Have you checked out JesusHatesObama.com? The company’s mission statement, posted at the top of the website, reads: “Do we really believe that Jesus hates Obama? Of course not! However, we do believe in the freedom to make fun of the Obama administration with novelty t-shirts.” Fair enough, but the site apparently wanted more exposure, so it made an ad to run during the Super Bowl. Fox, however, rejected the 30-second ad, which depicts bobble-head versions of President Obama and a scowling Jesus.
The site’s creator insists the ad is a complete joke that Fox isn’t getting. But Ruth Levenson, Fox’s vice-president for broadcast standards, said it’s “not acceptable to air on Fox.” The Jesus Hates Obama company, which has reportedly sold more than 70,000 T-shirts, tried to appeal Fox’s decision, but that, too, was rejected.
The commercial slot, airing before kickoff, costs $2.3 million. The Jesus Hates Obama founder said the money would have come from $3 million he received from private investors. And that is the only part of all this that we find surprising. A $3 million investment went into a “Jesus Hates Obama” novelty T-shirt company? Another reminder that you’re in the wrong industry.
