They can’t tell them whether or not it’s ok in advance, as my (limited) understanding goes. That would constitute Prior Restraint, which is generally unconstitutional according to SCOTUS precedent. They’re only constitutionally allowed to punish afterwards. I’ve never understood why that is, but someone here no doubt can explain it properly.
Because the airwaves are public property. Even though cable is ubiquitous enough that it’s generally equally accessible to children, it’s still over a cable. Whereas the broadcast media operate over radio frequencies that are the property of the public. So the public is allowed to restrain uses of them (for instance, tracking down pirate broadcasters, or mandating standards for what’s allowed and what’s not) while we don’t have nearly the same power over cable.
Dialing through the radio stations at work the other day, I happened upon the local conservative talk station. They were discussing the Saving Private Ryan issue, and revealed the true souce of this unspeakably un-American censorship: Liberals!
Yes! Liberals did it! Partly as a way of “punishing” America for voting Bush back in, but also as a protest move because their “filth” is being banned by the FCC. The Liberal Media hates America, remember, and so chose this patriotic movie as the one on which to make their stand.
As I listened to this, my co-workers were looking at me funny. I was making odd sounds-- snorts of disgust mixed with derisive laughter. It just goes to show that if you’re determined enough, you can “spin” anything to make the other side at fault.
The way I see it, conservatives were simply hoisted by their own petard. They deserve a Nelson Muntz “Ha-ha!” for that one.
Didn’t you see the absolute shock and terror on his face when that happened? Remember, Justin has been hanging out with girls like Britney Spears ever since he became famous. He’s never seen 40-year old titties before, and it was a real shocking sight to him, and probably gave him extensive nightmares.
The poor boy will be a long time recovering from that.
