Politics of Porn: Justice Department Launches Long-Anticipated War on Obscenity

ABC News ^ | 9-28-03 | Jake Tapper

[Houmatt]

I saw this report last night on Nightline. All I can say is its about damned time.

It goes without saying however Fishbein should be b*tch slapped repeatedly until he wakes up and stops blindly defending the indefensible.

I also hope Zicari and Romano are convicted and given the max. It is precisely their kind of filth that creates and feeds violent sex offenders. That is why this is not a First Amendment issue and they should be held accountable no matter what.

[frossca]

The material depicted in the videotapes produced by Extreme Associates is extremely vile, degrading and extremely offensive to women

So, is The Man Show next?

[coloradan]

"We're facing more time than the guy that they just arrested that was trying to sell the surface-to-air missile," said Zicari.

Damn right! A SAM might shoot down Air Force One, but dirty pictures tear the very fabric of our nation. We have to focus on the greater threat!

Note to the sarcastically declined: this is sarcasm

[Orangedog]

Well I'm SO glad that the whole silly war on terrorism and those wacky Wall Street guys who wiped out hundreds of billions of dollars have all been dealt with. Now on to the important stuff! [/sarcasm]

[Onelifetogive]

All I can say is its about damned time.

You said a BAD word....Ashcroft may have to wash your mouth out with soap.....

[Houmatt]

One of the confiscated movies, Forced Entry, features three graphic scenes of women being spat upon, raped and murdered.

Something you may have overlooked (ignored) in crafting your response.

[SpaceBar]

The media is again parroting the "Chrisian Right" thing again, as if people with sensibilities belong to some secret society. You can't get away from the lies and distortions. It's all John Ashcroft's fault and all them damn Bible thumpers that you can't go down and purchase a film depicting vile filth.

[thoughtomator]

That's some dangerous thinking. A lot of things could be said to feed sexual violence. What adults choose to do with their own bodies is their own business, and the government has no place meddling with it. (Emphasis on 'adult' and 'their own', so no obfuscatory child porn or abortion arguments, please).

[Houmatt]

see post #6

[CholeraJoe]

It is precisely their kind of filth that creates and feeds violent sex offenders.

Do you have any scientific proof that exposure to porn turns normal people into sex offenders? Or could it be that those individuals with psychopathology commit acts with or without pornographic material.

[Orangedog]

If they raped and murdered women, then charge them with rape and murder. If they made a MOVIE with scenes like that in them, then the feds are wasting time and money. Decentcy laws are supposed to judged on community standards...that's state and local, not federal.

[opusprime]

This is pathetic.

With all the things going on in the world today our DOJ is wasting their time with this crap(no pun)?

These morons need to get their priorities straight.

On September 11th, 2001 more than 60 FBI agents were camped outside the Rainbow Farm in southern Michigan investing their shooting of two Marijuana activists.

Two months ago the Feds revealed that they had been spents 1000's of man hours busting glass blowers and pipe widdlers in Operation Pipe Dream.

Boy do I feel safer.

Do we ever learn?

[Atlas Sneezed]

"To meet the legal definition of obscenity, a film has to depict sex in an offensive and prurient fashion"

---

"Offensive" = extremely unappealing
"Prurient" = appealing to a base desire

Think about it. "Obscenity" is simply about stopping others from enjoying what you don't.

[coloradan]

A lot of Hollywood movies also show spittings-upon, rapes, and murders. Hollywood might hide the naughty parts, and there might be a left-wing "plot," but if you wish to see such acts banned outright on film, your net will catch a lot more fish than you intend. And that is a First Amendment issue.

[Orangedog]

see post #6

Yeah, I saw it.

[#3Fan]

Do you have any scientific proof that exposure to porn turns normal people into sex offenders? Or could it be that those individuals with psychopathology commit acts with or without pornographic material.

Just look at history. The first rape and the first murder didn't occur until the camera was invented. (Or do I have my facts wrong?...:^)...)

[WackyKat]

Yes, we must stop porno films from carrying out suicide bombings and flying airliners into buildings.
I'm glad the Justice Department is spending its effort and my tax money on stopping the threat large breasted women pose to national security.
And meanwhile, the financial wheeler-dealers who have destroyed millions of lives are living well on their country estates. At least they won't be able to watch porno anymore.

[Congressman Billybob]

It is well established that child pornography feeds the habits of pederasts. They watch it to persuade themselves that their sickness is normal, and they use it to persuade their victims to accept such behavior.

The evidence is there, though not as strong (less research) that watching rape movies feeds the habits of rapists, and snuff movies feed the habits of killers. If 10,000 people watch one of these movies, and 5 of those viewers are "inspired" to go out and rape and murder a woman, is that a "fair price to pay" for defending the First Amendment?

I practice First Amendment law. The Supreme Court has tap danced around the issue of pornography for five decades. They have said that pornography is not protected by the First Amendment. And from the description of these three films, wherever the boundary might be between pornography and free speech, these turkeys are beyond it.

I would be concerned if the City Council of Elephant Breath, Nebraska, outlawed Playboy as obscene, I would be concerned. However, that case is NOT this case.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "In the Justices We Trust?" posted on FR, other publication to come.

[CholeraJoe]

Just look at history. The first rape and the first murder didn't occur until the camera was invented.

Oh silly me! You're right. And rapes skyrocketed when VCRs became widely available and got even worse when the Internet boomed.