If Howard Goes, So Should Oprah...

[Ksyrup]

Some of these letters are effin' hilarious.

hxxp://thesmokinggun.com/archive/0504044oprah1.html

[Ksyrup]

"The Oprah show described with graphic detail a sexual term known as "tossing salad." It was so offensive that my child's head literally exploded. Please ban free speech so this never happens again."


Great use of "literally" here. And the "ban free speech" part - priceless!

[Ksyrup]

"During a segment, Oprah Winfrey and guest proceeded to go into detail about different sexual acts, including "tossing salad", which if you don't know what that is, I'm afraid it would be inappropriate to explain via e-mail."


However, I'd be happy to demonstrate my technique....

[Fonzie]

I also liked:

"In fact, considering the audience size of the despicable OPRAH show, I would expect you to set a stern example."

[JonInMiddleGA]

If Howard Goes, So Should Oprah...

Geez, like I needed a reason to be an even more adamant supporter of strict enforcement of the existing rules concerning content ...

[rexallllsc]

Dear Ashcroft and other Republitards,

"If there is a bedrock principle of the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable." - William J. Brennan - Supreme Court Justice

[lcjjdnh]

I recall a while back Stern proved this point on his own show as they actually censored the whole thing that was on Oprah when he tried to play it over the air.

[Critch]

"In the wake of an Oprah Winfrey show that included explicit talk about teen sexuality (and addressed topics such as rainbows and getting one's salad tossed), "

I'm old and innocent. What's a rainbow?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by rexallllsc

Dear Ashcroft and other Republitards,

"If there is a bedrock principle of the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable." - William J. Brennan - Supreme Court Justice

Dear Demoncrats,
Limiting the acceptable forms of expression does not in & of itself prohibit the expression of an actual idea. When, on the rare occasion you find yourselves having an actual idea, hopefully you will find acceptable means of expressing it. -- Jon Loveless, just a guy with an increasingly rare combination of common sense and common decency.

[davidlando1]

Originally Posted by Critch

I'm old and innocent. What's a rainbow?

Does this have anything to do with trout?

[Lorena]

Okay, I'm really passionate about this topic and if I get a little hostile, I apologize.

I watch Oprah's show when she has meaningful or interesting topics, not when she has her "friends" like "Gail" (who the hell is she anyway?), First Lady Maria Shriver, Brad Pitt, Jada Pinkett, the "Friends" cast, etc on her show. Who gives a craps arse about the "Friends" show coming to an end? Is she gonna interview Kelsey Grammer on what life's gonna be like when "Frasier" is over? She just jumped on the bandwagon like everyone else in the world has. Oprah has lots of shows I can learn from, but some shows shouldn't be aired like the infamous "tossed salad" show. I didn't watch it personally, but how in the hell can she get away with it while Howard Stern gets crucified for talking to lesbians? Double standard? Abso-frieken-lutely!!

Howard was a George W. supporter with Sept 11th, and when we went to war. But when Georgie Porgie mentioned he was gonna spend millions dollars on "family values", Stern said it wouldn't be a good idea... so what happens next? Stern goes from supporting Bush, to disagreeing with some of his proposals. Even though he disagreed, he always supported Bush's decision to go to war. Then Janet Jackson showed her tit and all hell broke loose. The bible thumpers got crazy and demanded something be done to "rectify" what happened. Boy oh boy, haven't these people seen a tit before? If they have children, they sure as hell must have!! So because Ms. Jackson showed her breast, Howard Stern has to pay for it? If he does, then Oprah, should as well.

There are hundreds and hundreds of troops dying for our freedoms and one of them is freedom of speech. So what you're telling me Mr. George Bush is that these heroes are dying for nothing?

In conclusion, if Oprah can talk about sucking someone's ass, then Stern should have the same rights as well.

Like the topic states, if Howard goes, Oprah MUST as well!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Dodgerchick

Okay, I'm really passionate about this topic and if I get a little hostile, I apologize.

Apology accepted ... provided that you understand that I'm also passionate about this topic, and hostile is my standard position on quite a few things anyway.

So what you're telling me Mr. George Bush is that these heroes are dying for nothing?

No, what he's telling you (among other things) is what you & so many other handwringers seem to fail to realize -- that your "freedom of speech" nor any other freedom means jackshit _WITHOUT THE RULE OF LAW_.

Minus the laws & rules that forbid it, I could simply shoot you right between the eyes if you said something I didn't agree with. Now THAT is a serious restriction on your freedom of speech.

If you don't like the rules that govern radio & tv broadcasts, then raise hell about it ... better yet, work to get those laws changed, most likely by electing people who will support your position. Hell, if you feel strongly enough about it, then I'd say it's not only your right to do so but also your responsbility to do so.

But for the love of Pete, don't sit & fucking whine & bitch and piss & moan about the fact that the FCC has finally gotten off it's collective ass & at least started to enforce the rules that have been on the books for years.
And if people choose to violate those rules (perhaps you'd justify it as some form "civil disobedience of an unjust law" or some other load of crap) at least have the good sense to understand that whether you agree with a rule/law has jackshit to do with whether you'll face punishment for breaking it.

And that's my story & I'm damned sure sticking to it ... all the way to the ballot box.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by Dodgerchick

Okay, I'm really passionate about this topic and if I get a little hostile, I apologize.

I watch Oprah's show when she has meaningful or interesting topics, not when she has her "friends" like "Gail" (who the hell is she anyway?), First Lady Maria Shriver, Brad Pitt, Jada Pinkett, the "Friends" cast, etc on her show. Who gives a craps arse about the "Friends" show coming to an end? Is she gonna interview Kelsey Grammer on what life's gonna be like when "Frasier" is over? She just jumped on the bandwagon like everyone else in the world has. Oprah has lots of shows I can learn from, but some shows shouldn't be aired like the infamous "tossed salad" show. I didn't watch it personally, but how in the hell can she get away with it while Howard Stern gets crucified for talking to lesbians? Double standard? Abso-frieken-lutely!!

Howard was a George W. supporter with Sept 11th, and when we went to war. But when Georgie Porgie mentioned he was gonna spend millions dollars on "family values", Stern said it wouldn't be a good idea... so what happens next? Stern goes from supporting Bush, to disagreeing with some of his proposals. Even though he disagreed, he always supported Bush's decision to go to war. Then Janet Jackson showed her tit and all hell broke loose. The bible thumpers got crazy and demanded something be done to "rectify" what happened. Boy oh boy, haven't these people seen a tit before? If they have children, they sure as hell must have!! So because Ms. Jackson showed her breast, Howard Stern has to pay for it? If he does, then Oprah, should as well.

There are hundreds and hundreds of troops dying for our freedoms and one of them is freedom of speech. So what you're telling me Mr. George Bush is that these heroes are dying for nothing?

In conclusion, if Oprah can talk about sucking someone's ass, then Stern should have the same rights as well.

Like the topic states, if Howard goes, Oprah MUST as well!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!

Wow, somebody hit the jackpot on the cliche' slot machine.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I'm just making a joke. I'm not making any comment on the actual emotional content of the message.

[Lorena]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

But for the love of Pete, don't sit & fucking whine & bitch and piss & moan about the fact that the FCC has finally gotten off it's collective ass & at least started to enforce the rules that have been on the books for years.

My thing is, Georgie Porgie has been in office for almost 4 years now... so why did he wait until the election year to enforce the laws that have already been written?

Seems a bit obvious..

[clintl]

It is time that the average American grew up when it comes to discussions of sexual topics. Oprah is a show for adults, and I'd really be surprised if there are large numbers of children out there who choose to watch Oprah. I have no problem with her dealing with sexual topics on her show, and if the law does, then the law is an ass (as someone I forget once said).

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Dodgerchick

Seems a bit obvious..

Yeah, it does seem a bit obvious ... that anyone paying the least bit of attention should realize that the POTUS didn't dictate anything to the FCC about the need to enforce the rules.

Their motivation came from Congress making noises about replacing the Commission with an entirely new body, or possibly removing enforcement from the existing Commission's authority & putting it into the hands of a new body that would actually do the f'n job.

And that was Congress being motivated not by a President pushing them hard, but rather by elected officials realizing that they better get busy listening to what their constitutents have been telling them (since there's an election coming up).

[stevew]

Originally Posted by clintl

It is time that the average American grew up when it comes to discussions of sexual topics. Oprah is a show for adults, and I'd really be surprised if there are large numbers of children out there who choose to watch Oprah. I have no problem with her dealing with sexual topics on her show, and if the law does, then the law is an ass (as someone I forget once said).

She is talking about tossing salads at 4pm. There is a problem with this.

[Sharpieman]

The FCC isn't Bush influenced, its religious-right influenced. The religious-right has nothing better do than to sit around and listen to Howard Stern and try to find "indecent" material in his shows. Its absolutely amazing how stupid people are, people or actually the religious-right don't get it through their thick skulls that theres a solution to getting rid of Howard and "indecent" material. Its called switching channels. Its this magical thing where you press a little button that magically changes the station on your television or radio.

[Shkspr]

Originally Posted by rexallllsc

Dear Ashcroft and other Republitards,

"If there is a bedrock principle of the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable." - William J. Brennan - Supreme Court Justice

Yeah, well, that wouldn't be a problem if those thugs John Ashcroft hired to kill Justice Souter had finished the job so we could get another conservative voice on the Court to overturn those nasty "free speech" rulings.

Come on, what's the Internet without groundless spurious reasoning and rampant conspiracy theories?

[KevinNU7]

What the Fuck is a rainbow!

[Cecil Fielder]

Originally Posted by Shkspr

Come on, what's the Internet without groundless spurious reasoning and rampant conspiracy theories?

i'm right here.... this is just part of the whole "Bush throwing the election" campaign. John Kerry has already been handpicked as the next president.,with Bush doing things like this so that it will seem more believable that Kerry actually did get a majority of the vote because that's what we'll be told by the news. I don't think they actually count the votes anyways.

[Cecil Fielder]

is a rainbow anything like a Cleveland Steamer or a Hot Carl?

[Bearcat729]

Originally Posted by KevinNU7

What the Fuck is a rainbow!

Actually it's a rainbow party.

According to the lady on Oprah it's a party where ladies wear different shades of lipstick and while giving a blow job they leave behind a ring. After a while a guys penis looks like a rainbow.

or something like that.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Bearcat729

Actually it's a rainbow party.

According to the lady on Oprah it's a party where ladies wear different shades of lipstick and while giving a blow job they leave behind a ring. After a while a guys penis looks like a rainbow.

or something like that.

I like that qualifier...

[Bonegavel]

Nobody is telling Stern or any other American that they cannot say whatever it is they want. They just cannot say whatever it is they want on public radio waves.

He can write a book that is nothing but...

Chapter 1: shit, fuck, piss, tossin' salad
Chapter 2: bite me, blow me, lesbians, lick me
Chapter 3: shit, fuck, piss, tossin' salad

and it won't be censored.

He cannot, however, say anything over public air waves. That is where the problem lies. Stern knows this. He has always known this. It is nothing new. Howard is just running out of stuff to talk about and his complaing about Tom (his authority figure) doesn't carry the weight of his complaints in the past when he wasn't big. He needs a new controversy to stir up the pot.

He knows full well he could move into a differnt medium and say ANYTHING he wants. Why do you think he did all those pay-per-view specials? Because he couldn't do that on channel 9 or E!.

Now, if they begin to regulate Satellite and HBO types, then I will have a problem. I know there is rumor of this, but that has yet to bear any fruit.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Bonegavel

Nobody is telling Stern or any other American that they cannot say whatever it is they want. They just cannot say whatever it is they want on public radio waves.

He can write a book that is nothing but...

Chapter 1: shit, fuck, piss, tossin' salad
Chapter 2: bite me, blow me, lesbians, lick me
Chapter 3: shit, fuck, piss, tossin' salad

and it won't be censored.

He cannot, however, say anything over public air waves. That is where the problem lies. Stern knows this. He has always known this. It is nothing new. Howard is just running out of stuff to talk about and his complaing about Tom (his authority figure) doesn't carry the weight of his complaints in the past when he wasn't big. He needs a new controversy to stir up the pot.

He knows full well he could move into a differnt medium and say ANYTHING he wants. Why do you think he did all those pay-per-view specials? Because he couldn't do that on channel 9 or E!.

Now, if they begin to regulate Satellite and HBO types, then I will have a problem. I know there is rumor of this, but that has yet to bear any fruit.

The issue is there are no concrete rules and there is not consistent policy. He'll always push the limit but when that limit is a moving target it's tough.

[Easy Mac]

Originally Posted by Bearcat729

Actually it's a rainbow party.

According to the lady on Oprah it's a party where ladies wear different shades of lipstick and while giving a blow job they leave behind a ring. After a while a guys penis looks like a rainbow.

or something like that.

huh, I just always called it a good time.