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.

[jackbill]

This is exactly what Rush Limbaugh was saying today. Dean is right.

Perhaps you might want to clear the ear wax. Rush didn't say anything remotely like this.

[Rennes Templar]

Exactly. And the fact that Dean doesn't get this is scary.
Not surprising, but scary. Clinton would drool at her exposure, but at least he would have the intelligence to not comment. Imagine the moral slide our institutions would take if Dean were in.

[VadeRetro]

And who will be able to even recall what songs she did.

But that would have been true anyway.

[tbpiper]

Dean is right

No he's not. And this wasn't 'standard cable television', it was broadcast tv and the FCC has every right and the responsibility to go after these creeps. They pretty much ambushed family tv and the families at the game with their disgusting salute to hedonism. No one had the chance to 'change the channel' on this.

[NewRomeTacitus]

Mr. Powell wants a swift and thorough investigation. I can't help but suspect this may require Janet Jackson's presence in his office as soon as possible.

Bureaucrats.

[cwb]

"There's gotta be a line here about a boob pandering for attention."

There's just gotta be a line somewhere. Not that you said this, but there comes a time when lines need to be drawn...and as innocuous this may seem to others, the Superbowl was not the appropriate venue.

[hobson]

So where do you draw the line? half nudity, sex, what? We cannot allow this behavior to become socially acceptable. It's not right.

[judgeandjury]

And scantily clad cheerleaders are different from what La Toya did in what respect?

The difference is between being clad and being unclad.

[marvlus]

Personally, I thought it was a titillating experience myself.

Then when I turned on the boobtube this morning, I was amazed by how the news media was trying to keep it's audience abreast of the situation.

[Exit148]

Dean just doesn't get it. Some President he'd make.

Cheerleaders may show too much T&A, but they are not simulating foreplay.

[Sloth]

Is it legally indecent exposure, since she had that thingy stuck on there?

The 'thingy' was not a pasty, it was a metal nipple ring. Both the nipple and areola were exposed.

[feedback doctor]

And who will be able to even recall what songs she did.

But that would have been true anyway.

And what you say is true! :)
The only person that will remember anything she has done will be some weird guy in a jail cell.

[freedomcrusader]

Cheerleaders may show too much T&A, but they are not simulating foreplay.

Nor battery.

[#3Fan]

Dean Calls FCC Probe of Breast Incident 'Silly'?

Yeah, what the hell. Let's go all out and show XXX porn videos next year at halftime. Any kind of regulation of the public airwaves is just silly. /sarcasm

[boomop1]

Well now we know he is a breast guy, a silly one at that.

[ambrose]

So where do you draw the line? half nudity, sex, what? We cannot allow this behavior to become socially acceptable. It's not right.

I don't draw a line; I change the channel.

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

[gatorbait]

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"

Okay ,EV, you now owe me a can of Coke.. what a scream.. :- )

[cwb]

I would think that just the act of Timberlake tearing off her chest piece like that would've been enough to enrage some folks...let alone, the titty flop. I mean...with all the sensitivity training and punishing Kindegartners for unwanted touching, these acts seem awful hypocritical coming from the enlightened crowd.

[EternalVigilance]

Editors can be quite evil...

;-)