If a wardrobe malfunction can be treated by the FCC as an obscenity, why shouldn't

[Skidmore]

the FCC sanction Clear Channel for the obscenity perpetuated by Limbaugh? I would think that complaints are in order as well. He engaged in slander.

[elleng]

1. No jurisdiction over 'cables.'

[Fumesucker]

3. Rush is on the airwaves not cable..

The FCC does have jurisdiction over radio stations.

[elleng]

4. Oh, fergot! I don't EVER go there!

To respond, difficult for FCC to assert 'slander,' especially if she doesn't care to make that case.

[liberal N proud]

2. What did Imus get fined for?

Why did sterns leave over the air broadcast?

This ass is far more vulgar and hate full than anything else on the air.

[onenote]

11. The FCC didn't issue any fines based on imus' broadcast

Here's a description of the Howard Stern/FCC matter:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FCC_fines_of_The_Howard_Stern_Show#First_Infinity_fine_.281988.E2.80.931991.29

[RZM]

5. Hell no. The answer isn't censorship

The answer is people not tuning in and telling his sponsors how they feel. And that is what has been happening. This has been proceeding exactly as it should. Censoring Limbaugh would be a classic example of overreach. It would turn him into a free speech martyr.

[shcrane71]

9. This is about obscenity and hate speech on our national airwaves.

Anyone else who would froth at the mouth that taxpayers are paying for $3000 worth of sex a year, having so much sex that _fill in the vileness_, for three days, and then ask for sex tapes to be posted to the Internet so he could watch "heh heh", would be fined. Conservatives get in a tizzy about Janet Jackson's breasts, and fines are levied. Well guess what? What Rush has said and done is beyond the pale of an exposed breast. Have you not heard of the "slut walks"? Do you know that such terms have been used to justify rape and other violence against women? If Rush wants to use that type of language, go ahead. It's just going to cost him, and the stations that air his women-hating rants.

The FCC *should* fine Limbaugh. He's bullied Ms. Fluke, lied about her, and disparaged her for three days on his network. His dittoheads are saying the same things now on other programs.

[progress2k12nbynd]

6. I like the current strategy...

Show him he's not wanted anymore by pressuring his advertisers to drop him.

By trying to get him banned you're essentially giving him more power. He'll be a martyr who will just find another venue. It's like deciding you can't beat an election foe so you decide to try to get him/her disqualified from the ballot instead.

Limbaugh CAN BE BEAT.

[shcrane71]

10. FCC fines will show the American public that obscenity laws aren't there just to

protect us from women's breasts and shock jocks like Howard Stern. The instances of rape and sexual assault in our military is at epidemic levels, and rape has historically been justified by stating that the woman was a slut.

Limbaugh's attacks on Ms. Fluke and anyone who uses birth control is hate speech.

[KharmaTrain]

7. Offensive Is Not Obscene

This is no way a defense of rushbo or what he said. When Ms. Fluke steps in front of the cameras at that hearing she became a public figure and thus "fair game" for asshats like rushbo to bully. Fortunately it appears to be backfiring on him and his corrupt party.

[shcrane71]

8. When Rush asked Fluke to post sex tapes on the Internet so he could watch, Rush

crossed the line. Pornography and it's solicitation is generally considered obscene. What did Howard Stern say that got him fined time and again by the FCC? The last I heard, Stern was happier in a subscription service as he could speak more freely.

Limbaugh shouldn't be able to use the public airwaves for language that caused other entertainers to be heavily fined. I thought only Cheney and Bush got to act with impunity in this country.

[KharmaTrain]

12. Nice Stretch...

What rushbo said was offensive...but that's not illegal. Not one of the "7 Dirty words" that regularly slipped through on Stern's show.

Here's the deal...if you think what rushbo said was so offensive it should cost the hundreds of stations to be fined or lose their licenses (you can't fine a network...only licenses) then you should do what Brent Bozo Bozell does to get some action...file a complaint. Then get another 1,000 of your closest friends to do so. Maybe the FCC will "investigate" but since none of the 7 dirty words were used they won't do much. If they do, it'd be a handslap fine that the broadcasters would "appeal" and into the blackhole it goes. For all the times Stern was "fined", none were ever paid...waived on appeal.

Again, what he said was offensive but it was not by definition "obscene"...and the silence of the large corporate chains that carry his show is testment. This is not the first time rushbo has defamed someone...his miscalculation is he didn't think there'd be this much blow back. That's his only regret...