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."

[GulliverSwift]

Please Howard don't quit! I'll just die from apathy if you do!

[NormsRevenge]

Buh-Bye Howard, You Putz!

[CzarNicky]

don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya.

[PhiKapMom]

Is this going to be another Alex Baldwin moment where Stern threatens but doesn't follow through?

[OldFriend]

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

[raloxk]

I use to like Howard, but he is incredibly self-absorbed

[Semper Paratus]

Promises, Promises.

He'll pull an Alex Baldwin at crunch time.

[Paradox]

This was no right-wing vote, it was OVERWHELMINGLY passed by the house.

[skinkinthegrass]

GO HOWARD, Please, GO to....well you know. Straight to H**l! :/

[oceanview]

the worst part about his rant this morning was the presence of cong. gary ackerman, making a host of anti-chritian remarks about the culture war and the "religious right".

[Paul Atreides]

Will he move to France, too?

[BlueAngel]

We're taking out the trash.

[GulliverSwift]

That's very possible. He just needed some attention since his ratings have fallen quite a bit in the past few years. Now he hopes that bashing Bush will get the left wingnuts to listen in to his juvenile show.

[Professional Engineer]

Don't let the microphone hit you on the way out Howard.

[2banana]

Stern believes that only about 50,000 receivers are ready to go and the demand could be up to 5 million

That would mean that Stern's fans would actually have to pay to listen to him...ain't gonna happen.

[dinok]

While we all think this is about Howard Stern now...it will be about Rush, Hannity, Savage and Beck tomorrow. 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.

We should have nothing to be celebrating today.

[MindBender26]

A. M. F.

[azhenfud]

Horse Phooey! Stern can't keep a promise that long.

[sport]

Good!

[mass55th]

Oh, hurt us Howard...please!