Christian NASCAR Driver Blake Koch Loses Sponsor after ESPN Pulls Ad
The liberal media are again attempting to silence another Christian voice in their crusade for “tolerance.” ESPN refused to air NASCAR driver Blake Koch's advertisement, which encourages American youth to vote, because of Koch’s Christian faith.
Koch partnered with "Rise Up and Register" to produce the voting advertisement. After ESPN’s refusal, the non-religion based campaign pulled its sponsorship of Koch.
Although the ad was non-partisan and non-religious ESPN denied it a spot because it linked back to Koch’s website, where he promotes ministry and his Christian faith.
According to “Fox News Insider,” the ad injected no sort of political or religious agenda and Koch said the only message he was trying to send with the ad was to register an additional one million people to vote. It wasn’t tied to a particular candidate or party, he explained.
ESPN has a history of lashing out at Christian figures. The network bashed Christian quarterback Tim Tebow for his "polarizing" behavior, and in February one of its reporters directed a racial slur at basketball player Jeremy Lin, another devout Christian athlete.
ESPN is not the first network to idle Christian devotion, and Koch’s case coupled with other all-out assaults on believing Christians only continues to prove the left is accepting of any faith but Christianity.
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Comments
Prophecy
Submitted by Joe W. on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 12:29pm.
Another example of Prophecy being fulfilled, Lauren. The Bible says that the persecution of Christians will expand exponentially, the closer we get to the arrival of the Savior, Jesus Christ. That being the case, we Christians are actually quite excited by all of this rejection, mocking and hatred directed towards us. It simply validates our belief that we are indeed, living in the "end of times", and that He is soon to come and claim His throne. Praise the Lord, and prepare for even more intolerance from the non-believers.
If only he supported
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 12:31pm.
anal sex for teenagers.
I saw him on F&F the other day
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 12:51pm.
....they played the entire commercial.
It was totally without controversy. Just "young people, half of us didn't vote last election...get out and vote!".
ESPN is blatantly using his Christianity against this young man.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Totaly agree.
Submitted by c5then on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 1:13pm.
I saw it also and there was no "link" to his own personal web-site. They searched that out on their own to have an excuse.
On the other hand, I bet an ad staring Jezebel Fluke asking young women to get out and vote for Obama to preserve their freedom of choice would be approved in a half a fetus' heart beat
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
Demographics
Submitted by Radical1979 on Fri, 04/13/2012 - 7:59am.
Most likely the people he's reaching out to would vote Republican. Another reason to cancel the ad.
How do we know it was due to his faith?
Submitted by Mike Dean on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 1:07pm.
If we can prove that then we should organize a boycott of ESPN.
Because ESPN said it was.
Submitted by c5then on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 1:23pm.
In their rejection message they said it was rejected because it violated their policy on ads with political and/or religious overtones and messages. They also made mention of his own personal web site, which is celebrating his Christianity, but had absolutely NOTHING to do with the Ad. Since the Ad only asked people to vote and doesn't say for who or even in what election...you make the connection.
and yes, ESPN makes their money from selling advertisements based on their viewership and their viewer numbers. If this is negatively impacted, their income will go down. But since they are owned by Disney....the question is will that even matter.
They still employ the "sportscaster" who famously said "F*** Touchdown Jesus" while attending a banquet at Notre Dame.
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
The only time I watch ESPN
Submitted by KornKing on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 1:53pm.
Only when Bosox are on there, as they're not on my baseball package when they play national game. I think I'll just use my RedsoxNation radio feed from now on when ESPN has the game
Yep displaced sox fan
Submitted by BossDan on Sun, 04/01/2012 - 3:21am.
I agree I refuse to use those ignorant charlatans for my info on sports anymore there is no reason for me to give them even any hits or advertising at this point.
ESPN
Submitted by NOLAgirl on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 1:17pm.
has long been on my "do not view" list... They simply try to incite controversy in a pathetic attempt to stay relevant. There are so many other places to get sports information I just don't bother to watch them.
Agree NOLA
Submitted by Blonde on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 1:27pm.
Who knew we'd ever like CBS Sports for the SEC? Gah!
I don't think you've met LSUdolemite here yet....but there are a bunch of us SEC fans who whine and moan about CBS. I guess I'll have to cut it out.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
College Football
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 3:15pm.
The only reason I ever watch ESPN or CBS, and if I don't care about the game I won't watch either.
And they probably thought he
Submitted by Lakewood Ed on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 1:22pm.
And they probably thought he was one of the Koch brothers, too. ;)
ESPN's Atheism will lead to...
Submitted by RightOfMost on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 2:02pm.
...the likelihood of Koch being a "Start & Park" driver in the Nationwide Series since his team has lost the money it takes to assemble a pit crew or even buy tires. And then the team may just have to shut down altogether. Too sad, and it doesn't have to happen!
I watched Koch last season when he was sponsored by the Daystar TV Network in the #81 Nationwide car. He did a great job for an underfunded team. Of course ESPN, at the behest of NASCAR, never mentioned his car's sponsor back then either. FOX has to adhere to the same rule. So it may be NASCAR along with ESPN that is shutting down the "Rise Up."
TV won't even mention race sponsor names (except once every hour) unless the race sponsor ponies up extra money on top of what they already pay the track. It didn't have an effect from 2001-2008, but since then, teams and sponsors have fled the scene. What else happened at about that time? Hmm.
By the way, his name is pronounced "Cook," so there should be no confusion with those brothers who happen to employ lots of people and sign lots of people's checks.
The current economic crisis: (c) 2008, George Soros, LLC (with assistance from the U.S. Democrat Party). All their Marxist rights reserved; all my rights severed.
They will use the excuse, "Well, his last name IS Koch...."
Submitted by drsamherman on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 3:44pm.
"And you know the Koch Brothers...blah blah blah...."
Would they say the same if his last name were Biden or Pelosi?
Not the best example
Submitted by nkviking75 on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 3:55pm.
It should be noted that the "racial slur" directed at Jeremy Lin was described by the writer who penned it as an honest mistake, and that Jeremy Lin has accepted that explanation. Moreover, the two men recently had lunch together, a meeting Lin initiated. While I don't doubt your basic thesis, I don't think this is the best example.
“Always love your country — but never trust your government!" -- Bob Novak (1931-2009)
When you put the clowns in charge, don't be surprised when a circus breaks out.
maybe it is time for a conservative sports network that
Submitted by Lipton on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 4:16pm.
features alpha males and sports. ESPN is so politically correct it just sucks.
Perhaps it's for the best
Submitted by CM on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 4:30pm.
These "get out the vote" efforts are well meaning, but flawed. Do we really want uninformed people voting?
Surprising? Not one bit!
Submitted by okie-pastor on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 4:57pm.
Surprising? Not one bit!
I don't know if this is just ESPN or
Submitted by bkeyser on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 5:03pm.
if NASCAR is involved too because under Mike Helton, NASCAR has really lost it's roots. There are blatant political references all the time now including their "game change" references to they're new-last-year ethanol-based fuel, among other things. NASCAR is losing fans and this garbage from ESPN isn't helping.
Espn is not attempting to
Submitted by balboa on Fri, 03/30/2012 - 11:00pm.
Espn is not attempting to silence anyone. Koch is free to spread whatever his message is via any number of other forums. It is not a right to advertise.
ESPN Guilty of Suppressing Voters
Submitted by snowwwizard on Sat, 03/31/2012 - 12:16am.
That should be the headline with a quick follow up: Will parent company Disney feel the backlash?
email
Submitted by m1xram on Sat, 03/31/2012 - 3:54am.
Sent them some email asking why ESPN was attacking Christians. Will post an update if I hear back.
The opposite of Left is Freedom.
Theyre not...
Submitted by balboa on Sat, 03/31/2012 - 10:32pm.
Theyre not...
Crickets
Submitted by m1xram on Fri, 04/13/2012 - 6:52am.
Didn't hear back why they are attacking Christians. They sent back some meaningless dribble that had nothing to do with my question.
The opposite of Left is Freedom.