more on CNN: Stern challenges FCC chairman on air

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: Matt Murray <mattm () optonline net>
Date: October 27, 2004 3:15:33 PM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: Re: [IP] CNN: Stern challenges FCC chairman on air
Reply-To: Matt Murray <mattm () optonline net>

Fortunately, Stern re-aired the segment on his show this morning
(been listening since 1982). It was interesting. Regrettably, Mr.
Powell forgot that the Commission has been lenient with Oprah
Winfrey using the exact same as Stern in almost the same context,
but has not received the scrutiny that The Stern Show has. Powell
called Ms. Winfrey "... loveable celebrity.. " earlier this year,
and denied saying that on Ronn Owen's show to Mr. Stern.

Unfortunately, the CNN piece chops up the order of what aired.
The "are you nervous" question was almost the first thing out of
Stern.

Here's the audio:
http://www.kgoam810.com/

Brutally slow on the load and it is at 24:40 of the show.

Matt Murray



----- Original Message -----
From: "David Farber" <dave () farber net>

> Begin forwarded message:

> Stern challenges FCC chairman on air
>
> (CNN) -- Howard Stern got into a heated exchange with Federal
> Communications Commission Chairman Michael Powell during a
radio
> call-in show Tuesday, with the shock jock saying the only
reason Powell
> is in his position is because of his father, U.S. Secretary of
State
> Colin Powell.
>
>   "Let's face it. You got to the head of the FCC, you got to
the front
> of the class the way George W. Bush got out of the draft -- and
it's
> completely fair for me to question," Stern said.
>
> The FCC chairman defended his credentials and snapped, "I think
it's a
> cheap shot to say just because my father's famous, I don't
belong in my
> position."
>
> The exchange occurred during the morning show on San
Francisco's KGO
> radio. Host Ronn Owens was interviewing Powell and was taking
phone
> calls when Stern called.
>
> Stern said a friend told him the commissioner was going to be
on the
> show and he decided to call because Powell "consistently avoids
me and
> avoids answering my questions."
>
> "Does it make you nervous for you to talk to me?" Stern asked.
>
> "No, it does not," Powell replied.
>
> Moments later, Stern called Powell "an enigma" and said,
"You're the
> judge, you're the arbiter, you're the one who tells us what we
can and
> can't say on the air. And yet I really don't even think you're
> qualified to be the head of the commission. Do you deny that
your
> father got you this job?"
>
> "I would deny it exceedingly. You can look at my resume if you
want,
> Howard. I'm not ashamed of it and I think it justifies my
existence,"
> said Powell, adding that he served as the chief of staff of the
Justice
> Department's Antitrust Division and was a private attorney.
>
> "If you don't believe the commission should have any rights to
draw
> limits, I think that's a respectable position but it doesn't
happen to
> be the law," he said.
>
> After Stern expressed outrage over fines levied by the FCC
against his
> show, Powell said the panel works to enforce fines fairly
"regardless
> of the notoriety of the personality involved."
>
> "You personalize it as if you're answering to me," Powell said.
"You're
> answering to the commission -- if you're answering to anybody.
All of
> these fines are voted by five members, Republicans and
Democrats
> alike."
>
> He added, "I don't think we've made any particular crusade of
the
> Howard Stern Show or you."
>
> "Yeah, OK, Michael," Stern replied. "That's why I've received
the
> largest fines in history."
>
> Toward the end of the phone call, Stern noted he had been
"respectful"
> throughout the conversation and he hoped "there's no sort of
> retribution as a result of my phone call, which I believe
Michael is
> capable of."
>
> "I don't take this personally," Stern said. "I don't think that
you
> personally hate me. I think what you've been doing is dangerous
to free
> speech. I don't think just against me, I think things have
gotten way
> out of control."
>
> Before Stern hung up, Powell told him, "Good to talk to you."
>
> Over the years, Stern has repeatedly been in government cross
hairs
> over a show known for its explicit and salacious discussions
about, for
> example, rough sex, masturbation and the virtues of slavery.
>
> Earlier this year, the FCC fined Clear Channel $495,000 for
Stern
> comments that were deemed indecent. Clear Channel then pulled
Stern
> from six of the stations it owns.
>
> Just three weeks ago, Stern announced he will take his morning
radio
> show to satellite radio in large part to avoid the strict rules
of the
> FCC.
>
> Powell was appointed to the FCC by President Clinton and
promoted to
> chairman by President Bush.
>
> Find this article at:
>   http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/10/26/stern.fcc/index.html
>
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