MSNBC just off the wire FCC Powell taking actionon the CBS Janet /

[ElsewheresDaughter]

Timerlake indencey act..
will post link when i find it

[dodger501]

1. I guess whatever CBS objected to the moveon ad is moot

since they are in hot water with the feds anyway?

And another thing -- someone probably already pointed this out, but CBS did air issues ads, didn't they? Like the "truth" anti-tobacco ads?

[zanana]

I hope alot of people watched the moveon ad on CNN.

At 8:10 and 8:35 last night. It was excellent.

[Guaranteed]

37. I just saw it on CNN...1:24 PM EST...

So, they're still running it.

[saigon68]

118. BABY BOWEL GETS EXCITED AND AROUSED ABOUT BREAST

"Lets confuse the sheep and make them forget about this", Baby Bowel.

What an IMBECILE and little Lag Dog, Baby Bowel is-- just like his daddy Colon Bowel

[Colin Ex]

123. Jesus Christ, dude.

Please take that last picture off. Someone's messed up face was really not what I wanted to see after waking up from a nap.

-C

[saigon68]

124. Sorry, Colin I can't

The time to edit has passed.

This type of stuff Like Uday and Kusay with massive bullet holes in their faces, their eyes shot out, one photo of Uday's chest opened up like a gutted fish is OK on National TV , but Jackson's nipple----

Verboden Yikes.


Sorry, if I offended your sensibilities :-(

[loudnclear]

113. Serves CBS right for kissing up to the neocons. That will teach them...

they are not in the "in crowd." Murdoch loves this!!!

[calimary]

125. And they thought they might stir it up too much with the MoveOn ad.

I bet they wished they'd run the ad instead of all this.

[otohara]

2. My Suggestion Take Out The Provision Uping Cap to 39%

out of the new budget. Those 6 little lines that gave only Viacom and FOX what they wanted, because that's the only thing CBS would care about.

They want to keep their LA TV station. A fine to Viacom is peanuts.

[RedEarth]

17. My thoughts exactly

I'm a hell of a lot more offended by secretly raising the media ownership cap than I am about boobs with pasties.

[mrdmk]

127. Which one?

CBS/Viacom Channels 2 and 9
Fox/News Corp Channel 11

[Just Me]

3. Too bad they don't get whacked for the real indecencies,...

,...of feeding non-stop irrelevance and none of the facts assisting the American people to reach the truth.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

4. Tommy Chong and Janet Jackson ---

subverters of American democracy!

THROW'EM IN JAIL!

Meawwhile, a treasonous administration remains untouched, the nation's biggest financial pirates walk free... well, you get the picture.

[Art_from_Ark]

112. Oh my gosh! They showed a boob on the boob tube!

What's this country coming to???

[Loonman]

5. pdf file of memo

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-243435A1.pdf

[Robb]

21. Text of memo

(for the PDF-impaired, or the lazy :) )

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS MEDIA CONTACT
February 2, 2004 David Fiske 202-418-0513

FCC CHAIRMAN POWELL CALLS SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW A “CLASSLESS, CRASS, DEPLORABLE STUNT.” OPENS INVESTIGATION

FCC Chairman Michael Powell today issued the following statement:

“I am outraged at what I saw during the halftime show of the Super Bowl. Like millions of Americans, my family and I gathered around the television for a celebration. Instead, that celebration was tainted by a classless, crass and deplorable stunt. Our nation’s children, parents and citizens deserve better.

“I have instructed the Commission to open an immediate investigation into last night’s broadcast. Our investigation will be thorough and swift.”

[Hamlette]

33. outraged???? classless??? crass? deplorable? stunt?

sheesh, takes one to know one. This administration is the master of classless, crass, deplorable stunts. You'd think the FCC would be more concerned with Bush's bulge on the aircraft carrier than this.

(I didn't see it, did she have a pastie on?)

[shanti]

43. it wasn't a pastie

her nipple was pierced with a bar and a star thingy with a hole in it held it on. anyway, why would she have that on if she wasn't planning to expose herself?

[0007]

99. Perhaps her boy fried like to bang her tit with his pierced tongue

[saigon68]

126. BABY BOWEL = CENSOR OF PUBLIC MORALITY

I don't need that little twirp to police my TV

[Mari333]

6. My take on a white man tearing clothes off a black woman on CB$

sexual violence and control. The underlying factor that promotes the Family Values bunch who control the White House and are it's base constituents.
The idea of a white male having access to violently tearing clothes off of a black woman as property is what the Dixiecrats who vote for bUsh want . They hate women, they hate black folks, and the whole constituency of ignorant chest thumping white males in the Super Bowl audience, combined with the smug asshole CEOs who run CB$ is exactly what they wanted to do. They got their ratings for it, and they will get the Superbowl idiots to clamour for more sexual assaults against women, combined with racism.
If it had been a white woman and a black man, they wouldnt have gotten the ratings.
Strom Thurmond men vote for bUsh. Those are the men the CEOs and CB$ executives were trying to reach.
Thats the party of Family F*cking Values, folks. CB$ donates to the GOP , and they get what they want.
Racism, sexual assaults on women, and the whole 9 yards.
thats what many morons who watch the Superbowl want.
Misogyny, assault , and racism. THOSE are the values of the GOP.

[Rainbowreflect]

9. Add to that the fact that every 3rd ad last night was for ED drugs.

"Buy our drugs and get your manly hard on."

[GainesT1958]

16. I liked the one about...

The "36-hour hard-on option"! :D

But I think they should have put in a disclaimer that "Men who often experience hard-ons in public should not take this product." :eyes:

Just goes to show how misleading all that pharmacutical advertising really is... :eyes:

DID think the Bud commercial with the horse-fart was funny, though!:D

B-)

[Mari333]

18. These same morans who cant get it up

are often the ones who vote GOP and demand our kids fight wars and actually die so they can watch it on TV like a goddaMN football game. They are also the ones who vote for impotent wealthy old men who demand erect missiles are where our tax monies are sent.
Its not hard to connect the dots as to their stoooooooooooopid reasoning.

[beyurslf]

20. We noticed that too.

I was wondering if anyone else did. Everyone at my place was like... damn a 36 hour hard on! Wouldn't that be... painful?

[Mari333]

23. NO woman wants it up that long

no wonder these guys suck in bed..
well, One could use a man with a 36 hour hard on as a Hat Rack, I guess...

[samsingh]

80. what's the ideal erection time?

:)

[FredrickDouglass]

90. The Cialis ad said "if woody lasts more than 4 hours, get help"

Really. It said that. If you're erection continues for more than four hours, seek help immediately!!!

WTF?!?!?!?!?

What is going on here? Was anybody else listening to that? Incredible!!

[MrPrax]

36. "I liked the one about..."

The donkey wanting to be a Clydesdale...

Oh half-time show...:eyes:
I sorta wonder who approved the whole Janet Jackson SM motif in the first place...rather odd choice really considering Superbowl shows are usually the 'pseudo patriotic' wholesome counterweight to the blizzard of booze ads...
They never go 'uptown'...

[aquart]

10. The ratings were already there. People were watching the SuperBowl.

Nobody read about Janet's breast in TV Guide and tuned in to see it.

So while GOP men may thrill to violence done to a black woman, it doesn't have a damn thing to do with whatever ratings CBS garnered yesterday--and many families would have turned the thing off if they'd known.

So what on earth are you talking about?

[Mari333]

15. Oh come on, tearing clothes off a black woman?

by a white man? Its what CB$ knows will reach bUsh's main constituents. Its about power and control , and many men who watch the Superbowl are perfectly comfortable with sexual assaault on a woman, especially a black woman.
Janet Jackson played house slave for Money, no different then Colin Powell does. People will sell out their own gender and their own race for money. People do it all the time.
A woman with an iota of intelligence sees it as it is. If a man grabs your clothes and tries to tear them off, you drop kick the SOB in the nutsack so fast his head spins around til it falls off.
This was sexual assault being touted as okay to the viewing audience.
and racism.

[TexasProgressive]

30. Right on, Mari333

Power and control.

Timberlake tears the clothes off of a black woman - a JACKSON??

Maybe next year's Super Bowl will feature Snoop Dog tearing the clothes off of Trisha Yearwood. Right.

[Danieljay]

39. power? assault? misogyny? Racism?

Is it power if Janet Jackson agrees before hand to let him do it? Racism? I think thats a stretch, who's making it an issue of race, it never even crossed my mind. I despise the corporate big dogs as much as anyone but I can't imagine them sitting down in some meeting and saying "hey, the best thing we can do for ratings is have a white guy rip off the bra cup of a black woman, we'll show the world who's in control of women, and lets make it Janet Jackson!". Sorry, I don't buy it. As for mistreating women, she and Timberlake agreed to it before hand, that isn't exactly assault. This decision was made by them and not planned in the corporate board rooms. If I would agree to have someone depants me on public television is it assault? I don't think so. I was more sickened by the viagra commercials, the horse farting on a woman commercial, and the "nagging" woman bud commercial, those decisions were definitely made in the corporate board rooms, and one has to wonder how many women sat in on those decisions. If ya wanna complain about indecency and disrespect of women by corporations...those are three better examples. This thing was planned from the get go by Jackson and Timberlake, simply for the very coverage they are getting now, and you can bet the thought of racism, assault, misogyny, or power EVER even crossed their minds. for I don't think either of them are smart enough to consider the ramifications beyond publicity and money. I understand and respect your points, sexism and racism is alive and well in our society, but I think its kind of a stretch to make that accusation in this case.

[Mari333]

44. Disagree.

vehemently. They sold misogyny, sexual assault , and racism as a product. Money was foremost in the minds of whomever allowed it, and money was the only thing on the minds of Jackson and Timberlake.
But it was still condoning sexual assault of women, and still a racist woman hating stunt.

[TexasProgressive]

50. Cheers

Absolutely.

[Hekate]

107. Regrettably, a lot of women get assaulted during the Super Bowl...

in their homes, by their menfolk. Domestic violence calls go up--ask the cops. Something to do with ramping up aggressive emotions and hormones.

We are not a football watching household, so I miss all the commercials associated with it every year. But the Janet Jackson thing -- in context with the above -- really does seem to be playing to the violence/fantasy/violence/sex demographic.

Hekate

[Hekate]

110. The Daily Show just showed an ad that made me shudder...

still from the Super Bowl. It's the one where the woman/wife is standing over the seated man/husband and she's screaming at him in a good approximation of rage. Nagging over those neglected chores? No, this is simulated rage.

The study about domestic violence spiking during and after the Super Bowl has been out for several years, and it's man on woman not the other way around. The corporatists who make the decisions about which ads to run and what goes into the half-time entertainment know damn well what they're doing, and they don't care. :puke: :puke: :puke:

Oh well, thanks to Jon Stewart I've caught up on the ads.

Hekate

[Mari333]

114. I saw that too

rampant hatred of women and that's the Superbowl ads.
They know exactly who they are catering to. Angry white men who feel disenfranchised because their own version of masculinity demands power and control.
There are asshole women out there, I know that. And there are asshole men. But do you ever hear the phrase "Cockwhipped?" NO...You only hear "Pussywhipped".
And I know plenty of women who suffer from the first phrase. So its again, uneven underhanded horseshit and a double standard.
Hatred of women is so rampant in this society its considered a norm.

[TexasProgressive]

49. Good Post

Good points. However, your statement "this decision was made by them and not planned in the corporate board rooms" troubles me. Where do you get that information? And should we trust it? You go on to make an awful lot of assumptions about these two individuals, their motivations, their intelligence, etc.

I spent 20 years in the entertainment industry. SOMEBODY (other than the performers) knew this was going to happen. It doesn't matter if it was CBS, or rather the corporate honchos behind the careers of Jackson and Timberlake.

And the symbol remains. White man tears bra off black woman.

[Danieljay]

57. the fact is...they agreed to it

regardless of WHO knew about it, they could have said no. I am no more assuming the motivatins of "these two individuals" as Mari is assuming the motives of every every GOP'r and "the whole constituency of ignorant chest thumping white males in the Super Bowl audience". As far as assumptions MTV had an article up which has now been pulled about a "shocking suprise" during the Janet and Timberlake performance. They have replaced the article with an apology claiming it was an unplanned "wardrobe malfuntion". Ha.

As for the remaining symbol...white man tearing bra off black woman, I just don't see this as a rascist implication, to me, they are both human. My feelings would be the same regardless of race or gender, this was a tasteless publicity stunt.

Thanks for the feedback..ineteresting discussion.

[Skittles]

115. the fact that some women participate in their own degradation

in no way excuses it

[shanti]

45. do you really think

that if it had been a black man doing this to a white woman, it would have been CONDONED?? come ON! the guy would probably have been in jail by now!~

[Bunny]

26. Those were my thoughts exactly!!

For a white man to tear the clothes off a black woman, baring her breast to millions! It's outrageous that this was presented as okay: the sexual assault, racism, humiliation, ownership, etc. so intentionally performed. What a sick f-ing world!!

I'm worried about the children all right, but NOT because they got to see Ms. Jackson's breast. That was secondary to what was really going on.

[Mari333]

27. yep totally agree

!

[SemperEadem]

77. I agree with you

It's not so much that they got to see a pasty on a boob for a millisecond---it's the fact that now, some cretin full of a few too many beers is going to think it's funny to go do that to some woman who is minding her own business--has not signed a contract to expose herself--and then feel "I was just having fun; I didn't mean anything by it... Why am I being arrested for assault? Why do I have to go to court? You mean I can't do anything I think is funny to another person and get away with it, even if it humiliates her?"

It gave the wrong idea to too many males of any age who can't control their impulses, especially when they drink. "Justin Timberlake did it, so it must be cool to do that...." will be their reasoning for doing it--they will be cool in their friends' eyes for the same length of time Jackson's boob was exposed on national tv.

I think that before Powell gets his panties in a wad over Jackson and Timberlake, he needs to talk to whomever OK'd all the ads for penile dysfunction--to me, that was more offensive that seeing a pasty. How come he wasn't as offended because his young children saw the ads for penile erection dysfuction drugs? Because they were nicely shot with graphics in them? They were paid for by the pharmaceutical companies who contribute to his political aspirations, so he can nod and wink as they play out, but he wants to act a fool over a halftime performance?

He needs to get real and fast.

[Bonobo]

32. Thank you!

What I objected to -and what I did not want my young chidren to see-was not the bare breast. I could give a hit about that.
But the fact that Justin Timberwimp ripped off her shirt like it's okay to do that.
Great message for the family!

[Danieljay]

40. that I completely agree with..

If there is anyone to "blame" here, its Jackson and Timberlake for setting a poor example of what is appropiate and what is not.

[PsychoDad]

54. I don't know about the race angle...

But I do agree with everything else.

And these are western values that are being promoted. Sex sells, and human value is only skin deep.

[beanball]

69. CBS

give them hell mari333," you're telling the truth and they think its hell, excuse pres."

[surfermaw]

84. Mari333

You are probably right, and the drugs they were peddling shouldn't have been on either. I have read articles, that many young boys are buying the drugs they were peddling .

[proud2BlibKansan]

104. If it had been a white woman and a black man

there would have been a race riot.

[Jacobin]

7. Thank God. We CANNOT allow baby bottles to be shown on

television!!!

What will the children think?????

[sonias]

8. hooters of mass distraction

Oh my we can't have our Democracy threatened by an exposed breast, this just too distracting from the religious sanctify that is football and commercials of mass consumption.

blasphemous infidel traitors.

:evilgrin:

Sonia

[zbird]

11. Wow, that was fast. Less than 24 hours to get an investigation started?

How long did it take to get the Plame investigation, Cheney energy meetings investigation, etc. started? Yep, priorities are straight, all right.

[9215]

25. Nice one. This

sure tells you what priorities these fascisti have.

[PaDUer]

96. Old man bush

was at the game...just saw him being interviewed in Inside Edition..apparently he liked the game and show..he didn't say anything derogatory about it..

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

67. We're still waiting for a real 9-11 investigation

to answer questions re: how it happened and * and the government's response as the attacks occurred.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

89. where's the investigation for the Anthrax mailer who tried to kill 2

US Senators?

oh wait that's right the agents were needed more by Asscfort to investigate the Big Easy Hooker Ring...netted 12 hookers now a boob...wow i feel safe

[demnan]

12. Well I guess Ashcroft saw it and freaked!

We can't have our Christian Attorney General exposed to such ungodly things as a woman's breasts, we've already spent thousands in government money so this doesn't happen.

[louis-t]

29. yes, thank God bushie was in the WH kitchen..

getting more pretzels when this happened. crashcart would now be prez.

[OKNancy]

13. As we defend boobs on TV

please..don't lose sight of the fact that it was a publicity stunt to try to bring life to a fading career. In fact the whole show stunk.

[htuttle]

14. That was actually my own thought

As I said in another thread, if this doesn't work to revive Ms. Jackson's failing career, no doubt the next step is for an 'anonymous' sex tape of her to show up on the net, so she can sue to stop it's distribution.


:eyes:

[SemperEadem]

91. according to whom is her career fading?

since when is her career failing? Or are you just hatin'?

[GainesT1958]

19. You know a half-time show is bad...

When the only thing really worthwhile about it is a performance by Kid Rock...

Oh, well, at least the astronaut in the opening segment before the Star-Spangled Banner didn't start singing "You're going to get me naked by the end ofthis number"! :eyes:

B-)

[Zhade]

65. "Worthwhile" and "Kid Rock" do not belong in the same sentence.

Or even the same paragraph.

'Kid Rock' is a joke. He's an untalented hack who backs Bush and the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Soooooo - fuck him.

[Dulcinea]

58. And, is it a coincidence that she's releasing a new album soon?

No such thing as bad publicity, you know!

Besides, they HAD to top the Britney/Madonna kiss, right?

[alarimer]

98. There's no defending Toby Keith

speaking of boobs on TV

[madrchsod]

22. just heard on the score in Chicago

that management informed on air personal not to talk about the janet jackson deal other than it was an accident. can`t mention that mtv had it up on their website before the game that something would happen...

[9215]

24. obscenity

What is obscene?

Def. offensive to chastity; impure in language or action; indecent, filthy, lewd.

Well, I don't know anybody named chastity who was offended, so I have to resort to the second definition. I can't think of anybody more "impure in language and action" than Bush so Powell is barking up the wrong tree, IMHO. hee

[progressivebydesign]

28. Oh.. the hypocrites!!!

I watched two minutes of the game..at the end. I saw an ad for CSI that featured close up shots of barely clad gigantic breasts, then some shooting, some explosion, and death. THAT is okay?? But a woman's breast is disgusting? Those two minutes did remind me why I don't watch broadcast t.v. What a brain waster. Give me Iron Chef any time.

[louis-t]

31. you know, I keep seeing the censored replay....

and IMO there is no way that it was an accident.

[drscm]

34. "Our investigation will be thorough and swift."

It is great knowing that a naked tit gets the Republican's blood flowing.

I do not support behavior at the superbowl, but it's too bad the repugs do not show the same concern for 3,000 dead Americans in NYC, the 500 plus Americans and countless citizens killed in Iraq on a trumped up charge. It would be nice to have a thorough and swift investigation of these matters.

It's too bad that the hijackers were not topless or that we do not have photos of * with his pants down.

[freethought23]

53. Wisdom requires a sense of proportion....

Which is precisely what most of us haven't got.

[tridim]

35. The (over)reaction of the right is unbelievable

I just got back from a meeting and was listening to some generic RW talk show in the car. The guy actually said that the tit incident is similar to things that happened at the fall of the Roman Empire. He went on to say that soon we will be seeing live orgies on TV.

My initial reaction to this was to LOL, and believe me I was laughing at this guy's reaction. Then I heard a caller say she was aghast and that she could barely talk because she was crying. Crying? Over a boob!? On the surface it's certainly funny to hear the RW'ers loose it, but my fear is that like every other little thing they'll take it way too far. I mean to equate this event with the end of civilization is just bizarre and I'm afraid they're going to use it to stifle even more free speech and expression.

Personally I have nothing against nudity on TV, even tasteless nudity. I didn't get off on seeing Janet's breast, I just think nudity should be much more acceptable than the hours of pointless violence our kids see on TV every day. There is NOTHING evil about nudity.

If the right pursues this like I think they will we need to be prepared to fight back.

[Danieljay]

46. and the left...

I agree with you, this is being way overdone by BOTH sides. Turning this into issues of racism, rape, assault, and mysogeny by the left is just as silly. The question we really need to be asking ourselves is why are we a people who are more concerned about the motives of displaying a breast on television than we are the killing and assault of thousands in Iraq, the starvation of millions in third world countries, the increasing incidence of unemployment and poverty in this country, and the lack of affordable health care in this country. Another distraction!

[Mari333]

51. Sexual assault isnt silly

and tearing a womans clothes off is a symbol of sexual assault. The message was sent: Its okay to attack women.
when women bring something up that affects them like sexual assault, seems like the word "silly" is applied to it. Women noticing the misogyny of the act are "silly"?
Typical response..heard it a million times about women who used to call out for laws against rape and men said women complaining about rape were "silly".
Way to go..another secret misogynist remark from the other gender to demean women's real issues in a violently woman hating society.
Guess men on the left havent all grown up yet either.

[Name removed]

52. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Mandate My Ass]

56. You're right on the money, Mari

I'm always more than a bit taken back by the misogyny I see here on DU. Thanks for standing up and telling it like it is.

[Mari333]

72. Ive heard leftist men whine about womens concerns

for years..if anything, thats why women in the 60s and 70s woke up...when men on the left started ordering women to bring them coffee while they were screaming about the oppression of the Vietnam war..
Its pretty sad a lot of them are still pulling their puds and condoning sexual assault of women or women's concerns.
I guess misogyny runs pretty damned deep.

[Ripley]

74. Yes it does.

And Keerist don't these guys have enough porno outlets????? The internet, movies, rentals, hotel rooms, prostitutes, whorehouses, strip clubs, books, now they have to take their soft porn into the damned superbowl TV show too??

Believe it or not there are a lot of women and kids who like football and tune in. But I did not tune in with my family to watch pseudo porn.

[9215]

60. If in fact things happened the way you described them

then I agree with you. So much of this depends on whether Jackson was a willing participant in the act.

But beyond that the FCC is attacking it for being obscene, not as a sexual assault.

If Janet Jackson doesn't bring charges against her "attacker" then I will tend to believe this was just a stunt that was OK by all participants.

[freethought23]

64. That's why she had a pasty on.

Consent.

[9215]

101. PASTIE!!

You gotta be kiddin' me!! You mean all this hubbub and she didn't even bare her breast completely......Jeeeeez!

What kind of obscenity is that!!

I'm glad you where looking close, hee, hee, to catch this.

Modesty forbids me to look.

[Danieljay]

62. no, real sexual assault isn't silly at all..

And if she didn't agree to this and it was found to be intentional, then she should by God press charges. But to accuse me of all people, a man who has marched for the rights of women, promoted breast cancer awareness, walked in take back the night campaigns, stood up for a woman's right to choose, Educated the public about HIV/AIDS awareness and reproductive rights of women, is just plain ludricrous and misinformed. I've seen this giant leap made time and time again...understand what motivates it... and have learned to not take it personally.

[freethought23]

63. Quit defending yourself.

These fanatics won't be impressed.

[Zhade]

66. It's not sexual assault when the parties involved both consent.

I see your point, but I think you're reading waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more into it than was there.

[Mandate My Ass]

71. Symbolic sexual violence against women

presented as acceptable family entertainment during the "all-american" superbowl media fest is problematic, to say the least. I don't care if Janet gets off having her clothing ripped off by men in the privacy of her bedroom but when she did it on national TV her willingness to be an object of sexual violence affects not just her, but all women.

edited for clarity

[Danieljay]

73. agreed..its problematic

but I don't think its being presented as acceptable family entertainment at all, at least I hope not. I think it was irresponsible and in bad taste as was the Bud beer nagging woman commericial and the degrading horse farting commercial.

That being said, Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake are NOT representative of all women and all men, and we have a responsibility as parents and citizens to tell our children that this behavior is unacceptable. If it was an accident then what? If was planned by both then it was a bad decision, if was intentional without her consent, she should speak out for women and press charges.

The only other option is for the government and the media to step in and do it for us, which opens up a whole new set of issues in itself. Maybe I'm naive, but I just dont think it represents anything more than bad judgment (and planned). Every thing else thats being implied comes from whats within our own consciousness.

I have to wonder if this had been Madonna ripping the breast plate off of Jacksons costume. Its certainly not beyond her, and I wonder if race and assault would have been an issue? Any thoughts?

[Mandate My Ass]

75. No, they're not representative

but there were probably millions of teens and twenty-somethings tuned into the show and like it or not pop culture affects the behavior of this age group. I believe it was planned, so I think the TV execs should bear the brunt of any fallout from this abysmally misguided stunt. I've been hearing all week how CBS couldn't air a Moveon.org ad because it was too controversial and then to have them foist this off as entertainment makes my blood boil. I personally believe nudity should be allowed on television. WE can see people's heads being blown off on any given station at all times of day or night but god forbid we see nude bodies. However, if you're going to show breasts, let it be because the woman disrobed herself not because someone forcibly did it to her.

Most of the brouhaha over the Madonna/Brittany kiss and the Rosie O'Donnell crotch-grabbing incident were either laughable at best or in poor taste at worst. I have no problem nor do I get offended with displays of poor taste that don't glamorize or seem to tolerate one person dehumanizing another.

As for projecting what is in our own consciousness on this particular stunt, I'm in my mid 40s and have not only been an object of clear cut involuntary assault, but have had my complaints dismissed by those responsible for investigating them. The attitude on this thread, and in society at large, is that a woman can be somewhat complicit in staged sexual assaults (forced disrobing fits here IMHO) so can she be complicit in real ones.

And no, I don't think Janet should press charges, but an apology from both of them would be nice.

[Mari333]

78. Oh it was MTV people who did the stunt!

Why am I not surprised. Probably the same nitwits who produce that show Jackass. 18-35 yr old kids who need to be home cleaning the used condoms out from under their beds instead of expecting their moms to do it.
:crazy:
endnote: I am not for censorship, I believe in the First Amendment rights of people to obtain porn, watch it, be involved in it, and do whatever they want thats legally protected by law.
But I also believe in MY First Amendment right to call things out as I see them.

[Danieljay]

82. good post...I agree

please undersand that I am in no way suggesting that women who are complicit in "staged sexual assaults" can be complicit an real ones. That argument has been around way too long is just plain wrong in my opinion. I'm sorry you have experienced that personally, and i can assure you if I was there I would have stood by you in demanding justice.

It seems to me that whats happening here, not necessarily from you, is that I can't seem to have a difference of opinion regarding the simple premise of this incident without being labelled a misogynist, rapist, pornographer, sexist male chauvinist. Believe me, if I was indeed that..my partner would have left me a long time ago.

[Zhade]

102. Hang on a second.

The attitude on this thread, and in society at large, is that a woman can be somewhat complicit in staged sexual assaults (forced disrobing fits here IMHO) so can she be complicit in real ones.

Now you're definitely reading too much into things.

[SemperEadem]

92. why is he complaining? He surfs over to see orgies on his computer now

why wait for it to hit air?

most of those who get tweaked about nudity are the same ones who are addicted to online porn in the wee hours of the night when their spouse is asleep in bed.

[Serial Mom]

38. Bare boob, then ED commercials

My husband said this morning that CBS allowed many commercials about erectile dysfuntion, take pills, take chemicals, yet the "natural" cure for it is not allowed. (heehee)

Maybe its because * & co. (including Powell with the FCC) can't make any money off the natural cure ...


I didn't see the thing until this morning - we tuned into CNN during halftime to watch for the moveon.org commercials. And I do believe I said it immediately after hearing about it that it was planned to "revive" her career - when was the last time anybody cared about Janet?

[OneBlueSky]

41. this MetaFilter poster got it right:

So, in conclusion, the Super Bowl:

violence, violence, violence, aggression, coach mouthing obscenity, beer commercial, cheerleader, cheerleader, beer commercial, violence, aggression, commercial with horse igniting woman with its fart, violence, cheerleader, beer commercial, DIRTY FILTHY TITTY MY GOD WHO WILL THINK OF THE CHILDREN, violence, aggression, beer commercial.

[htuttle]

42. Not just the Super Bowl

I think the poster has captured the essence of America with that one...

[kurtyboy]

55. Don't forget-----

....advertisement for a four-hour erection med....

[Galley_Queen]

47. The Crisco Kid

and Powell should team up, purchase another $8,000 drape, and put it over Janet AND the Spirit of Justice statue. How's that for a money saving idea?

:wow:

[BarbaRosa]

48. Oh the irony of it all

Powell/FCC investigating the station that wimped out with the Reagan movie.:eyes:

[0007]

59. I wonder if Ashcroft got a woody?

[Zhade]

68. ARGGGGGGGGGGG! MY EYES!

My God, I close them, and I can still see that horrific image! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

:P

[saigon68]

128. No at his age he can't perform

He obtains arousal from prosecuting people, and viewing pictures of bodies blown to bits.

[lebkuchen]

61. What kind of "action" does Michael Powell have in mind?

Color me curious.

[yellowcanine]

70. FCC to Probe Halftime Show Breast-Baring

Actual yahoo headline - chortle
http://www.yahoo.com/

Amazing how fast the investigations fly over tv event compared to actual malfeasance by the Bush adnministration, isn't it?

[phrenzy]

76. The only thing funnier

Than the freepers freaking out about this is watching the people on this board turn this in to some kind of 'televised condoning of rape and woman hating'

Give me a fucking break! It was a crass publicity stunt - PERIOD.

So, what was the Madonna / Britney kiss? It's the SAME SHIT. Same reason SAME MOTIVES.

So, If some ignorant hick freeper looks at that and says "Heeuck heeuck - Lookie there, that black lady lahks havin her clothes ripped awuf bah a whaht bowa!" That's HIS problem.

God I hate reactionaries of ANY stripe INCLUDING reactionary feminism.

If a black pop confection like (pre scandal) Michael Jackson ripped off Madonna's shirt for a publicity stunt - it was be the SAME THING. Don't try to turn this in to some broad statement on society other than the statement it makes about cheesy marketing ploys.

It's simply $$$ and nothing more.

[Mandate My Ass]

79. The only thing less funny than freepers

Are so-called progressives who post here and use the word feminism as derogatory term.

Oh and thanks for dictating to the board what we how we must interpret an event and what is acceptable commentary on said event.

[Mari333]

83. They come on this board and get mad

when women dont get in line.
Tough shite eh?
I imagine had it been a black male being lynched by Juston Timberlake as a publicity stunt they would be screaming about how horrible an example it was of overt racism.
But as a stunt that has a woman being portrayed as having her clothes ripped off and promotes assault?
No problem with a lot of guys I guess.
Woman is the n*gger of the world: John Lennon.

[Mandate My Ass]

85. That's what i thought of too

What if an African American had participated in a mock lynching? Would that make the whole concept of lynching less horrendous? Would it have added any entertainment value to the frikkin' Superbowl? Would cries of racism be met with the kind of dripping scorn I see here about sexual assault.

No, I don't think so.

[SemperEadem]

117. no kidding, because a song WAS sung about the glories of lynching

in the pregame show---I don't hear anyone having a fit over that, no one is demanding that Willie Nelson and his sidekick to apologize to the African American population for singing a song so racist, so violent and so shameful in its glorification of racism and violence as if it was the pride of the American people.

[geniph]

88. This thread really gave me a different perspective

It's interesting, because I hadn't thought about the "compliant black woman - demanding white man" aspect of the whole thing before - and I'm not convinced that was necessarily a conscious, cynical decision - but I do think the reaction (which ought to have been a disgusted shrug) would be very much more extreme had this been, say, 50 Cent ripping the shirt off LeeAnn Rimes. People would be going ballistic (even more so than some already are).

The whole damn thing is so stupid - and some part of me can't help but wonder if this is another ConditLaceyKobeOJ planned distraction from real issues.

[Galley_Queen]

81. or Turning it Into

a reactionary stereotype?

<"Heeuck heeuck - Lookie there, that black lady lahks havin her clothes ripped awuf bah a whaht bowa!" >

[phrenzy]

86. Gag

I never said Feminism was a bad thing. I believe I said 'reactionary feminsm' which you conveniently ignored.

Look, I do believe the use of women as marketing tools exists. It is pathetic, crude and cheap. But it is not always a malicious evil. Sometimes it is simply 'show biz' and 'shock value'

It is up to the individual to be 'media literate' enough to interpret it for what it truly is.

Also, in this case the context of their IMAGES has to be taken in to consideration.

Justin Timberlake = un-threatening pop pretty boy

Janet Jackson = Vamp. Ms. Jackson (if you're nasty) - Bad girl - could kick Timberlake's ass.

These conflicting images make what they did seem more 'acceptable' to people. If it had been, say Madonna ripping the pants off of a cowering Morrissey - THAT would be offensive.

Likewise, if it had been Kid Rock tearing the shirt off of Bjork that would ALSO be offensive.

But Justin TIMBERLAKE vs Janet Jackson? Come on!

[Mandate My Ass]

95. You continuously presume

that you are the final and absolute arbiter of context. You think you decide who is media literate and who is a reactionary feminist. You decide what is and is not acceptable and whose ripping of whomever's clothing is and is not offensive.

Gag yourself. It's the sickening tool of the RW to pass judgment on what is "evil" and what is show biz and do it in such a sneeringly contemptuous tone.

[bloom]

116. Actually - when I was watching it

I was thinking about how odd it was - his loose casual attire in comparison to her weird skin-tight leather outfit.

I was thinking something along the lines of how comfortable he looked while she looked as uncomfortable as if she were wearing a corsett that she needed to bust free from.




(And then I must have looked away - because I missed the "event".

[SemperEadem]

119. freeper alert!!

[Chovexani]

120. This black feminist agrees with you 100%

I'm sort of bemused by all the reading into it done by both sides. Janet herself said that it was planned by both of them. WTF is the problem? This isn't "exploitation" any more than the Britney/Madonna kiss--a pop star wanted her name in the papers cause she's got an album coming out. Hello?

The fact that everyone is freaking out over it just vindicates the fact that it was a brilliant PR stunt. I hate football and ever since MTV stopped having the Buttbowl I just watch the halftime show and the commercials. I wasn't offended by it at all--I'd rather see a sexy dance and some boobies on TV than people shooting each other. Personally I'm offended by all the people reading racism and rape into it--to equate a pop star exposing another pop star's boob on TV to rape is insulting. He didn't tear all her clothes off and start humping her on stage. She didn't scream or look like she wasn't comfortable or in total control of the situation. And I *really* don't understand where this racial stuff is coming from...and I'm a little offended by it. Is this the 50s or something? I understand that there's baggage from way back in the day about white men and black women, probably better than most of ya'll who are up in arms about it: it's the reason I can't hold my boyfriend's hand in public without getting evil stares from people (of every race). If Janet was comfortable with it then that's good enough for me. It seems to me that if somebody has a problem with it, that it should be equally offensive to them no matter what the races of the people involved. But that's just my opinion.

I can understand people thinking it's tasteless, even though I don't agree (I thought it was fun and sexy and subversive myself, but maybe that's because I'm 22 and am a fan of both singers). Still, there were an awful lot of tasteless things on that broadcast: farting horses, a dog attacking a guy's crotch, endless ED commercials, etc. Why focus on this? Oh, I forgot, this country has the same attitude towards sex as 13 year olds in health class.

And anyway, Janet accomplished what she set out to do: she got people really talking about her for the first time in years, and will probably make way more money in album sales than whatever chump change fine the FCC gives her. I'd flash my boob in salute, but I'd probably get in trouble too. :crazy:

--Chovexani dons a pasty under her asbetos suit

[enki23]

87. talk about overanalyzed from every angle

it was a boob. it was a pierced boob, with a thingy in it. a boob. one boob. it flopped a little. it was staged, and it was silly. and the shocked punditry, wrestling magnificently with a brief flapping breast, should not be surprised to find that they are the biggest flopping boobs of them all.

[WillyT]

93. Funny How 'Boobgate' Will Get More Interest Than The 9\11 Investigation !!

We are through the looking glass once again, folks!!!

:eyes:

[Algorem]

94. Michael Powell doesn't really seem like the kind of guy who wants to

have to look at those things.

[Snazzy]

111. too close a look...

and he may poke out an eyeball on that sun/star pointy pastie whatchamacallit.

[MasonJar]

97. Excuse me. I will tell you what is obscene...Michael Powell giving

away America's airways to Viacom, Disney, GE and the others. That is something to really worry about, not some 10 second view of a boob.

[DinahMoeHum]

100. From one boob (Michael Powell) to another (Janet Jackson). . .

Takes one to know one.

:evilgrin:

[GreenGreenLimaBean]

103. Use this issue to slam bush*

I saw Moneyline on CNN tonight and Lou Dobbs fill-in had 2 emails
posted that slammed first CBS, then bush*

First one basically said,

"Thank you CBS for protecting us from MoveOn.org's halftime ad.
We much rather have seen the American Flag Desecrated and then
some gratuitous sex instead.

the second one said something like,

"J.J. exposes her breast on TV and the investigation begins
12hours later. A senior administration official exposes the
identity of a CIA agent and bush* does nothing."

It was a thing of beauty.

[Zhade]

106. Did it actually have the * after bush's name?

If so, that rocks. If not, it still rocks!

[Tinoire]

105. Taking action against Janet Jackson??! WTF>??!!!!!!!

Hey #^$*-head Powell, I have a few obscenities that are really pissing me off as a God-fearing Christian that I'd like you to pay a little attention to.

Thank you can do something about those obscenities?

Much obliged *%$*-head.

[Zhade]

108. Amen to that, Tinoire.

These men have no soul. No soul at all.

[Tinoire]

109. None. I'm stunned.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell yesterday ordered an investigation of the Super Bowl halftime show, in which Justin Timberlake tore off part of fellow singer Janet Jackson's costume, exposing her breast.
"I am outraged at what I saw during the halftime show," Mr. Powell said. "Like millions of Americans, my family and I gathered around the television for a celebration. Instead, that celebration was tainted <snip>

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20040203-120720-1502r.htm

And then get a load of this hypocrisy from our friends on the religious right!

Super Bowl Sleaze: Shmuley's Five Daughters Watch Janet Jackson Strip Rebbe With a Cause
Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

But this year was by far the most degenerate of all. Justin Timberlake, a man distinguished neither for his dance nor his music, decided to open Janet Jackson's blouse and expose her breast. I'm not making this up. As soon as I saw it, I knew it had been planned, even though Janet gave this "shocked" look of surprise. Timberlake, who is locked in a permanent game of one-upsmanship with his former girlfriend, the vulgar Britney Spears, was looking to upstage the Britney-Madonna kiss. That's what happens in a popular culture that has deteriorated to being almost entirely about empty sensationalism.

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/139/story_13940_1.html

You know who Shmuley Boteach is? A man who reaped millions from Michael Jackson.




Instead of coming to her defense- that it was most likely an accident because the poor girl looked STUNNED and I am sorry, but when your brother is being dragged through the courts on strange charges, the last thing you do is risk public indecency to bring even more notoriety to your family. Janet has always been a classy woman and I am morever stunned that people would think she did this on purpose. The timing & place especially make absolutely no sense.

Thanks. It's good to be surrounded by DUers like you.

[saigon68]

129. "I am outraged at what I saw during the halftime show," Mr. Powell said

Baby Bowel upset

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

121. I have a question.

What's more obscene? That stupid little publicity stunt or Daddy Powell doing for Bush what Monica did for Bill (in public mind you)? Never mind I think I figured it out....

[Ravy]

122. Where is Janet Jackson's publicist!

If she/he would simply say that Janet exposed her breast on national TV in strong support of the Iraq War then this thing could change from an FCC investigation into a Presidential Award for Patriotism!

That's what this administration does for other boobs that support them.

Ravy