bowl are selling for $2.5 million to $2.8 million.

On Monday, a coalition led by the New York-based Women's Media Center, with backing from the National Organization for Women, the Feminist Majority Foundation and other groups, urged CBS to scrap the Tebow ad.

"An ad that uses sports to divide rather than to unite has no place in the biggest national sports event of the year -- an event designed to bring Americans together," said Jehmu Greene, president of the media center.






Tebow versus Mancrunch


Today will see the New Orleans Saints, an American football team famed for its past haplessness, take on the Indianapolis Colts, a longtime powerhouse, in the Super Bowl. The on-field action should keep most fans glued to their couches, unless it's a blowout.

This year, political junkies will be on the edge of their seats for something else: a political controversy over the ads. Focus on the Family is running a spot about Tim Tebow—one of the best two or three players in college football, and a highly-touted future professional. Mr Tebow, with the biblical verses he wears on the black glare-protectors under his eyes, and his public promise to save his virginity for marriage, is probably the most outspokenly Christian sporting star in the country.

The ad will feature Mr Tebow and his mother, who was a missionary in the Philippines when he was born. She became ill and her placenta partially detached. Doctors, fearing for her health, counselled abortion. Insead, Ms Tebow will say, she prayed, and her superstar son was born healthy. Abortion-rights groups are furious. The Super Bowl's producers have, by tradition, rejected advocacy ads during the game.

CBS, the network airing the Super Bowl, then added fuel to the controversey by turning down, as "not within the network’s broadcast standards", a lighthearted ad for a gay dating site called ManCrunch. What was so offensive that CBS could not bring itself to air it? Two manly fans' hands meet in a bowl of crisps as they watch the game at home; humorously exaggerated passions ensue. We don't even see the men's lips meet, since one has practically tackled the other on the couch. A slightly stunned friend watches from the next chair.

CBS's decision to air the Tebow ad has gotten most of the attention, but it is the rejection of the ManCrunch ad that rankles me. America's first-amendment tradition is so robust that even though no one has a constitutional right to have their views disseminated by CBS, we understandably expect those who sell advertising space to sell it fairly.

And the decision not to air the ManCrunch ad can only be due to rank homophobia—the family-friendliness of past Super Bowl ads has allowed for bikini waxes, dogs attacking crotches, farting horses, erectile-dysfunction drug pitches and more, and that in just one typical year. One year, a Snickers bar, being eaten from its two ends, results in two sweaty non-gay males horrified to find themselves accidentally kissing. Acceptable, of course—becasue the joke is on the gays.

It's often said that outrageous ads are made to be rejected by the networks at Super Bowl time, for free publicity, and some think that this is what ManCrunch did.

But to believe that, you have to find the idea of two men kissing outrageous. Increasingly, Americans don't—we've just had the first gay love scene on a daytime soap opera. CBS is simply thinking as Bill Kristol does about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"—even if people's prejudices are unjustifiable, they must be deferred to. Shame on CBS, for making a decision both controversial and cowardly at the same time.






ManCrunch SuperBowl Ad REJECTED: Gay Dating Site Ad Denied By CBS


CBS has rejected an ad from gay dating site ManCrunch, telling the site that the ad "is not within the Network's Broadcast Standards for Super Bowl Sunday.", James Hibberd reports at The Live Feed.

CBS released the following statement:

"After reviewing the ad - which is entirely commercial in nature - our Standards and Practices department decided not to accept this particular spot. As always, we are open to working with the client on alternative submissions."

Hibberd reports that CBS believed ManCrunch was trying to generate free publicity by submitting an ad that was likely to be rejected.

"We're 100% serious," ManCrunch spokesperson Elissa Buchter said. "We have the money to pay for it. If the ad showed a man and woman kissing it would have been accepted. You see ads for erectile dysfunction morning, noon and night. It's discriminatory that they wont show this....They should call our bluff. If the ad doesn't air on the Super Bowl, it will air on another network. It's not like it plays like Adam Lambert [kissing another man on the AMAs]."

Original Post: CBS is considering airing an ad for gay dating site ManCrunch, Fox News reports.

On the heels of the network's decision that advocacy ads are acceptable, ManCrunch says CBS has not rejected its ad — which includes two male football fans making out.

A rep for ManCrunch told Fox News that CBS said "the spot hadn't been officially approved yet" as of last week, but "all the Super Bowl spots were sold out."

"ManCrunch requested the spot get reviewed anyway just in case another advertiser drops out and a spot becomes available, as often happens, and CBS agreed," the rep said.

A CBS rep told Fox News that "the ad is still under review, the process takes a little while....We still have a lot of ads we have yet to review."


Sources: CBS, Fox Sports, Fox News, MSNBC, Huffington Post, Economist.com, Democracy In America, Wikipedia, Planned Parenthood, Mancrunch, Youtube

Gay Super Bowl Commercial Nixed By CBS (Video)

Gay Dating Site's Super Bowl Ad Rejected By CBS



Super Bowl network CBS rejected an ad Friday from ManCrunch.com, a gay dating Web site.

"After reviewing the ad, which is entirely commercial in nature, our standards and practices department decided not to accept this particular spot," said CBS spokeswoman Shannon Jacobs. "We are always open to working with a client on alternative submissions."

CBS (CBS, Fortune 500) said it turned down the ad partly for financial reasons, but ManCrunch believes that there's more to it than that.

"It's straight-up discrimination," said Elissa Buchter, spokeswoman for the Toronto-based dating site.

Jacobs of CBS declined to comment on the charge of discrimination.

Buchter provided a copy of the CBS rejection letter to CNNMoney, which states that the ad "is not within the Network's broadcast standards for Super Bowl Sunday."

The letter also states that the CBS sales department "has had difficulty verifying [ManCrunch's] credit status."

Buchter said that basing the rejection on credit status doesn't make sense because "we offered to pay cash." But Jacobs said CBS has no record of any such offer.

CBS is charging up to $3 million for 30-second spots. Buchter said ManCrunch would have been charged $2.5 million for its ad and would have had no trouble paying it, since the newly formed company recently raised $40 million from investors.

Shortly before ManCrunch announced the rejection, Jacobs of CBS said her company was reviewing the ad and it was "just one of many."

Jacobs also said the spots were "virtually sold out. We have one, maybe two spots left."

ManCrunch's ad, which can be viewed on its Web site, shows two men watching the Super Bowl. Their hands brush each other in the potato chip bowl, which inspires a passionate, male-on-male make-out session.

ManCrunch is not alone. Godaddy, an online retailer of Web site domain names, is running an ad in the Super Bowl this year but it had another ad rejected by CBS in the process. The rejected ad features a man named Lola.

This year's Super Bowl, between the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints, will be played Feb. 7 at Sun Life Stadium near Miami. The facility in Miami Gardens, Fla., formerly called Dolphin Stadium, was recently renamed. To top of page


Sources: CNN, CBS, ManCrunch, Youtube

N.O.W. Rebukes David Letterman Over Past Sexual Relationships With Female Co-Workers

(“Late Show” host David Letterman admits to having affairs with women on his staff and says someone at CBS had been trying to blackmail him. NBC’s Michael Okwu reports and NBC’s chief legal analyst, Dan Abrams, discusses the case.)

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

NOW blasts Letterman over sexual affairs with staff


The National Organization for Women has sharply criticized comedian David Letterman, accusing him of promoting a hostile, uncomfortable work environment.

"The latest Letterman controversy sheds new light on the widespread objectification of women in the workplace," NOW said in a statement Tuesday. "Most women can attest to the fact that many workplaces are plagued with inappropriate behavior by men in power."

The "Late Show With David Letterman" host admitted last week on his CBS program that he had sex with unnamed employees and had testified about those liaisons before a New York grand jury as part of an alleged extortion attempt.

A CBS producer, Robert "Joe" Halderman, is accused of threatening to go public with embarrassing information about Letterman's private life unless the 62-year-old funnyman ponied up $2 million.

Letterman made a public apology Monday to his wife, Regina Lasko, who, he said, had been "horribly hurt by my behavior." He said he is trying to repair that relationship.

"Either you're going to make some progress and get it fixed, or you're going to fall short and perhaps not get it fixed, so let me tell you folks, I got my work cut out for me," Letterman told the audience Monday night.

Letterman married Lasko in March, and they have a 5-year-old son together. All the affairs took place before the marriage, Letterman's production company has said.

NOW said Letterman's behavior was inappropriate in the workplace, saying all employees should be respected for their talent and skills.

"Recent developments in the David Letterman extortion controversy have raised serious issues about the abuse of power leading to an inappropriate, if not hostile, workplace environment for women and employees," NOW said in Tuesday's statement.

Men such as Letterman make decisions on hiring and firing, who gets raises, who advances and who does entry-level tasks, NOW said.

"As 'the boss,' he is responsible for setting the tone for his entire workplace -- and he did that with sex. In any work environment, this places all employees -- including employees who happen to be women -- in an awkward, confusing and demoralizing situation," the group said.

"The National Organization for Women calls on CBS to recognize that Letterman's behavior creates a toxic environment and to take action immediately to rectify this situation. With just two women on CBS' board of directors, we're not holding our breath."

Those board members are Shari Redstone, vice chairwoman of the board and president of National Amusements Inc., which operates motion picture screens, and Linda Griego, president and chief executive of Griego Enterprises Inc., a business management company.

CBS airs "Late Show With David Letterman," which Letterman's company, Worldwide Pants Inc., produces.



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Sources: CNN, MSNBC, NY Daily News, Wikipedia, Google Maps

David Letterman Apologizes To His Wife For Sex Scandals...What About His Sponsors??? Ratings?

(Letterman apologizes to his wife. On his first show since going public with an alleged extortion plot, TV host David Letterman takes shots at himself and talks about the scandal’s impact on his wife. NBC’s Peter Alexander reports.)

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

(Will Letterman's confession of affairs with co-workers hurt his career or cause sponsors to drop him?)

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

(Who is Letterman's would-be Blackmailer? Marisa Guthrie, Programming Editor for Broadcasting and Cable magazine, talks about the man who attempted to extort $2 million from David Letterman.)

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Letterman apologizes to wife on Monday’s show


David Letterman apologized to his wife on Monday's "Late Show," saying she had been "horribly hurt by my behavior."

The late-night host vowed to repair his relationship with his wife, Regina Lasko.

"Let me tell you folks, I got my work cut out for me," said Letterman, according to an early transcript of the program released by CBS.

Monday's show was the first show taped by Letterman since Thursday, when he disclosed that he had had sexual relationships with women who worked for him, and that he had been the victim of an alleged $2 million blackmail threat.

Letterman also apologized to his staff for the situation.



A teachable moment for workplace lovers

When talk show host David Letterman went public last week with the revelation that he had affairs with women who worked for him, he pointedly said he hopes “to protect my job.”

For the late-night comedian, that is no joke.

Many companies have policies that restrict or prohibit relationships between a boss and his or her subordinates, and violations can be career killers.

In 2005, to take one high-profile example, Harry Stonecipher was asked to resign from his post as chief executive officer of Boeing Co. when his extramarital affair with another executive at the company was exposed.

In the case of Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., the damage is still unfolding from an affair he had with a member of his campaign staff (who also was the wife of a close aide) that was disclosed in June. In another case Fox News personality Bill O'Reilly settled a harassment lawsuit brought by a producer who said the two had phone-sex conversations.

In the O'Reilly case, the producer claimed she allowed the conversations to continue because he was her boss. "I'm not used to saying no to this man on any level," she said in one interview.

That is exactly why such relationships are frowned on in the workplace and why organizations establish guidelines for such liaisons, especially when they involve a head honcho and subordinates. Such relationships can lead to sexual favoritism, a hostile work environment and straight out sexual harassment.

“When you have a boss and subordinate relationship, one person has power over the other,” said Linda Henman, the author of “The Magnetic Boss.” “Whether that person abuses the power is irrelevant, the perception is there.”

Letterman technically is an employee of his Worldwide Pants production company, but CBS has a clear policy on the situation, and CBS suppliers are supposed to follow the broadcaster's policies.

Here’s a section of CBS’ 2008 Business Conduct Statement: “If a consenting romantic or sexual relationship between a supervisor and a direct or indirect subordinate should develop, CBS requires the supervisor to disclose this information to his or her Company’s Human Resources Department to ensure that there are no issues of actual or apparent favoritism, conflict of interest, sexual harassment, or any other negative impact on others in the work environment.”

It is not known whether Letterman informed anyone at the company about his affairs. CBS Television spokesman Chris Ender would not comment on the issue beyond this: “Mr. Letterman addressed the issue during the show’s broadcast (Thursday) evening, and we believe his comments speak for themselves.”

Romantic relationships in the workplace are nothing new. About 40 percent of workers have had a workplace romance, according to a study by recruiting firm Spherion Corp. last year.

Such affairs can cause messy situations in the workplace, especially when they involve a boss and a subordinate, because they are seldom kept under wraps, said Henman. “People think they are cleverly hiding it but don’t recognize they a lot of people probably know,” she said.

There are a variety of legal claims that can arise out of relationships between a subordinate and superior, said Jennifer Kearns, a partner with the law firm Duane Morris who specializes in employment law.

Kearns offered three types of claims:

* A subordinate can say they never wanted to be in the relationship in the first place and that their boss pressured them into it. “These harassment claims can arise years later,” she said.

* Even if the relationship was consensual, claims sometimes arise afterward that a boss retaliated against the underling because she didn’t want the affair to continue.

* And there’s the paramour claim. “People who say, ‘Gee, look at her sleeping with the boss and she’s getting all the best accounts, but I’m not getting those because I’m not sleeping with the boss,’” she said..

Kearns pointed to a case involving a prison warden and consensual relationships he had with several of his subordinates. In a lawsuit, two former employees who did not have such affairs claimed the warden favored his lovers, creating a hostile work environment.

Such favoritism is not necessarily enough for a discrimination claim, said Ray Peeler, senior attorney advisor for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. “But if you have somebody who’s serially doing this with employees where it becomes an issue to get ahead with this supervisor then that’s clearly illegal," he said.

Widespread sexual favoritism, he explained, can create a hostile work environment, and if a jilted lover demotes a subordinate or otherwise adversely impacts their job, that’s considered retaliation. Both are illegal.

and the manager continue to pursue a person who is not interested. That is considered sexual harassment.

Aside from the legal issues, there is also social and emotional fallout to consider.

“Once the work intensity subsides, you might feel embarrassed that the excitement propelled you toward intimacy with a co-worker,” said Leslie Beth Wish, a psychologist who writes about relationships at LoveVictory.com

“You might have to work with this person on another project, and now your emotional and intellectual energies for work are compromised. You must now deal with your discomfort, disappointment and embarrassment.”

No matter how Letterman’s situation plays out, it does open up the question of whether such relationships are ever a good idea in the workplace, especially after the talk show host was ensnared in a $2 million extortion plot. A CBS News producer has been arrested and charged with the scheme.

I did an informal poll on Twitter following Letterman’s mea culpa, asking how an employee on this famous man’s show could say no to advances from the big cheese?

Here’s a sampling of the answers I got:

* From @laurenbear: hopefully letterman's ladies made the move on him, otherwise, very uncool. dangerous moves either way!

* From @jobsearchjungle: the big question is ... if they denied him, would he provide them a reference down the road or not!!!!????

* From @abbycarr by crossing her legs?

Henman believes these types of relationships involving successful men and women and their underlings often come down to a power trip.

“Look at Clinton and Monica Lewinsky,” she said, referring to the former president, a frequent butt of Letterman's jokes. “You have a naïve young woman, and the leader of the free world is interested in her. That’s pretty much an aphrodisiac.”

“I’m not saying,” she added, “that that’s what happened in Letterman’s case. But he’s rich and famous and that’s attractive, and he can use his position to get women in bed.”



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Sources: MSNBC, CBS, NY Times, Google Maps