Rush Limbaugh, meet Michael Powell

[Changenow]

Most everyone is familiar with the FCC's indecency crusades in 2004 against the potty-mouthed Howard Stern and Janet Jackson's right breast, but will Rush eke his way onto the hit list before the year's out? Blogger Atrios has cataloged a little no-no uttered on the air by America's favorite right-wing radio host this week. In reference to a "Miss Plastic Surgery" pageant in the second hour of his Dec. 13 show, Limbaugh used the term "dick" in a rather colorful manner:

"LIMBAUGH: Miss Plastic Surgery. (chuckle) And - I'd - I'd - I - I don't - I don't know what the winner - I - and, oh, I didn't print out both pages, so I don't know what the - I don't know what the winner gets. Probably a certificate to go to San Francisco to have an add-a-dick-to-me operation."

*skip*

OK, so maybe there was a bit of serious literary value. Or scientific. Nonetheless, Limbaugh's riff -- delivered on the air around 1 p.m. EST -- almost certainly makes the grade for the FCC's less damnable, but still problematic rating of "indecent," which includes "patently offensive" language that depicts or describes "sexual or excretory organs or activities." While the courts have determined that such indecent material is protected by the First Amendment and cannot be banned entirely, it is restricted, according to the FCC, to hours when "there is a reasonable risk that children may be in the audience" -- between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

*skip*

http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html

Outraged? File your FCC complaint here: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/complaints.html

[StClone]

1. Done!

Oh master waht is Karma?

[Bake]

2. Did mine yesterday

This morning I got this reply via email from the FCC:

You are receiving this email in response to your inquiry to the FCC.

Thank you for your e-mail.

Your views and comments are important to us and we appreciate you taking the time to forward them.

We invite you to visit us at our Web Site located at www.fcc.gov/cgb where you will find a wealth of information on a wide variety of communications-related topics.

Rep Number : TSR41


Bake

[Changenow]

3. I'm sure the FCC will rush to address this outrage.

No pun intended.

[rainbow4321]

4. 99 % of FCC complaints come from neocons..

So, yeah, the other 1% of us need to make some noise..seeing as how the fundies are not going to complain about one of their own...


http://mediaweek.com/mediaweek/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000731656


The number of indecency complaints had soared dramatically to more than 240,000 in the previous year, Powell said. The figure was up from roughly 14,000 in 2002, and from fewer than 350 in each of the two previous years. There was, Powell said, “a dramatic rise in public concern and outrage about what is being broadcast into their homes.

What Powell did not reveal—apparently because he was unaware—was the source of the complaints. According to a new FCC estimate obtained by Mediaweek, nearly all indecency complaints in 2003—99.8 percent—were filed by the Parents Television Council, an activist group.


The prominent role played by the PTC has raised concerns among critics of the FCC’s crackdown on indecency. “It means that really a tiny minority with a very focused political agenda is trying to censor American television and radio,” said Jonathan Rintels, president and executive director of the Center for Creative Voices in Media, an artists’ advocacy group. Founded in 1995 by longtime conservative activist L. Brent Bozell III, it set out to make an impact in 2003, including what it called “a massive, coordinated and determined campaign” for more action by the FCC against broadcast indecency. “We delivered on that promise,” Bozell said in the group’s annual report

[MrSlayer]

5. I hate Limbaugh but I'm all for free speech.

I've been criticizing the FCC for railroading Howard Stern for years. It would be hypocritical for me to go after Douchebag for the same thing I've defended Stern for. Free speech is free speech whether it's someone cool like Stern or a complete asshole like Rush. I won't be filing a complaint.

[proudbluestater]

6. oops! Looks like Rush used the word that Jon Stewart

called Tucker Carlson! So fitting for Tucker, though.

[Changenow]

7. That wasn't on the public airwaves.

The regulations are different for cable.

[AmerDem]

8. Did anyone send this to Howard Stern?

I'm sure he would be very interested in it.