Will the Obama administration answer any questions concerning enforcement of obscenity laws?

Many think bringing this subject up is pretty stupid for Republicans, but I just want to point out the Obama administration has remained silent on requests for information concerning their own efforts to enforce obscenity laws.

In 2008, Morality in Media asked both candidates Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) if they would continue to enforce federal obscenity laws. Neither candidate responded. Once President Obama was elected, Morality in Media hit up the future president with the same question again and did not get a reply.

Earlier in this election cycle, Morality in Media reached out to all the GOP candidates and the current president with the same question. The responses in January were as follows:

Former Senator Rick Santorum in a written statement: “Federal obscenity laws should be vigorously enforced. If elected President, I will appoint an Attorney General who will do so.”

Former Governor Mitt Romney in a written statement: “(I)t is imperative that we cultivate the promotion of fundamental family values. This can be accomplished with increased parental involvement and enhanced supervision of our children. It includes strict enforcement of our nation’s obscenity laws, as well as the promotion of parental software controls that guard our children from Internet pornography.”

Former Speaker Newt Gingrich in a face-to-face meeting: When MIM’s Executive Director Dawn Hawkins asked former Speaker Gingrich if he will enforce existing laws that make distribution of hard-core adult pornography illegal, he responded: “Yes, I will appoint an Attorney General who will enforce these laws.”

Nothing from Obama, and this leads me to my points.

  1. It’s considered a “roll your eyes” subject in politics.
  2. Obama is smart enough to keep his mouth shut on the subject, and the media probably not ask him about it.
  3. The three top GOP candidates have the guts to answer and say they would enforce the law, as is the responsibility of the Executive Branch.

If this subject grows legs in the news cycle and any of the GOP candidates are mocked for wanted to “ban porn,” Obama or one of his surrogates will be asked not about what the Obama administration has been doing to enforce obscenity laws, but rather what the president thinks about the Republican desire to “ban porn.” Trust me, Obama administration enforcement of current obscenity laws by the Department of Justice will never come up in the interview.

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Steve McGough

Steve's a part-time conservative blogger. Steve grew up in Connecticut and has lived in Washington, D.C. and the Bahamas. He resides in Connecticut, where he’s comfortable six months of the year.

9 Comments

  1. Dimsdale on March 16, 2012 at 11:53 am

    I agree.? As an aside, they could not possibly care less about obscenity laws, but are quick to suggest shutting down Rush and others with boycotts and the so called “Fairness” Doctrine.



  2. sammy22 on March 16, 2012 at 12:03 pm

    I “rolled my eyes” too, given other high priority issues. As to the 3 Republican candidates, no surprise: they are talking to the conservative wing (and are not in a position to enforce the law).



  3. RoBrDona on March 16, 2012 at 1:20 pm

    I agree too. As I suggested in the other post, selective enforcement along with stony silence (and as you mention Steve, media complicity) have served Obama VERY well during his presidency. He IS in a position to enforce the law of the land and in many cases does not.



  4. Truthseeker on March 16, 2012 at 6:56 pm

    I am saddened by the open access to porn on the Internet. ?I am convinced ?gives a very misleading impression of a woman’s willingness to have sex with any Tom, Dick or Harry, spurring more unwanted advances, or even rape by sex crazed imbeciles. ? I don’t know what the government can or will do about it. ?I wish people would have the moral backbone to not do this, whatever the monetary payback.
    Personal freedom without personal responsibility is the?death knell of a free society.??



  5. ricbee on March 16, 2012 at 10:16 pm

    “Obscenity” has no valid definition in today’s world. Any worthwhile defense would escape conviction.



  6. winnie on March 17, 2012 at 4:22 am

    Pretty telling that McCain had ‘no comment’ on the topic…further proof that he was never really a Republican.



  7. liz2012 on March 17, 2012 at 3:24 pm

    Pornography is about more than just sex as this industry is saturated with crime and drug abuse.? It also leads to the objectification of women, men and children.? It only takes a couple of seconds to figure that out.



  8. Tim-in-Alabama on March 17, 2012 at 3:32 pm

    After more thought, it’s probably good the government is not enforcing pornography laws because if Democrats didn’t have 24/7 access to porn, they’d leave their parents’ basements in search of food and stimuli. Crime would probably go through the roof, and the OWS Obamavilles’ populations would swell.



  9. Lynn on March 19, 2012 at 7:42 pm

    I am not rolling my eyes. I do think this is an important issue. It is one job, the government is supposed to do, keep it’s citizens safe. I am proud of the 3 Republicans and their responses.? As for the media, they are totally clueless and think we are only interested in what President Obama thinks about Republicans. They care nothing about his failure to keep one promise, except to inflict a catastrophic? UNaffordable healthcare plan.



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