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."

[goodnesswins]

Well....it's a Beaattchh isn't it Howard, when the adults are in charge.

[pfflier]

Stern is threatening to quit anyway if President Bush signs new indecency legislation into law.

And the downside is???

[FITZ]

Both I think. He's dull --- same stuff over and over --- I actually didn't know he was still around until the recent threads about him leaving his show. I can't say I'm an expert but the 20 minutes I listened to him, I can only say he was hysterical over himself but wasn't funny. I think like Alec Baldwin he's trying to make himself politically more important than he ever could be.

[Elle Bee]

He's going to satellite ....... they will pay to buy out his contract ....... and he/they will make even more as their masthead shock jock

.

[Mulder]

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

And he failed to shut Rush down under existing laws.

Think he'll have better luck with new laws?

[dinok]

"Who's Howard Stern and why should I care?"

Howard Stern is an aging long haired radio guy whose significance in human development lies in the single fact that under the giuse of silencing his brand of speach, our government is setting president to silence others. Its actually our willingness to let government burocrats decide who is to speak and who is to be silenced that is the sad tale.

"Go ahead, take away my rights. I'm not using them."

[SouthernFreebird]

You can't fire me, I quit. LOL

[oceanview]

if he is on a pay channel, very few will spend the extra money. they would likely put him on one of the "included" stations, to see if they could increase subscribers.

[Skooz]

How, oh how, will we go on?

[FITZ]

How can he shock? Nothing is really very shocking anymore --- I think that's his major problem -- it's all he's ever had going and the repetitiveness of his routine will doom it. It was years ago when I listened to him -- it was stupid and vulgar but far from shocking.

[dinok]

"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?"

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.

Stern's popularity was wanning anyway. The guy was planing to give it up soon.

[rintense]

Door meet ass.

[Mulder]

I guess "the Murder Channel" would be OK too. And the "IV Drug channel".

The current crap on the networks is no better. It's simply 'bread and circuses' mixed with propaganda.

To imply that the current broadcast lineup is wholesome simply because it doesn't feature "Debbie Does Dallas" and "IV Drug Channel" is ludicrous.

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.

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.

[anncoulteriscool]

Hmmmmm...just in time for MTV spring break shows. LOL!

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

They may have wanted to go after Rush and others, but they did not have the legal tools. We just gave them to them.

What could be in an "indecency bill" that would impact Rush?

[kcvl]

Think he'll have better luck with new laws?

After turning the IRS on every so-called conservative in the country, who had a radio show, newspaper or magazine article, I doubt they can. If the Clinton crime gang couldn't get it done, no one can. They are PROFESSIONALS at it.

[pepperdog]

What a terrible loss to society.

[TC Rider]

Stern is threatening to quit anyway if President Bush signs new indecency legislation into law.

Is there supposed to be bad news in there?

[Mulder]

After turning the IRS on every so-called conservative in the country, who had a radio show, newspaper or magazine article, I doubt they can.

Isn't that a crime?