Falwell Talks About Jackson's chest...(press release)

[Khephra]

Falwell Confidential

Date: February 5, 2004
From: Jerry Falwell

KEEP THE PRESSURE ON THE NETWORKS

The fallout from the Justin Timberlake-Janet Jackson Super Bowl fiasco abruptly caused network programmers to understand that there are untold numbers of Americans who are concerned about obscene images being broadcast into their homes. Programmers have now been forced to reassess programming standards - or the lack thereof - because millions of Americans loudly reacted to the halftime striptease.

The most important thing to understand in this controversy was brought out by my good friend Gary Bauer. He said: "A statistical analysis of viewership indicated that one-in-five American kids between the ages of 2 and 11 were watching the game with their parents, a fact that CBS and MTV marketers had to know, but it didn't stop them from bringing this trash right into our living rooms."

That prior knowledge didn't stop network officials from allowing the vulgar routine because they didn't care who got offended.

They certainly care now.

So do the NFL, the Federal Communications Commission and the other major networks, for that matter. The NFL and the FCC were flooded with e-mails and calls from offended Super Bowl viewers, as was CBS.

NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced after the Super Bowl that the league would alter policies and procedures relating to entertainment during games. The announcement had quick consequences; 'N Sync member JC Chasez was axed from the NFL All-Star Game Sunday halftime show. The league is not going to risk having more lewd lyrics or actions at their events and that is a positive thing for American families.

In addition, NBC has announced that it will edit what is described as a brief shot of an 80-year-old woman's breast from tonight's episode of "ER."

Apparently, producers of the show were angered by the announcement, but that's to be expected. TV producers are like spoiled children. They cry when they don't get their way, even over an insignificant issue like this one. Plus, they're not used to anyone saying no to them; the FCC has certainly not been doing their job in keeping the bawdy broadcasts off the air and timid network officials have been afraid to halt the outrageous sexual material.

But the Timberlake-Jackson episode was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back with viewers and network managements know now that there is a line that cannot be crossed with viewers. They will be walking on eggshells for a while.

The key now is for concerned viewers to remain proactive in voicing their concerns over sexually-themed network broadcasts. I'm sure network officials believe that the controversy will soon die down - at least they hope so - so they can go back to televising the usual rubbish that is routinely pumped into American homes.

If Americans allow that to happen, shame on us.

I spoke at a pastors conference in Jacksonville, Fla., earlier this week and told thousands of church leaders to urge their congregations to write or call CBS and the FCC in order to keep the pressure on. I am encouraging readers of this column to do the same. By acting together, we wield incredible power - especially now.

Here is the contact information for FCC Chairman Michael Powell (who announced that he is launching an inquiry into the Super Bowl halftime show): [e-mail] . In addition, the FCC general e-mail box is: [e-mail] .

You may call CBS at [phone] or e-mail the network at this address: http://www.cbs.com (click on "feedback" at the bottom of the home page to send your e-mail).

Please join me in keeping the pressure on! Get your family, church family and friends involved, as well. We can seriously impact the culture if we act as one in letting the networks know that it is time to clean up television for good!

[onethatcares]

1. sorry, but there's no sex in your violence

if a naked boob scares ya, what would a double amputee from the war do? get over it.

[rfranklin]

4. That would prbably give him...

a 36-hour erection.

[yellowcanine]

2. Falwell is a fraud

He reminds me of some of the preachers I was subjected to while growing up - they delighted in talking about the "sins of the flesh" so much that you just knew they were getting a few jollies of their own talking about it.

[Tripper11]

3. Four words for Jerry

Fuck off you prude!

[Autumn]

5. falwell

He is so sick and twisted.

[Jacobin]

6. What's so awful about a baby bottle??

I really don't understand these people. I just don't.

[I Thaumaturgist]

7. Jerry Falwell is Obscene

If we were made in God's image then there should be nothing about our bodies that should be hidden. Besides, go to any doctor's office and pick up a copy of national geographic and you will see much more. Watch the Discovery Channel and you'll see women giving birth. All we saw at the half time show was one boob wearing a pasty. How much worse is it to have to see a bloated toad like Falwell try to convince us that the human body is ugly.

[newyawker99]

17. Hi I Thaumaturgist!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[MrsMatt]

24. ok newyawker99

where was MY hello from you when I was a newbie?

[oneighty]

8. Bravo Jerry, you creep.

Now do something about the Erection Commercials. Please? You jerk.

180

[Piperay]

15. Apparently those commericials

are alright because the product is something that they need. :puke:

[drdigi420]

9. people offended by a tit

need to grow up

geez

[DemoTex]

10. The war is obscene.

The breast is not.

[Jax]

11. What DemoTex said

Jax

[MrsMatt]

12. What I find obscene

is the intolerant attitudes espoused by these pseudochristians.

[indepat]

13. I'm concerned about the obscene who purport to love Jesus but preach

hate.

[mike_c]

14. I must be from another planet or something...

...because I don't give a rat's buttocks about Janet Jackson's breast. Don't all these people have more important things to worry about? And why was her breast "obscene" anyway?

[Toots]

16. Not "obscene" but "Trash"

"but it didn't stop them from bringing this trash right into our living rooms."

[MisterP]

18. oh, for GD rules you'll have to give your negative opinion on the letter

and I though Falwell meant Jesse Jackson...

[onethatcares]

20. oh, the visual on that/

think I'll switch to rum at this point.

[Selwynn]

19. Falwell being wrong doesn't make that stupid stunt right.

Guess what, Falwell is wrong. Guess what else, that fucking moronic super bowl stunt was insulting to my intelligence and sleazy. Just because Falwell is wrong in his arguments doesn't mean I should have to thereby defend the skank-i-fication of television, nor does it mean I have to accept as permissible every from of trash that is presented.

It's like I said in another thread - I'm sick of television constantly catering the lowest common denominator, like its all one big episode of Beavis and Butthead. Some times that's fun, in moderation. I laughed at Beavis and Butthead at times. But sometimes, something with a little more sophistication and, dare I say, class or culture would be nice too. It's like the difference between Beavis and Butthead Do America and Mystic River, so to speak.

So just because Falwell has latched on to this to make stupid statements doesn't mean that the super bowl debacle is now somehow defensible. It was a sleazy, shallow, non-family friendly publicity stunt that was utterly and wildly inappropriate to the setting and context.

[ClarkUeberAlles]

22. I'm with you 100%

I hate the absolute degeneration that has occured to broadcast t.v.
That's a large part of the reason I don't watch tv except for a handful of favorite shows and cable news.

I'm 25 years old and I assure you I'm no prude by any stretch of the imagination, but is nothing sacred? Can we at least keep broadcast tv clean enough for the children. If adults want more mature entertainment there are several venues for us.

Falwell is a scumbag, but he happens to be right on this particular issue. CBS, Timberlake, Jackson and anybody else should be made to feel ashamed for these types of displays.

[mike1963]

23. Uh, a couple of questions:

Do you consider the sight of an exposed breast "obscene"? If so, why?
There is a high probablility you saw your mama's tits at some point.
Maybe even sucked on them. Why are you so exercised at the ...uh, 'exposure' of something that 99.9999% of every person on the planet has two of?

I don't understand your outrage.
:eyes:
But Asscroft probably does.

[arwalden]

21. Dear Jerry Falwell: FUCK YOU VERY MUCH!

-- Allen

[DemLikr]

25. I wish Janet hadn't apologized...fuck the blue nose prudes

The longer this alleged controversey is dragged out, the more I hope Janet's next album sells like hotcakes and that she makes millions; God knows Robertson and his fellow Jesus-shysters are using it to make many millions themselves.

I think I'll buy her album just to support breast exposure on national TV; I'm tired of this Puritanical bullshit.

Hello, religious fascists! Jesus sucked a tit too: at least Mary his mother's, and maybe Mary Magdalene's too (but that's another controversey).

I saw Timberlake on TV mewling and whining about how he was deceived into participating (which I believe MAY actually be true; I saw the stunned, clueless look on his face when it happened), as though he objected on some high moral grounds. Puh-leeease. Weasel.

Janet should have said, "Look, ya know...my tit unexpectedly fell out...giggle...oops...now deal with it. And the name's Janet, MISS Jackson if you're nasty!"