ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia Republican running for lieutenant governor says the National Football League's rejection of a veterans group's Super Bowl ad is "hypocritical."
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Sen. David Shafer introduced a resolution Thursday denouncing the league and urging Americans to stand for the national anthem.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the printed game program has never been a place for advertising some might consider to be a political statement.
The words "Please Stand" figured prominently American Veterans ad. The league has been roiled by debate over players kneeling during the anthem to protest social injustice.
McCarthy said AMVETS declined to consider alternatives, such as "Please Stand for our Veterans." And he said the NFL did approve a Veterans of Foreign Wars ad saying "We Stand for Veterans."
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Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, http://www.ajc.com