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."

[rwfromkansas]

No, you don't get it.

There is something fundamentally different between political speech and lurid programming.

They are not equivalent.

[Robert_Paulson2]

they just... killed... kenny....

[Kerberos]

"We should have nothing to be celebrating today"

Correct, weather you like Howard or not is beside the point. This is about dismantling the 1st Amendment. And as usual the holy rollers can’t get lined up fast enough to give away rights if they believe it will bring about their God fearing utopia.

[kcvl]

Isn't that a crime?

Yes, as was most everything the Clinton gang did. Do you remember who the "attorney general" was? Janet 'stonewall' Reno. Do you remember Web Hubbell going to prison FOR them, to "roll over one more time"? That was ONE OF THEIR BEST "FRIENDS", Hillary's business PARTNER (maybe even Chelsea's father). He also didn't get a pardon AFTER IT, either. Susan McDougal did because she kept her mouth shut and sat in prison for 22 months. That is better than dead, I suppose.

If I started naming the criminal things the Clintons did, I would be here all night. NO ONE has that many "friends" end up indicted, dead or ruined. NO ONE!

[NYCVirago]

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?

I keep on saying over and over in these threads that liberals don't need precedents -- if they can get away with kicking Rush off the air, they'll do it, no matter what happens with Howard Stern.

[rwfromkansas]

No, you don't get it.

There is something fundamentally different between political speech and lurid programming.

They are not equivalent.

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

They could have done so a long time ago; we have had indecency legislation since even before 1776 and politics has not become an area of indecency to punish conservatives in all that time. It won't happen. The public would not stand for it, even Manhattan liberals and the ACLU would scream free speech if they tried to squelch a conservative voice by claiming politics to be "indecent."

And if they try, we can vote the Dems out.

[dinok]

"the dems twisted rico laws to go after christian groups over the freedom of speech to protest abortion... and did it successfully..."

How quickly some forget the Clinton years when their thugs were targeting conservatives.

I have a bad feeling that we will live to regret the powers of the patriot act. The lefties will use it in ways we have not even thought of. Bu they have. They have many...many...many lawyers already smirking to each other and thinking of ways.

Are we conservatives that gullible?

[paul51]

Time for a poll. Who is the biggest cry baby? stern or kerry

[rwfromkansas]

I loved the one with the civil war reenactment. I am new to the program so I can't remember his name, but the dude who was Robert E. Lee and kept saying "authoritay"...that character cracked me up. I found it hilarious when they tried to take Topeka. Lol

[Captiva]

he is incredibly self-absorbed

This is nothing new.

[paul51]

I was trying to remember if he was the freak that walks around with his ass hanging out of the back of his pants. What a pathetic fool.

[Captiva]

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

Who bought his books, pay-per-view & movie tix? His non-fans?

[Robert_Paulson2]

with janet renal in power...
they did manage to twist federal laws to justify burning to death about thirty underage minors...

from a christian sect...
that they did not like...
for producing drugs... that they did not produce...
and using the lon horiuchi mentality and twisting the law, they committed murder.

would they twist pervert and misuse law, to shut folks down?
hell yes.. and they will.
they shut rush down for about two months by twisting the law... over a noncrime "drug crime," craftily created from some democraptic da's wet dream.

Rush or some others will be singled out and will be charged with indencency for their alleged "hate speech" anytime he confronts social issues.

funny that folks want to punish the evil sinner stern so much they are willing to give government even more power than it already has over what they can say, or who they can choose to listen to... and do it carte blanche.

glad bush is set to veto this if it passes the senate.

[3catsanadog]

cong. gary ackerman, making a host of anti-chritian remarks about the culture war and the "religio

Was he the guy on O'Reilly tonight?

[NYCVirago]

Howard Stern, as usual, is distorting what this bill is about. For real details on the bill, see this thread:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1095920/posts

Please note that the FCC has already had the power to fine stations for indecent content. What this legislation does is increase the fines.

[Captiva]

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

Freedom of choice I guess.

[oceanview]

I missed Oreilly tonight. he's a NYC congressman, Mark Levin has him on his radio show from time to time.

[Jorge]

You know I find Howard Stern likable as a person, and I loved his movie...but I have never been able to sit through more than 10 or 15 minutes of any of his shows without getting sick to my stomach. He is so vulgar.

I think those who believe the world is only going down hill and there is no decency should take some comfort in recent events.
It looks like Howard Stern is finally getting his just rewards for the sewage he's spewed all over American for the past decade plus.

The Bible tells us that God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, that is what he will reap.
Evil might look like it's winning, but Nobody REALLY gets away with anything in the end.

Let's just hope this law catches up with John Kerry before November.

[GeronL]

threatens to quit?? Isn't that more of a promise??

[oceanview]

obviously not. the only thing stopping them from airing shows with nudity and explicit sex are government regulations. do you really think the ratings would be low?