US Christian Right is chilling free speech

[dArKeR]

By Lawrence Donegan
THE OBSERVER , London
Saturday, Jul 31, 2004,Page 9

American TV is obsessed with extreme makeover shows so it came as no surprise this week when Les Moonves, the head of CBS television and one of the industry's most powerful executives, attempted an extreme makeover on himself. "We will vigorously defend our right to produce such content as some may deem too controversial," Moonves told an audience of television critics in Los Angeles.

"We believe the viewing and listening public will not tolerate government censorship and we're going to take a very strong stand on that," he said.

In their rush to praise the CBS boss, most of the critics forgot that Moonves's words were utterly at odds with his actions late last year. Under pressure from right-wing media pundits and Republican politicians, he pulled a controversial drama about former US president Ronald Reagan and banished it to cable TV, where few people saw it. "I don't think it was balanced," he said at the time.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/edit/archives/2004/07/31/2003181169

[aquart]

1. Maybe he's ticked off.

He caved to their pressure and what did they do? Tried to drive him nuts over the bloody idiotic Janet's breast garbage. He gave them an opening and they charged thru. They FINED CBS for Janet's breast!

I expect he feels a bit used.

[bluestateguy]

2. Moonves is a gutless coward

He showed weakness in front of the fundamentalistwackos, so he should not be surprised to see that they will beat up on him some more.

Appeasment of the Right does not work.

[indepat]

3. The so-called Christian Right is neither Christian nor right: they mostly

make a mockery of Christian principles and teachings, IMHO.

[Gyre]

4. More insincere pap from a republican traitor.

Nothing but hot air.

Gyre