DOJ Promises to Pursue Porn Industry with new Obseenity Investigations

[denverbill]

(AgapePress) - In an effort to send a strong message to the porn industry, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is currently working on 49 cases involving potential violations of federal obscenity statutes.

In correspondence last month, Andrew Oosterbaan -- leader of the DOJ's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section -- acknowledged that "obscenity enforcement is a priority for the Department." The general tone of Oosterbaan’s letter indicates the Department is attempting to get serious about obscenity enforcement, including adult obscenity.

While reluctant to provide any specifics on the cases in progress, Oosterbaan has acknowledged that currently "some of the Department’s biggest cases involve producers and distributors involved in more so-called 'mainstream’ material.'" If this is so, this marks a critical departure from the last Justice Department headed by Janet Reno during the Clinton Administration (1993-2000). Two recent calls to the DOJ concerning this deviation were not returned.

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/9/192003a.asp

----------------------------
Haha. Go for it Asscroft! That could cost Republicans 20% of their voting base in the next election:).

[bif]

1. Don't these people have anything better to pursue?

Sheesh!

[joeybee12]

4. You mean, like pursuing terrorists??

Nah, that's a ruse--they want September 11--Part II to happen. It'll scare people into keeping them in power.

[private_ryan]

10. pornography is demeaning to women

I remember a few DUers making that comment. Never mind the right to decide what to do with your own body..........

[htuttle]

18. John Ashcroft is demeaning to women

In fact, after the 'bronze breast coverup' I get the distinct impression he finds women somewhat revolting...

[saigon68]

55. JOHNNY ASS CRACK---- A MAJOR "HEAD CASE"

Cover up that bare breast--- its erotic---j. asscrack July 2001

[Zhade]

58. He's probably gay and self-loathing.

It would make a LOT of sense, if you think about it ;)

[PurityOfEssence]

25. So's religion; let's get rid of that

Well, some of its facilitators could stand to have their wings clipped a tad.

[Selwynn]

30. Pornography is demeaning to men and women...

But its particular exploitative of woman in many cases. For every one person working in the porn industry who loves it and demands the freed to do anything with his/her body, there are ten people who are trapped in it and living a life of abuse and dispair.

Even if that were not true, not everything that a person can do is something that a person should do. The attitudes encouraged in most pornography are attitudes of exploitation, of casualness and objectivication, it is impersonal, loveless, and alienating. It is yet another thing in society that encouraged sujbect to object rather than subject to subject relationship.

No, it is not true that anyone who watches or participates in pornography is instantly a bad person. But it is true that the industry does more harm to society that good. If does in fact do little good, and a lot of bad and should not be actively supported by men and women of compassion, love and conscience. Taking something that is as relational and interpersonal as sex and morphing it to the heigh of the inpersonal and obectified leads to impersonal and objectified attitudes about women's sexual identity, or gender roles in general.

[fla nocount]

36. Where are the links? Is this an opinion?

Not a flame but you're making a lot of statements that can only be validated with statistics. It almost sounds moralistic and while your statements closely reflect my own values, I know my upbringing and age leave me something of a fundie in this area.

Whatever my personal beliefs, I see this as a first amendment issue and should not be legislated by the bible-thumpin fundies whose foaming mouths are making this country the laughing stock of the universe.

[JHB]

41. It's opinion

Position statement of Feminists for Free Expression
http://www.ffeusa.org/pornography.html

Publications & linked articles by Feminists Agaist Censorship (a UK group)
http://www.fiawol.demon.co.uk/FAC/facpub.htm

Sex & Sensibility: Reflections on Forbidden Mirrors
and the Will to Censor by Marcia Pally
http://www.marciapally.com/sxsn.html#III./2.

http://www.sideshow.idps.co.uk/ssep03.htm#151732

[Selwynn]

69. Also opinion.

[Arun29]

40. Let me guess . . .

"If does in fact do little good, and a lot of bad and should not be actively supported by men and women of compassion, love and conscience."

Get off your high moral horse. Guess what, I am a man of compassion, love, and conscience and just because I watch porn occasionally, you are not going to take that compassion, love, and conscience away from me.

Go join the Judge Moore crowd really. God, when I lived In Montreal, the people I know there would just laugh at you. All it proves is we're addicted to sex, can't see the lighthearted Benny Hill side of it. It all has to be lusty and evil in your sick mind. Guess what, sex is fun, watching sex can be highly entertaining, don't judge those of us that can enjoy it and take it for what it is, that is a big part of the problem with this country. Perhaps you should join the Taliban.

[Terran]

45. Is porn demeaning to men

when only men appear in the porn?

Is porn made by and for lesbians demeaning to women?

Not flaming, just asking.

Dirk

[BuddhaGirl]

56. merely your opinion

my husband and I are people of "compassion, love, and conscience" - and we both enjoy watching porn together.

[Zhade]

60. I don't know what porn you're watching, but I like mine non-exploitive.

In fact, I can't stand "fake porn" - you know, with a "story" and "characters." I do find a lot of that to be degrading, or at least tasteless.

And boring. Really boring. No fun watching when you just KNOW they're not really having that much fun. Give me the real deal! ;)

[BiggJawn]

68. One could say the same thing about Labour in general.

To whit:

" For every one person working in ... industry who loves it ... there are ten people who are trapped in it and living a life of abuse and dispair."

Porn "exploits" people's genitals, general industry exploits everything.

But then, I'm probably just jealous because I think Ron Jeremy doesn't have the joint and back trouble that a life of lifting and toting has given me.

Arschlorch...Gee, he "promised" that his own fucked-up beliefs wouldn't colour the enforcement of the law...and they BELIEVED him at his confirmation....

[Evil_Dewers]

39. porn is demeaning to women...

then women shouldn't pose for raunchy shots or make XXX movies.

Isn't that the rationale for the drug war--wipe out the suppliers and ignore the demand.

[Syrinx]

2. I hope they realize that porn *really* is mainstream

Are they going after Hughes and Time-Warner, etc? A lot of their big donors make a huge amount of money from porn.

[denverbill]

6. Well, as with the legal vs illegal drug trade.....

I'm sure Bush will protect his supporters.

Alcohol producers are NEVER criticized by Pat Robertson because they contribute to Pat. In return, both demand govt crack down on pot smoking, because pot-smoking cuts into Coors profits.

Mom and pop porn producers will be mercilessly prosecuted by Asscroft. Mainstream, GOP porn producers will skate.

[qb]

3. I hope they round up some more prostitutes, pot smokers, and compassionate

physicians (physician assisted suicide) while they're at it. Keeping America safe from terrorists (not).

Note: I'm all for going after anyone who exploits children, but AssKKKroft clearly has the rest of his priorities mixed up.

[joycep]

13. I agree-protecting children should be a priority but

he certainly should have more important things to do as far as adults are concerned. I just wanted to scream when I read the original post. Not because the person wrote it--but because these crazy people have no sense of proportion. So many of us a jobless, our military is being killed right and left, we'll never get out of debt, we have destroyed another country for money and political gain. It just makes me ill.

[wtmusic]

5. Do Republicans masturbate?

Boy, am I looking forward to a 'clean' Amerika where vermin like Ashcroft tell me what to think.

[Ganja Ninja]

32. Yes but only in groups.

and only with war photos. It's the only thing that gets them off.
War good -Porn bad.

[htuttle]

34. I thought they called those meetings...

"Prayer breakfasts"?

:spank:

[fla nocount]

38. LOL! God one.....I mean good one. n/t

*

[Gman]

67. No. Republicans do not believe in sex

Isn't opposition to sex in the GOP platform?

[Enraged_Ape]

7. Porn is just about the only thing the US produces anymore

Face it: the American economy is a service-based economy. Cars, steel, electronics, energy--everything we used to be strong in producing is now based overseas. Porn is about the ONLY thing on the Internet that makes money by the bucketload for the good ol' USA.

I guess the BFEE figures they haven't crippled the US economy enough, now they have to shut it down entirely.

And, in the meantime, what about the terrorists? Just asking.

[papau]

8. If Bill Bennet (Las Vegas) type prices-$400/hr w/2 hr min -are the result

in other cities, then the GOP will really have taken over America!

:-)

We do this when Vancouver is saying it is a home business that need not get a license or need a zoning change.

Wedge issues may the GOP's only hope, given the foreign policy mess, and economic chaos, that Bush has given us.

[DBoon]

9. Expect massive unemployment

Here in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles.


Just what the CA economy needs!

[Ashcroft Kutcher]

11. HEADLINES FROM THE FUTURE Ashcroft declares war on erections

Bans porn, rapes up 600%. More on the 3rd anniversary of Tropical Storm Isabel after these messages.

[TreasonousBastard]

12. This is just so...

obscene.

[booksenkatz]

14. Why is

child porn linked with all of the other things these cretins consider "obscene?" Child porn is a very singular type of perverse, harmful activity that has nothing to do with the naughty stuff enjoyed by those of us with sexually healthy tastes in film. I'm offended that my tastes get linked up with the tastes of the sicko child pervs. The Cro-Mags just think that any and all nakedness is disgusting, don't they? Do they shower with their clothes on, I wonder?

[plcdude]

42. good point

very typical of how DOJ is working these days by taking seriously criminal activities and then linking them to other things they do not think are right, e.g. protest = traitor or aiding the enemy.

[lolly]

49. Exactly

Remember the "link" between marijuana and terrorism?

Tried to tell us you couldn't believe in leaving potsmokers alone without being a terrorist supporter.

Now, if you look at any porn, you are lumped in with pedophiles.

[Zhade]

61. Indeed. Thanks for pointing that out - I was too, uh, busy. Yeah.

NT!

[Caution]

15. Osama Bin Laden? Hello?!?!?! Dead or Alive right?

Still waiting...two years later...but i guess the DOJ has more important things to go after. I can't wait to find out what a Pentecostal Fundamentalist deems to be obscene.

[pschoeb]

44. Asscroft will probably claim Osama raising money by making porn

If you look at porn your supporting terrorists

Patrick Schoeb

[Fovea]

64. I thought they caught Osama

Smoking a fat one at Tommy Chong's...
You mena he is still in hiding?
WTF Asscrack?

[Avatar13]

16. And the department for the promotion of virtue and prevention of vice

...strikes again against evildoers, home and abroad. Idiots, I tells ya.

[bushisanidiot]

17. DOJ needs more $$$ to drape cover the nekkid women!!

help us, lord asscroft!! we're all goin' to hell!

dumbass, nosey, closet porn freak.

[mom says lose bush]

19. Great!

Porn is for losers - men that either wouldn't have the first clue what to do with a real woman, or those that prefer "pictures" to real women because they'll never ask them to take out the trash.

[htuttle]

20. One question

Define 'Porn', or better yet, define 'obscene' without using the phrase, "I know it when I see it."

The devil is in the details.

[Caution]

22. that's funny

My signifacant other (female) of 8 years regularly buy porn for us to enjoy together because we feel it adds spice to our sex life. But I guess that we must be losers...

[maggrwaggr]

23. that would make me a happily married loser then

whose wife also likes porn.

Whaddya think of that?

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bicentennial_baby]

27. Eh

Female porn fan here! Can I be a loser too? :bounce:

[plcdude]

43. you're a winner

with me perhaps we should trade our stuff need some new dvd's and videos.

[Zhade]

65. Sure, we'll join the millions of other 'losers' and go talk to Asscrotch!

NT!

[newyawker99]

29. Hi mom says lose bush!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Democat]

31. This isn't the 1800's, women like porn too!

Welcome to the 1960's!

[iam]

33. What?

Why must you attack and demean men like that? I like porn and I'm always porkin' the chicks.

[lordwhorfin]

35. Ayn Rand thinks you're cute. n/t

[Zhade]

62. Awww, I love flame-bait. It's so cuuuuuuuute!

:eyes:

[DemNoir]

21. The more raids they have

The bigger Mr Ashcroft's porn stash can grow!

[fizzana]

24. What's Clarence Thomas going to do if he can't get his porn

any more?

[Avatar13]

28. There's always a can of Diet Coke and some pubic hair

I heard he likes that.

[Chico Man]

37. Porn, war, abortions, recessions, unemployment..

A Republican's wet dream.

[elfwitch]

48. wet dream?

They don't have those. It is wrong to have those thoughts. They would have to purge their sinfullness by opressing someone different from them for that. Naughty thoughts are not allowed!

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

46. Ashcroft: "If there were no women, there'd be no porn."

He's gonna have to rethink his opinions on cloning.

[elfwitch]

47. Puritans

What a bunch of Puritan ass-munches.
Sex is obviously the root of the problems in the US.

I need to change my handle befoer they take up witch burning again.

[callous taoboy]

50. Let's flood the DOJ's mail box

with thousands of butt plugs.

[Zhade]

66. Better yet - anyone want to sign Crisco up to a bunch of porn newsletters?

NT!

[Chovexani]

51. Good thing we got all those terrorists!

Now we can focus on the real threat to Amurika, PORN! :eyes:

Another female porn fan here. Asscroft and his puritanical witch hunts piss me off more and more by the day. I swear to god he reminds me of Chastity Pariah from Elvira's first movie...

[MasonJar]

52. What about the anthrax?

I cannot believe that the DOJ still has not solved the anthrax murders, but is Johhny on the spot if sex is involved.

[Jacobin]

53. Shhh. They're busy. Tommy Chong, naked statute of justice

is now covered up, they busted 12 whores in new orleans a while back after a year long sting operation

Get your priorities straight man!!

Our country is under attack from naked women and pot smokers!!!

[Chovexani]

54. I like naked pot-smoking women

:smoke:

[Mari333]

57. Start with the BIBLE, it has some very dirty passages

http://www.nobeliefs.com/spp.htm
http://www.nobeliefs.com/DarkBible/darkbible4.htm
"Yet she multiplied her whoredomes, in calling to remembrance the days of her youth, wherein, she played the harlot in the land of Egypt. For she doted upon her paramours, whose flesh is as the flesh of asses, and whose issue is as the issue of horses."

-Ezekiel 23: 19-20

[Zhade]

59. "Crisco Johnny" is wasting his time on PORN? Jesus!

NT!

[TygrBright]

63. Oy, gevalt...... they are just running down the playbook, aren't they?

"Ohmigod, the American people are starting to NOTICE that we haven't caught Osama yet, Saddam is still at large in spite of spending billions and troops still getting their asses shot off, the economy continues to spiral into the sewer, and we lie every time we open our mouths. QUICK!! We need a new distraction! What's next on the list?"

(GOPpie helot, scanning playbook...) "ummmm.... sez here, when all else fails, get 'em all riled up about tits and ass...."

Trite. Very trite. They're running out of ideas.

disappointedly,
Bright

[uhhuh]

70. Ashcrofts Newest Advisor

[farmboxer]

71. Pat Robertson Hates Women!

Pat Robertson said, "If women receive equal rights and equal pay, they'll turn into witches and lesbians."

[disgruntella]

72. worse yet

He says that as if turning into witches and lesbians was a BAD thing.

;)