H--l to the Chief

H--L TO THE CHIEF
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
Broadcast networks last week insisted their decision to bleep President Bush's profanity was an appropriate response and not because of the FCC's crackdown on cursing -- even potentially in news shows. During a break at the G-8 summit, President Bush said, “Get Hezbollah to stop doing this shit, and it's over” in a would-be private conversation with British Prime Minister Tony Blair. When it was picked up by an open mike, it became the “sh-t” heard round the world” or, in some cases, not heard. ABC, NBC and CBS all bleeped the expletive. Was it out of fear of FCC reprisal? “No,” says CBS spokeswoman Sandy Genelius. “Fundamentally, we don't air expletives. It is a long-standing policy.” “This was not a policy change,” agrees NBC's Barbara Levin. “We have our own values and policies that predate this or any FCC.” Ditto for ABC.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6355400.html?display=News

* The President's Bad Word
[Editorial] Because the FCC said its profanity crackdown won't exempt newscasts, broadcasters can never decide to air an indecency in a newscast without fearing a fine. It is highly unlikely the FCC would hammer any station for language in a newscast, but nothing is certain. And that unpredictability steals the journalistic birthright of First Amendment freedom from broadcasters. How ridiculous. How stupid. Some legislators are vitriolic about television indecency, thinking not about what they're espousing but only about how righteous it makes them look in the eyes of voters. We're sure the Founding Fathers never anticipated that, either.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6355543.html?display=Opinion