What a frustrating couple of years for pro-family Americans with President Obama in office. It seems every other action taken by this administration undermines children and families.
Just in the last few weeks, we saw them refuse to defend the Defense of Marriage Act, fail to take a strong stance against the .xxx domain designation, and decide to terminate the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Obscenity Prosecution Task Force, just to name a few of their ill-advised moves.
But the trend has come to a halt – at least for the next two seconds. It seems the Obama administration took the counsel of the thousands of families represented by Concerned Women for America (CWA) and other pro-family organizations who called on the administration to appeal the horrible indecency ruling in Fox v. FCC.
As we reported, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had exhausted its extensions to appeal the ruling, and reports surfaced that Acting-Solicitor General (SG) Neal Katyal was not sure whether to appeal at all. CWA stood strongly for families and children, calling on the administration to take up the appeal and reclaim the people’s rights to regulate the content that is aired through the people’s airwaves.
Well, good news: they heard us! DOJ filed the appeal late last week.
The administration is asking the Supreme Court to review this case, involving so-called “fleeting expletives,” alongside another case involving nudity on television. Last year, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the FCC’s policies, effectively terminating their ability to regulate indecency.
The Court’s misguided attempt to protect “free speech” failed to take into account how limited this power really is. We are talking about the “F-word” and other sexually explicit words and imagery aired at a time when children of every age are watching. Broadcasters are not being prevented from using their filthy language or imagery; they are just being required not to air them when children are most likely to watch. And again, we are talking about the people’s airwaves, not cable television.
But that’s not enough for broadcasters. They want to be able to target children with their filth in the name of “artistic freedom.” They are not fighting for the ability to peddle their indecent material (they have that); they want the right to target our children and have them listen.
This decision, of course, must not be allowed to stand. We applaud the Obama administration for taking the first step to protect children and families.
Could this be the beginning of a new era for the Obama administration? We sincerely hope so. Contrary to what some cynics may think, we want President Obama to do the right thing when it comes to pro-family issues. CWA prays constantly that the President would change his anti-family policies and come to govern in accordance with the faith he professes.
Our God is in the business of changing hearts and minds. It would be just like Him to perform such a work in the President’s heart.
Going forward, we pray the Supreme Court takes the case and, once they do, we hope the administration will make the case a priority that deserves a vigorous defense. Their efforts will not go unnoticed.