Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Sen. Obama Warns TV to Clean Up or Congress Will Act
TVWeek ^ | 11/09/05 | Doug Halonen

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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 109th; hillarysveep; nannystate; obama; osamaobama; posturingfake; thegreatdemhope; trashtv
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 181-200201-220221-240241-254 last
To: Indy Pendance
"Having a houseful of teens over wasn't easy, but a parent has to do what a parent has to do."

LOL! I know. That's how we handled it, too. I kind of miss the bottomless pit pizza & popcorn consumers now that they're all off to college and jobs. *SNIF* One's going to be a Fireman, one's learning computers and one is already running his own business at age 20, so I guess limiting the message in our home to a good, clean, positive one of stewardship and responsiblity may have had a tiny little effect on them. ;)

Or, they could've all ended up in jail. It's a cr@p shoot. You just do what you can for the short time they're in your charge.

241 posted on 11/10/2005 7:59:57 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (Save The Earth. It's The Only Planet With Chocolate.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 134 | View Replies]

To: cubreporter
Thank you. Isn't uncanny how moms just know best? The rest of this story is: I took the kids out for dinner on Halloween night (they got to pick the restaurant), when we arrived home 2 of my son's friends were standing on our front porch. They were covered with smashed eggs and shaving creme. They were attacked by some older kids in a car. They couldn't go home because they had told their mothers that they were hanging out at our house. I had my son take them upstairs and give them something to put on. In the meantime I took their clothes and put them in the washing machine. When everything was washed and dried I sent them home. As they were leaving they said, "Wow, thanks, Mrs. S you're the best." I said, "Hang on guys, you are, of course, going to tell your parents exactly what you did tonight, right?" I will give you 24 hours if you haven't by then I will have to tell them." My, what gloomy faces left my house that night. My son missed his best friends for about a week because they were grounded.

Thanks for the kind words, you sound like a great Mom too!

242 posted on 11/10/2005 12:17:38 PM PST by asp1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 203 | View Replies]

To: mad puppy
Can we also agree that if, somehow, there was an EASIER way to control some of the trash currently on public TV without having to completely eliminate TV, that this would be a good thing?

There is. If you have cable, you have the means to block out whatever channels and shows you find objectionable. There are many websites that review television shows from a Christian, family or whatever perspectice.

All the tools are already out there, and involve no government intervention.

243 posted on 11/10/2005 12:25:54 PM PST by Palisades (Cthulhu in 2008! Why settle for the lesser evil?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 238 | View Replies]

To: luckystarmom
Hi, luckystarmom! I think I will have to think about that one. I know it must be hard for young parents today trying to find suitable entertainment, but I don't want the government deciding what's good and what isn't. One thing about government it just doesn't stop. Look at Social Security for an example. SS was never supposed to be this massive bureaucracy, but our elected representatives just can't help themselves. I would see them eventually censoring anything and everything that offends them including political speech. That's troublesome.
244 posted on 11/10/2005 12:26:03 PM PST by asp1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 205 | View Replies]

To: Prince Charles
When the Rats start criticizing the sewer pipe coming from Hollyweird, you know there must be an election approaching

Hillary was doing the same earlier this year.

245 posted on 11/10/2005 1:01:40 PM PST by A Ruckus of Dogs
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Indy Pendance
So, you want the government to decide what you should watch. How about the governemnt deciding what you should wear, or what you should read or what you can purchase? Let's not let the parents decide, they're too stupid

Talk to any social worker and they'll tell you stories of kids doing nasty things to other kids because they "saw it on TV". We can argue about parental control until the cows come home, but the fact is, it isn't always there, and the garbage does have a bad effect on some sectors of society.

246 posted on 11/10/2005 1:05:52 PM PST by A Ruckus of Dogs
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: asp1

I don't believe in censorship, but I do think that labeling things like movies is very helpful.

It's kind of like labeling the contents of food. For example, you know your kid can't eat peanuts, and you don't let them. However, you buy some cake mix and it isn't labeled that it has peanut and your kid dies because the label is wrong.

Of course, that is extreme.

I think shows need to be labeled so that parents know if there are cuss words, sexual themes, violence, etc. Then the parents are well-informed and can make an educated decision about the show.


247 posted on 11/10/2005 1:37:23 PM PST by luckystarmom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 244 | View Replies]

To: asp1

What a story!!! I love it. Things have a way of coming back to bite us I know and those kids learned the hard way. Glad you helped them out but also glad you allowed them the opportunity to tell their parents first. If not...the iron hand that rules the world would have. :)

So many wonderful stories. Thanks. I enjoyed it for sure.


248 posted on 11/10/2005 2:29:07 PM PST by cubreporter (I trust Rush. He's done more for our country than we will ever know. He's the man!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 242 | View Replies]

To: luckystarmom

Yes, I think you have something here. It seems to be working with movie ratings perhaps it could work for TV. I like the idea of giving the parents the final say. :0)


249 posted on 11/10/2005 4:36:39 PM PST by asp1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 247 | View Replies]

To: cubreporter

Thank you. By the way I love your tagline. I love Rush too!


250 posted on 11/10/2005 4:38:07 PM PST by asp1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 248 | View Replies]

To: Pikamax

Now, now Obama...the 9th circuit court says parents have no right to monitor or control what their kids learn, see or hear.


251 posted on 11/10/2005 4:40:18 PM PST by Blue Scourge (USAF....when it has to be blown up now, accept no substitute)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: asp1

:) He's the best.


252 posted on 11/10/2005 5:29:30 PM PST by cubreporter (I trust Rush. He's done more for our country than we will ever know. He's the man!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 250 | View Replies]

To: cubreporter

:0) Never miss him.


253 posted on 11/10/2005 5:49:08 PM PST by asp1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 252 | View Replies]

Obama Addresses Clash
[Obama Defends Pro-abortion, Pro-Lesbian American Girl Dolls ]
Channel 6 News
Posted on 10/24/2005 8:48:17 PM PDT by Diago
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1508639/posts


254 posted on 12/10/2005 9:39:25 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Down with Dhimmicrats! I last updated my FR profile on Wednesday, November 2, 2005.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 181-200201-220221-240241-254 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson