WHO's Townshend may have to register as a sex offender in Florida

Shine (via Yahoo) ^ | 28 December 09

[Drew68]

Since the story of Townshend sex offender past broke nationally a week ago, which has been a subject of debate and argument, only one question matters.

Was Pete Townshend a registered sex offender in the UK from 2003 to 2008? Answer: Yes.

Well that’s that then. Sorry Pete. This precludes you from not only playing at the Super Bowl, it also stops you from entering the United States to begin with.

Since the NFL decided to hire Pete Townshend for the upcoming Super Bowl event all hell has broken loose. Child AbuseWatch, the international child prevention group, have been trying for some time to bring attention to Townshend’s sex offender status. Most notably was the Kennedy Center Awards event last year when they wrote to the organizers protesting the honoring of someone with sex offender history.

Most recently they have asked the NFL to drop Townshend from the Super Bowl. In a way they are doing the NFL a favor. How? When the family values groups get hold of this they’re going to rip the NFL and their sponsors apart. It could indeed prove to be an incredibly expensive mistake on the NFL’s part to not read more than Townshend publicists take on Pete’s past when they were planning the half time show.

Another national advocacy group, Protect Our Children, headed by Kevin Gillick has taken the NFL protest a step further; two steps actually. They have made a lot of noise with the Immigration and Naturalization Department and ICE begging to ask how a registered sex offender, with criminal record, has been given free reign to enter the US.

U.S. immigration law says authorities will deny entrance to “Aliens convicted of, and those who admit having committed a crime involving moral turpitude...

[william clark]

I think so. During the “Who’s Left” tour.

[ReneeLynn]

From what I’ve read here, this is much ado about nothing. But The Who? They couldn’t find better entertainment for the Super Bowl?

[CatQuilt]

To the folks complaining about the Who’s performance...I guess you don’t remember the act they did for the 9/11 concert in NYC. They brought the house down. It was amazing! (yes, I’m a Who fan)

[JRios1968]

According to the NFL’s moral standards, Rush Limbaugh is too despicable to have a minority ownership interest in an NFL team, but a pedophile is suitable halftime entertainment.

Michael Jackson was not available for comment...

[Yorlik803]

Isnt Pete Townshend a Critic of Obama. I remember he wanted to kick Michael Moores ass because he used “Wont Be Fooled Again” on the movie that bashed Bush and was pro war in Iraq.
If this is the case, it anwsers a lot of questions.

[Moltke]

Child AbuseWatch, the international child prevention group

Huh? Kind of a mixed message there....

[ssaftler]

He was thoroughly investigated by the police who found nothing beyond the fact, which he admitted, that his credit card had been billed by a child porn site. He claimed it occurred in the course of research for a book

Oooo, the Bernie Ward defense. Didn't work for Fat Bernie, why should it work for Townshend???

[Moltke]

I guess you don’t remember the act they did for the 9/11 concert in NYC. They brought the house down.

Uhh....just sayin'...rephrase that, perhaps?

[republicofdavis]

“Oooo, the Bernie Ward defense. Didn’t work for Fat Bernie, why should it work for Townshend???”

A fair point. How about because there’s no evidence that has ever been presented to support Ward’s claim while there’s plenty to support Townshend’s?

[ssaftler]

How about because there’s no evidence that has ever been presented to support Ward’s claim while there’s plenty to support Townshend’s?

Okay, point taken. It does sound fishy, though, wouldn't you say? Given the plethora of identity theft sites out there, you would think that someone that rich and famous would be VERRRRRY careful where he sticks his credit card.

[I cannot think of a name]

“Okay, point taken. It does sound fishy, though, wouldn't you say? Given the plethora of identity theft sites out there, you would think that someone that rich and famous would be VERRRRRY careful where he sticks his credit card.”

That was one of the biggest points towards his defense. If you “thought” you “were” going to a kiddie porn site, you would certainly take great pains to avoid your identity.

[republicofdavis]

“It does sound fishy, though, wouldn’t you say? Given the plethora of identity theft sites out there, you would think that someone that rich and famous would be VERRRRRY careful where he sticks his credit card.”

Agreed. Though the thing with Townshend happened a long time before widespread identity theft I think (1999?) and he actually admitted having accessed the site for research in a blog post well before he was ever arrested, which tended to show that he hadn’t thought he’d done anything wrong or that needed to be hidden. There’s a good deal of information out there on his case.

[MotorCityBuck]

Yes. After the terrorist attack on Sept. 11th 2001, and also I believe they were playing Vegas when Entwisle died of a heart attack just a few years ago.

[Amberdawn]

I love the Who-saw them at the old J.F.K. Stadium in Philadelphia in 1982, along with the Clash and R.E.M. From what I’ve learned, he SAID he was researching child porn and clicked on a real link which is what got him in trouble. Can’t say I know the truth of it though, as all media spin, spin, spin.

[MotorCityBuck]

I have their performance on DVD ( the concert for NYC) sends chills up my spine to see the reaction of the firefighter and cops. Brilliant! Bring on The Who. Ringo's kid on drums was eerily close to Moons drumming style.

[catnipman]

Waivers of inadmissability due to crimes involving moral turpitude are pretty much a given for high profile entertainers and athletes. In fact waivers are often granted to such performers and entertainers in circumstances where regular folks would never be able to get one. And probably in a lot less than the 6 months to 2+ years it can take for regular folks to have a waiver application processed and approved.

Indeed. That's 'cause "laws" in general apply mainly to we little folk; the elite are generally exempted.

[CatQuilt]

Oops!

[CatQuilt]

That’s the same concert in which Hillary got booed... My husband and I were watching it live. They scrubbed the DVD though...the boos were gone. :-(

[Moltke]

Yeah...the dreaded double entendre...Happy 2010 to you!