Dean Calls FCC Probe of Breast Incident 'Silly'

Reuters News Service ^ | Feb. 2, 2004 | Reuters

[Rennes Templar]

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Sometimes a breast is just a breast. Howard Dean, a physician and a Democratic presidential candidate, on Monday dismissed as "silly" a government inquiry into whether indecency rules were broken during the broadcast of the Super Bowl halftime show when pop diva Janet Jackson's bodice was ripped to expose her right breast.

"I find that to be a bit of a flap about nothing," the former Vermont governor said. "I'm probably affected in some ways by the fact that I'm a doctor, so it's not exactly an unusual phenomenon for me."

During the break in the National Football League's championship game, singer Justin Timberlake reached for Jackson as they sang a duet and tore off part of her black leather bustier.

Federal Communications Commission chairman Michael Powell promised a "thorough and swift" investigation of the stunt aired during one of the most popular American television broadcasts, which also attracts a major worldwide audience.

"In general, I think the FCC does have a role in promoting some reasonable standard of decency," Dean told reporters aboard his campaign plane. "However, considering what's on television these days, I think the FCC is being pretty silly about investigating this."

Dean, who does not have cable television at his home in Burlington, Vermont, said Americans could inadvertently turn on "far worse things" while "cruising through cable at regular viewing hours."

"I don't find it terribly shocking relative to some of the things you can find on standard cable television," he added. "I think the FCC probably has a lot of other things they should be pursuing."

The CBS broadcast prompted widespread outrage and the FCC launched its inquiry after receiving complaints from the public.

[Riverman94610]

I was thinking the same thing.Actually,Jesse would have a legit point if he protested this charade.Timberlake publically humliated and degraded a black woman and in the most shameful and arrogant manner.It looked like the whole scene could have come out of the Seventies exploitation movie Mandingo!
If I was a black male,I think I would have said,"What the ****"!?

[Plutarch]

I'm probably affected in some ways by the fact that I'm a doctor...

Leave the docs out of this Dean. The reason has more to do with you being a slimy Rat politician.

[JimDingle]

"I don't find it terribly shocking relative to some of the things you can find on standard cable television," he added. "I think the FCC probably has a lot of other things they should be pursuing." This isn't cable TV its broacast TV, and you don't expect to see a half naked woman during a football game.

[Rennes Templar]

Problem is, people are addicted to it.

[hope]

"I actually had a poster on another thread tell me that kids had no business watching a football game in the first place."

O.K., name some names. I have to know, LOL! What poor freeper has not ever had a chance of taking a kid to a ball game?

[weegee]

Boob pandering for attention:

[NYCVirago]

"I find that to be a bit of a flap about nothing," the former Vermont governor said. "I'm probably affected in some ways by the fact that I'm the Doctor of Love, so it's not exactly an unusual phenomenon for me."

Now that's funny!

[NYCVirago]

In 5, 10, or 15 years when (if) Janet Jackson is mentioned, it won't be for her songs, it will be this. And who will be able to even recall what songs she did.

Heck, I can't recall any of the songs she did *now*, other than to note that she seemed to have started the trend of no melodies in songs!

[HitmanLV]

"I find that to be a bit of a flap about nothing," the former Vermont governor said. "I'm probably affected in some ways by the fact that I'm a doctor, so it's not exactly an unusual phenomenon for me."

He tears clothes off of women normally?

[BigSkyFreeper]

The free market, and not Washington bureaucrats, should decide what is and is not "acceptable".

There are things called rules and regulations and broadcast standards. Any station with an FCC granted license is told to "play by the rules".

Your logic suggests that since you have a drivers license you have a right to not follow the rules of the road.

Cable by and large is exempt from broadcast standards, since the rules are differnt for "over the air/rabbit ear" broadcast networks and hardwired cable networks. Broadcast stations are supported financially through local advertising, and the last thing they want to do is offend their advertisers. Cable stations to some extent follow the broadcast network model to a certain degree, knowing that children may be tuned in to their station. Stations like HBO and Showtime are completely exempt, because it's assumed the parent pays the bill and expects foul language from unedited theatrical movies. In the case of FX, they're available in many areas on the higher priced digital tier packages, and again, the parents decide if they want 200 more channels to expose their kids to.

[BigSkyFreeper]

but I also don't support the FCC getting involved in content regulation.

Neither do I, but are you suggesting the police aren't supposed to get involved when it's clear your in violation of the law? The FCC enforces the broadcast standards, and stations and broadcast networks licensed by the FCC are expected to follow those standards.

It's the job of the FCC to police the airwaves, just like it's the law enforcements job to police the road.

Don't like that concept? Too bad.

[ambrose]

See, that's what I find amusing. People want Big Brother to do their parenting for them.

The FCC has long since outlived its usefulness. Time to shut it down.

[BigSkyFreeper]

The FCC is more than just a government agency who's sole purpose of existance is policing TV and Radio stations. Goes well beyond that.

[DeFault User]

Excellent.

[GodBlessUSA]

I asked you earlier and maybe you didn't see it. There are laws in place over this kind of programming. Wouldn’t this just be enforcing them?

Do you advocate anything goes at anytime on television? Are you saying these laws are wrong? Then do something to change them. However, right now these laws are in place and they broke them. Because someone feels a law is wrong doesn’t give them an excuse to break the law. There are parental advisories and ratings due to these laws. The laws are not very strict. Look at the garbage allowed. The big brother excuse is just a convenient way to accept this type of behavior. They should face consequences for breaking the law, like anyone else would when they break a law.

[GodBlessUSA]

LOL!

[LisaMalia]

This is the thread, the posts I was referring to are toward the latter part of the threads.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1069784/posts?q=1&&page=151

[keats5]

As a mom, I can block most inappropriate shows or channels. But how was I supposed to know I neede to censor the Superbowl?