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04-06-2005, 08:41 AM
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#1 of 13 
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Congressional Leader Wants to Criminally Prosecute for Indecency
Pretty Scary stuff if this push gets taken seriously
Quote:
JAIL TIME FOR INDECENCY?
April 6, 2005 -- A major Congressional leader now says he wants to make broadcast indecency — the smutty talk that gets Howard Stern and Opie and Anthony into trouble — a criminal offense.
Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner III (R-Wis.) says criminal prosecution would be a more efficient way to enforce the indecency regulations.
"I'd prefer using the criminal process rather than the regulatory process," Sensenbrenner said this week at the National Cable & Telecommunications Association conference in San Francisco.
The current system — in which the FCC fines a station for violating the regulations — isn't working, he said.
"People who are in flagrant disregard should face a criminal process rather than a regulator process," Sensenbrenner said. "That is the way to go. Aim the cannon specifically at the people committing the offenses, rather than the blunderbuss approach."
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The rest of it can be read here:
http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/43961.htm |
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04-06-2005, 09:36 AM
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#2 of 13
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I don't even know what to respond to that. Welcome to the new red scare.
/Mike
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04-06-2005, 09:44 AM
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#3 of 13
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Good grief. First they want the FCC to regulate cable tv and now this.
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04-06-2005, 10:12 AM
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#4 of 13
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I would be real surprised if something like this got through. Granted the Washington Politicos are somewhat creative with their interpretations of Federalism but this would be a major intrusion of the Federals into States rights. Besides, unless there is a shift in the Supreme Court, they have swatted down indecency measures before for 1st ammendment violations or not comprehending the variation of indecency from juristiction to juristiction. I would hope this is more bluster and less substance.
Kenneth
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04-06-2005, 10:13 AM
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#5 of 13
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What a fine and subtle distinction Sen. Sensenbrenner makes between a blunderbuss and a cannon. How impressively nuanced is his rhetoric. And the Civil War era metaphors? Priceless.
Oratory on that level is bound to get one some cable news exposure, not that I'm suggesting the honorable Senator is cynically grandstanding or anything. Perish the thought. He's on the side of the angels, after all.
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04-06-2005, 11:27 AM
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#6 of 13
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Quote:
| this would be a major intrusion of the Federals into States rights |
I don't see what states rights have to do with this.
I agree that this will not pass, but the idea is there and that's bad enough. I'm sure many people agree with it too.
/Mike
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04-06-2005, 11:41 AM
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#7 of 13
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As far as the state/federal thing, I would hope it would only be federal if it were on a national broadcast.
This is going to spur up a bunch of free speech debates, I'm sure, and I think It needs to be said right now that I feel that the general entertainment medium needs to be acceptable to general audiences. Although I feel there should be unrestrictive outlets (satellite radio, HBO, etc), no kid should be able to turn on his TV when his parents aren't around and find a pornographic film.
But still, this is too far. The fines are enough to keep stations from wanting to do this. Really, "bad words" (and I use the term loosely) don't make you a bad person, much less a criminal.
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04-06-2005, 12:09 PM
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#8 of 13
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I want to say "Fucking pussies!" but I don't want to go to jail.
It galls me that elected officials are wasting our (the taxpayer's) time and money on stuff like this when there are homeless, jobless people without adequate healthcare; we are dependent on, and sacrificing our environment for fossil fuels; and while we have boys and girls sacrificing their lives and psyches for other people's freedom.
The market place will decide what is suitable for TV, radio, etc. It's a crazy world when seven million people watch a TV show and it isn't enough people to keep it on the air, but if a few dozen (give or take) people complain about something, the government has to get involved.
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04-06-2005, 12:33 PM
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#9 of 13
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Last night, The Shield (as always) had a warning that said that the program was intended for people 17 and older. Wait, it's not for kids? So only adults should watch it. What a crazy idea 
EDITED TO STICK WITH FORUM RULES |
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04-06-2005, 02:24 PM
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#10 of 13
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Michael Reuben
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