Bush Decries Obscene Television

In his Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005 speech, Bush used the word "obscene" four times:

"...our nation's parents strive to raise their children in a culture that too often produces coarse, vulgar and obscene entertainment."
"...protecting our children from obscene and indecent programming."
"...penalties on broadcasters and stations that air obscene or indecent programming."
"...keep the public airwaves free of obscene, profane and indecent material."

There is nothing on network TV that comes close to being obscene. Some people may think shows like Will and Grace are obscene and indecent because they think sex outside of marriage and homosexuality are obscene and indecent. What programming is Bush talking about?

He said, "Since 2000, the number of indecency complaints received by the FCC has increased from just hundreds per year to hundreds of thousands. In other words, people are saying, we're tired of it, and we expect the government to do something about it." Most of the people complaining have never seen what they are complaining about (see CBS Stations: Indecency Complaints Invalid). As usual, Bush is speaking to and for his political base, the evangelicals.

This next excerpt made me think about what is important to Americans and how Bush has let us down.

"It's the duty of the FCC to impose penalties on broadcasters and stations that air obscene or indecent programming. It's one of their responsibilities. People expect us to adhere to our responsibilities. He's [FCC Chairman] a part of the executive branch. And since I'm the head of the executive branch, I take responsibility, as well, for putting people in place at the FCC ..." (italics mine)

Bush isn't so quick to take responsibility for the Iraq war. He won't say, "I thought Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. Sorry, I was wrong."

Mistaken wars are obscene, not women's breasts on TV.