Posted on 11/09/2005 5:36:21 PM PST by Pikamax
Sen. Obama Warns TV to Clean Up or Congress Will Act By Doug Halonen
If the industry doesn't take significant steps to make it easier for parents to control what their children view on television, Congress will step in and legislate. That was a warning shot fired by Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in a speech Wednesday in Washington.
Story continues below...
"The amount of questionable content spilling across our screens is growing by the year," Sen. Obama said at a press conference to release a new study by the Kaiser Family Foundation that says the number of sex scenes on TV has been increasing dramatically over the past several years.
"Once again, we find ourselves asking those in charge to serve the needs of a nation that has a higher calling than simply peddling indecency and materialism for profit," the senator said.
The study, which examined a representative example of broadcast and cable TV network shows, said that 70 percent of programs included some sexual content this year (with an average of five sex scenes per hour), while only 56 percent did so in 1998 (with 3.2 sex scenes per hour). Among shows that had sexual content, the study said, 14 percent this year included a reference to sexual risks or responsibilities, up from 9 percent in 1998.
But Sen. Obama said he is particularly concerned about the impact television is having on the ability of parents to instill positive values in their children. "Raising your children this way has become exceedingly difficult in a mass media culture that saturates our airwaves with a steady stream of sex, violence and materialism," he said.
Having said what I did in the above post, I don't believe for a minute that the Democrats are interested in cleaning up the airways.
They're only interested in controlling the airways.
Exactly right.
I love that song: "Obama, bama, oh bama, banana fanna oh foma, me my mo mama, Obama".
I kan ear da karabien toon man!!!!
That's what I think it is. Just a preview of the "real"
Osama starting to emerge.
You own the TV. Get rid of it. Problem solved.
That was Tipper and it led to warning labels on CDs, something I appreciated. I remember my 13 year old (at the time) wanting the new Alainis Morissette CD and I refused because I knew what was on it.
Obama has always been to the left of most of the IL Democracy party on economic issues, but this announcement is probably at least as much sincerity as political ploy – he’s been a member of the Church of Christ for least a decade, and has often been quite conservative on “family” issues.
Well, maybe you are just more liberal than I am. I was brought up on shows my whole family could enjoy. But you're fortunate that you've been able to shield your kids from everything harmful. Good job.
Ok, he hates sex and violence.
I guess he's a pacifist virgin?
Is he aware that our entire economy is based on materialism?
Sorry for his supporters, but this guy is an extremist nut!
Right, and you're a newbie.
I'm still a parent.
So am I. Using the liberal card is as meaningful as the newbie card. I'm for smaller government, you're for larger government. Whose the liberal?
Kill Your Television!
"And remove the TVs from your children's friends' homes and from relatives' homes and do not let children watch TV when you aren't there with them."
Whenever I see a post from you, I just want to smack my head and say, "Cripes. Not this knucklehead again!"
Nope. What goes on in my home is MY responsibility. But, what my children view at the homes of people I KNOW and TRUST works, too, as I know those people are responsible adults.
I couldn't protect my kids from every little thing...and if I did, how would they have been able to form a Value System of their own (that's hopefully similar to their parents' through example) and learn what's appropriate and what isn't? I remember back when I was in First Grade and "The Birds" was going to be on TV for the first time. My parents were going out, and our regular sitter "Debbie" was going to take care of us. We begged, we pleaded, we swore on Bibles that if "Debbie" let us watch some of "The Birds" we'd never tell. So, she relented...and my parents came home to hysterical children that thought birds were under their beds trying to kill them!
Yes, a simplistic example, but my siblings and I KNEW it was wrong to watch it at that tender age, and KNEW that Mom and Dad said "No" for a reason...and we suffered a number of sleepless nights for our transgression. I sound like some old School Marm, but it was true. I didn't trust my elders to decide for me what I should watch and what I shouldn't, and they knew best and I didn't, and I suffered the consequences of it. (Not that a kid these days would be scared by that, but if they watched "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" or something equally as sick today, it might apply to the few un-jaded children we still have in our midst.)
I've got fifteen nieces and nephews and I've taken care of every single one of them over the years, along with my own kids. What goes on in their home is their own parents' responsibility, but I know in MY house they weren't exposed to anything worse than a G-rated movie, even if they sighed, rolled their eyes, or were "bored." Tough. You want sleeze? Watch MTV at your house, LOL!
I DO NOT want Government telling me what to do in my own home, be it something that we would watch, or wouldn't watch anyway. If you do, well, that's just proof that you can't draw the line for you and your own children, and that's your choice to have Mother Government hold your hand.
Exactly. No one is forcing anyone to push the on button.
I'm for protecting kids from smut, whatever it takes. And I think the FCC serves a purpose. And I don't think "government" is evil. I actually think we have the best government in the world. And are there more liberals or conservatives in Hollywood?
We all own the airwaves. It's not your personal property. It's not you or any individuals sole prerogative to decide what is allowed and not allowed on public property.
Use a medium that is not public if you want to display pornography. Problem solved.
My grandma had a real problem with me watching the Birds, I was 15. She let me and I regret it to this day.
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