Wow, these Republicans are so obsessed with sex, it is amazing. Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) want to regulate what you can watch and hear on cable, including HBO, and satellite radio, now, according to Reuters.
Two top U.S. Republican lawmakers on Tuesday said they want to apply broadcast decency standards to cable television and satellite television and radio to protect children from explicit content.Well, Ted, it is censorship. Remember, they are now talking about regulating the services for which you pay, not the so-called free airwaves of broadcast t.v. "Masturbation and sex toys" freak out Ted Stevens. Get a life.
Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens said he would push legislation this year to accomplish that goal and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Joe Barton said he would back it if it does not violate free speech rights.
"Cable is a much greater violator in the indecency area," Stevens, from Alaska, told the National Association of Broadcasters, which represents hundreds of local television and radio affiliates. "I think we have the same power to deal with cable as over-the-air" broadcasters.
"There has to be some standard of decency," he said, but noted that "no one wants censorship."
Stevens cited the discussion of masturbation and sex toys during prime time television as one example of content that bothered him. He told reporters he would extend the restrictions to premium channels like HBO as well.
Now that they have vanquished Janet Jackson, looks likes Senator Stevens is going to lead the charge against Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte and Samantha. "Sex and the City," which the Bush twins joked about during their infamous Republican Convention speech, would fall into his definition of obscene. (Okay, we all know that SATC is ended, but maybe he'll stop the re-runs.)
The Republican's just can't talk enough about sex. They are obsessed. Their obsession is dangerous. Ted Stevens and Joe Barton want to dictate what you pay to watch in the privacy of your own home on Cable, including HBO and Showtime.
This Republican Big Brother thing gets creepier every day.
