It's A First! An AFA Petition I Actually Can Get Behind

In its latest "Action Alert" — those righteous e-mails from the American Family Association — the group has taken umbrage with — get this —Fox TV! It seems someone uttered the word, "shit," during a broadcast from last weekend's NASCAR "Food City 500" race and that offended their "sensibilities."

It's almost tempting to feel sympathetic for Fox on this one. For one, it has to take a certain amount of restraint for anyone to resist telling the AFA's Don Wildmon to just shut the fuck up for once — even the neo-cons at Fox. Secondly, it wasn't even an employee at Fox who uttered that vile word — instead, it was overheard during a conversation between driver Martin Truex, Jr. and his crew chief. According to AFA's e-mail, the chief told Truex: "We missed the set-up today. It (the car) was a piece of s**t." Considering Truex had crashed his car during the race, I'm surprised that was the only 4-letter word uttered.

Still — a campaign to penalize Fox? The network that gives a soapbox to folks such as Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity and other angry, white conservative men? WHERE DO I SIGN?

Fox Allows 'S' Word. Take A Stand For Our Children!

Tired of all the profanity on TV? Want to do something about it? Here is your opportunity.

File a complaint with the FCC against Fox Network for using the "s" word.

…Fox had been warned about allowing the "s" word on the air. The network could have used a delay and bleeped the profanity. But they chose not to. The network chose to air the segment live. Millions of viewers, including children (Editor's note: Can we please see a show of hands?), were offended by the crude profanity.

Take Action

Here is your opportunity to make the networks more sensitive to your concern. The FCC is willing to fine the stations, but viewers must complain! Please file a complaint with the FCC against Fox stations for the broadcast of indecent language.

Click Here to File Your Formal Complaint to the FCC Now!

Update: I saw fit to do some creative editing on the AFA petition form. Here's what I sent:

Subject: Penalize Fox!

Dear Sir:

Below is the issue that the American Family Association has chosen as its crusade du jour. I don't find an utterance of the word "shit" to be offensive at all — especially considering adults and children hear worse in public.

I do, however, think you should penalize Fox Network to the fullest extent possible. The network's programming is especially and consistently banal, and the news department lacks any adherence to journalistic standards and ethics. Futher, the network gives voice to people such as Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity, who chronically spew an ugly and ignorant brand of conservative rhetoric.

That is what truly offends me.