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."

[Incorrigible]

[Mulder]

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

Be careful what you wish for.

[oceanview]

what they do is political speech. a constant drumbeat describing anal sex over the public airwaves is hardly the same.

[FITZ]

I think you're right --- it's hard to believe anyone isn't bored silly with his show by now --- I tried listening once --- but gave up after 20 minutes --- I kept waiting for something shocking -- unfortunately not much is shocking anymore.

[myrabach]

Who's Howard Stern and why should I care?

[oceanview]

what stops (or should stop) CBS from airing pornography over the public television airwaves?

[Empireoftheatom48]

LOL Bye , Bye LOL!!!

[GulliverSwift]

South Park is far more shocking and far more witty than Stern's bilge. He's either trying to make himself into the next Larry Flynt among the far left or trying to boost his name ID. He's lucky he's gotten away with his crap for as long as he has.

[Mulder]

what stops (or should stop) CBS from airing pornography over the public television airwaves?

The "off" switch on your remote control.

[dinok]

If I hear the term "public airwaves" one more time I will puke. Aren't the liberals saying the land in national parks are "public" as an argument to control its use and prevent people from even walking on it?

I don't want to substitute liberal political correctness with conservative political correctness.

[Blue Jays]

Hi AmishDude-

I know you've got four syllables to add to this thread!

~ Blue Jays ~

[kcvl]

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

Maybe you have forgotten about the Clintons having Bill O'Reilly audited THREE times and trying to put Rush out of business.

[TOUGH STOUGH]

Awww, poor wittle Howie, what will America do without your filthy ideas and your crass, profane humor???

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Eventually, the democrats will run the government again, and they will use all these powers congress passed to stifle conservative speech and the rights of conservatives to surf the web or donate to their causes.

And if Howard Stern is allowed to continue with his perversion schtick, the 'rats (when in power) will leave conservatives alone? Is that your argument?

[AmishDude]

Now I don't know why you would ping me to a Stern thread. After all, such threads are not filled with breast-beating, nor whining nor any sort of hero worship.

I don't see why you would need me to add to the obvious intellectual content that Stern fans bring to --

Ba Ba Booey!

Seriously, though, this is too big a day to worry about Howard Stern's whining. Check my tagline.

[JOE6PAK]

Howard. You are a friggin millionaire! Take the money and run! Spend the rest of your life having fun or hangin' out at Scores. You don't need this aggravation. BA-BA-BOOIE!

[Mo1]

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.

Ummm didn't that pass by something like 319 - 22 votes

Gee .. there are only 22 Dems in the house??? .. when did that happen?

[teletech]

Good riddance!

[dennisw]

No more anal sex jokes and obsessions

[oceanview]

well, at least you are honest. you feel nothing should stop CBS from airing porn. I guess "the Murder Channel" would be OK too. And the "IV Drug channel". And the means by which the the public is to keep this kind of stuff out of the culture would be through some kind of diligent, 100% effective all the time, channel blocking everywhere, on every TV set that children could and might see. and the same for radios, we need foolproof parental controls for those also.