Read the transcript. It really says something that this is the worst they could find. Even reading the transcript out of context I don’t see how a reasonable person can say that this even approaches indecency as previously defined by the Supreme Court. This is clearly an assault on free speech in this country, and we need to do something.

Clear Channel should fight it, but they won’t. They will likely write off this fine as just another huge contribution to the Bush administration.

For more information on Clear Channel’s intimate relationship with George W. Bush, click here.

Here’s Howard’s response from his site:

Howard’s Response To The FCC’s Actions:
“This is not a surprise. This is a follow up to the McCarthy type “witch hunt” of the administration and the activities of this group of presidential appointees in the FCC, led by “Colin Powell Jr.” and his band of players. They and others (a senator from Kansas City to a congresswoman from New Mexico) are expressing and imposing their opinions and rights to tell us all who and what we may listen to and watch and how we should think about our lives. So this is not a surprise. It is pretty shocking that governmental interference into our rights and free speech takes place in the U.S. It’s hard to reconcile this with the “land of the free” and the “home of the brave”. I’m sure what’s next is the removal of “dirty pictures” like the 20th century German exhibit in a New York City Museum and the erotic literature in our libraries; they too will fall into their category of “evil” as well.
Howard Stern, April 8th 2004