Post: Obama Sends Testimony to Decency Forum
Obama Sends Testimony to Decency Forum
Editor's Note: The Senate Commerce Committee yesterday heard from 25 media executives and experts, including Common Sense CEO Jim Steyer, at an open forum about decency in media.
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama submitted written testimony to the Committee because he was unable to attend in person. Below is an excerpt from that testimony:
"I come to this issue as both a parent and a legislator. In a speech I recently delivered at the Kaiser Family Foundation, I urged parents to turn off their television sets and instead spend time talking, reading and exercising with their children. But I also appreciate how busy parents are today. And I know how tempting it is to use the television as a babysitter.
The message I hear from parents is not a call for censorship. What parents want is more information about what is on television, greater control over the programming their kids can access, and more choices in family-friendly programming. What they do not want is inappropriate promotions or commercials accompanying the programming that they watch with their kids. These are reasonable requests, and the market is not responding adequately to them.
I know that the people who work in the media are parents too. The industry can and should apply common-sense standards to increase parental control over access to risqué and violent programming. And it should encourage the development and distribution of more family-friendly programming.
As a parent who has had to sit through uncomfortable Cialis commercials while watching television with my 7- and 4-year-old daughters, and as a parent who worries about what the media is teaching our kids about right and wrong and about how to treat others and themselves, I am committed to working with you and my congressional colleagues to ensure that parents have the information and tools they need to protect their children from indecent programming." -- Barack Obama, U.S. Senator
There are 3 replies to this post
Date: November 30, 2005
this is brilliant. he says exactly what I feel. WHy can't media producers think like the parents they are. I am happy to do my part but I need them to help too.
Date: November 30, 2005
They are going to have more decency hearings in the next couple months -- I'd like to hear more of this at the next ones.
Date: December 10, 2005
Totally on point. Please encourage the Senator to continue to speak on these issues. He is a voice we'd like to hear more of.