Stern Threatens To Quit If Bush Signs Indecency Bill

FMQB ^ | March 11, 2004

[GulliverSwift]

The Howard Stern saga continues. Although Infinity is saying they will stand by their man, Stern is threatening to quit anyway if President Bush signs new indecency legislation into law. On this morning's show, Congressman Gary Ackerman called in to discuss the bill and assure Stern that he would not sign it. Ackerman said the vote on the bill is happening today, and that he feels it will easily pass through the right wing-controlled House but that the Senate may veto it. (The bill passed in the House this afternoon, see separate story.) Stern replied by saying that if Bush signs the bill, he will resign as soon as it becomes a law. In fact, he went as far as to say that he's so tired of getting censored every morning that he may resign anyway, even if the bill isn't signed by Bush. Stern lamented that he just wants to do comedy his way, and radio has become too much of a battle.

While he could just be saying that out of anger and frustration, Stern reiterated that FCC sources have told him that Chairman Michael Powell wants him off the air, whether it be now or after the next presidential election, and he dared Powell to issue his indecency fines now instead of waiting until after the election. He also made the point that he believes his suspension by Clear Channel was directly related to him denouncing President Bush in the past few months, rather than specific incidents of indecency.

While Infinity is insisting that Stern won't be gone anytime soon, he said on the air today he has not ruled out the idea of going to satellite radio. However, he feels that satellite companies are not prepared to quickly manufacture the number of radios that would be needed to accommodate all of his fans that would want to buy them, should he decide to make that move. Stern believes that only about 50,000 receivers are ready to go and the demand could be up to 5 million, and that they don't have the technology to roll out the equipment fast enough.

However, an Infinity source told Radio Business Report that the satellite move won't happen. "He's not going to satellite," said the source. "First of all, he can't. He's under contract with us for two more years. So it's not even an issue... we're going to defend him."

[Destro]

Howard, try France, you'd fit right in.

LOL - If you listened to Stern you would know he always attacks France as an anti-American, anti-Semetic and untrustworthy nation and has done so for years.

[highlander_UW]

ROFLMOL...this is simply a case of, if they're running you out of town get ahead of the crowd and make it look like you're leading the parade!

[Shethink13]

Up until now, we have had free speach. They may have wanted to go after Rush and others, but they did not have the legal tools. We just gave them to them.

Oh for crying out loud - how in the heck did this Republic survive for all these years with decency standards in the broadcast industry? You just admitted yourself that up until now we have had free speech, even with those standards in place.

Nobody is silencing Stern. Having a right to speak does not equal the right to a free microphone.

[Captiva]

if President Bush signs new indecency legislation into law.

- - - - -

And the downside is?

More government legislation is the downside.

[NYCVirago]

If Howard quits, chances are Infinity will sue him for breaking his contract (he still has 2 years left on it, at close to $20 million a year salary.) His real reason for not going to satellite radio is the combination of this contract, and his salary. He'd be lucky to make 1/10 that kind of money on satellite radio. And even if he is willing to take that huge pay cut, like I said, he's got a contract. Infinity fired Opie and Anthony, but they still were not allowed to go anywhere until their contract expired, not even satellite radio. Anyhow, Howard is just blowing smoke here.

[3catsanadog]

Why is he whining? He has a show on the E! channel or VH1 (I forget as I only see it when I'm flipping channels and what I do see each and every time is some blonde with her gigundus mammaries pixeled out and him asking her if she does women - every dam time!).

[Robert_Paulson2]

AND EVEN WHEN DEMOCRATS GET BACK IN CHARGE, THEY WON'T MAKE POLITICAL SPEECH "INDECENT."

---

dude you are dreaming.
they made christian abortion protestors and churches the targets of rico prosecution... and had a degree of success at it too.

don't hand the rapist a knife and send your wife out with him.
government cannot be trusted with as much power as it already has, why commit suicide by giving it more?

you think hillary the dike wouldn't charge that a comment about gay lifestyles, since it relates to sex... not only could be but WOULD BE indecent, offensive sexually and therfore subject to fines and prosecution.

if you believe that is NOT likely.. I'll have some of what you're having...

[rwfromkansas]

Right. That guy is stupid....they have had indecency standards since the beginning of our nation and Rush is still on the air. Even Democrats would not try to silence opposition by claiming politics is indecent.

[Captiva]

How can he shock? Nothing is really very shocking anymore

Apparently a medal clad nipple over a fake boobie [or is it booby?] on the 50 yard line is.

[Robert_Paulson2]

AND EVEN WHEN DEMOCRATS GET BACK IN CHARGE, THEY WON'T MAKE POLITICAL SPEECH "INDECENT."

---

dude you are dreaming.
they made christian abortion protestors and churches the targets of rico prosecution... and had a degree of success at it too.

don't hand the rapist a knife and send your wife out with him.
government cannot be trusted with as much power as it already has, why commit suicide by giving it more?

you think hillary the dike wouldn't charge that a comment about gay lifestyles, since it relates to sex... not only could be but WOULD BE indecent, offensive sexually and therfore subject to fines and prosecution.

if you believe that is NOT likely.. I'll have some of what you're having...

[Destro]

He had two nekkid women with sticks stuck up their back ends. The women were "positioned" such that the sticks were sticking "up". The purpose for this was so that others could toss rings around the sticks for "points". A "ring toss" game.

I am sure you lingred to watch the whole show so you can disapprove of it with conviction.

[Life is Sacred]

Unfortunately, since most media outlets have been derelict in their responsibility of policing obscenity, the government has to do something.

Stern is nothing but radio pornography. There's just no way to defend anything about this freak's show. Maybe a move like this will give the media of this country a collective kick in the a$$. If Howie quits or gets tossed off the air, others of his ilk will quietly change for fear they may be next.

[NYCVirago]

LOL - If you listened to Stern you would know he always attacks France as an anti-American, anti-Semetic and untrustworthy nation and has done so for years.

Like Stern never changes his mind? He went from thinking Bush was the greatest thing since sliced bread for the War on Terror to now saying that Bush has not made this nation safer. He used to mock people like Al Franken; now he has him on his show and quotes from his book. What's to say he won't decide France is now wonderful?

[Captiva]

If parents spent more time teaching their children right and wrong, instead of trying to control everybody else's life, then the kids would simply turn it off themselves

Yea. what he said. Mulder - Sorry but I'm going to copy this alot & use it.

[Destro]

....Patriot act (used to bust strip club owners so far).

[Captiva]

just in time for MTV spring break shows

I was this close to grabbing Downtown Julie Brown's arse @ Daytona in '88.

Wuba Wubba Wubba

[Captiva]

if President Bush signs new indecency legislation into law.

- - - -

Is there supposed to be bad news in there?

Yes - more gov't legislation.

[FreeReign]

Just wait until some future administration declares it "indecent" to critcize the government.

Why ever have another presidential election? Some future admistration may declare it "indecent" to criticize the government.

Slippery Slopes R US...

[Jorge]

If you listened to Stern you would know he always attacks France as an anti-American, anti-Semetic and untrustworthy nation and has done so for years.

Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.

[Mulder]

I've been saying screw these big radio companies.They used the government to build their empires and now they whine like stuck pigs when the government goes after them.

So you think it's okay for a future RAT admin to go after Limbaugh?