The First Amendment was specifically designed to protect political and religious speech, elements the British colonial authorities suppressed. The Fourteenth Amendment extended the Bill of Rights protections to the states. However, for almost a century after the ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment, state and local governments routinely suppressed pornography. Political and religious speech were never in the same category as commercial or sexually oriented speech. Commercial speech, i.e., advertising, is considerably restricted by law. When was the last time you saw a billboard, a TV commercial, or a newspaper ad for Winston cigarettes? The FDA restricts the claims that may be made for both prescription and nonprescription medicines, as well as for vitamins, minerals, and homeopathic remedies.
The restrictions that Santorum advocates were considered mainstream and almost universal public opinion before the falsified Kinsey Report. Unfortunately, the level of moral depravity in this country is such that Santorum is regarded as an extremist in such matters.
You said a mouthful there. It is not Santorum advocating these restrictions, however, or, to be more precise, not merely Santorum doing so. All three top candidates were asked to respond on this issue, but the liberal elites in the media have decided to serve the story up to us in this particular fashion, attempting to relegate Santorum to a position apart from the mainstream of America, or even just apart from the other two candidates, presumably because the liberal media elites like the other two better than Santorum! Here are the quotes -
Former Senator Rick Santorum in a written statement: “Federal obscenity laws should be vigorously enforced. If elected President, I will appoint an Attorney General who will do so.”Former Governor Mitt Romney in a written statement: “(I)t is imperative that we cultivate the promotion of fundamental family values. This can be accomplished with increased parental involvement and enhanced supervision of our children. It includes strict enforcement of our nation’s obscenity laws, as well as the promotion of parental software controls that guard our children from Internet pornography.”
Former Speaker Newt Gingrich in a face-to-face meeting: When MIM’s Executive Director Dawn Hawkins asked former Speaker Gingrich if he will enforce existing laws that make distribution of hard-core adult pornography illegal, he responded: “Yes, I will appoint an Attorney General who will enforce these laws.”
Very relevant point.
In fact, the facts indicate that the bigger and more oppressive government becomes, the more access the public seems to have to such corrosive vices - l'homme moyen sensuel.