Presidential Candidates and Pornography

Taken from an email from Morality In Media:

NEW YORK (August, 11, 2008) – On August 7, Morality in Media received an email that stated in part: “As a very concerned citizen, I have to wonder why pornography isn't even an issue on the radar screen in the upcoming…elections. I can certainly understand why certain sectors of the population don't bring it to the forefront, and I can understand why candidates don't address it, but why don't organizations like MIM bring it up CONSTANTLY? I'd really like to nail down the candidates on their views and the methods they plan to use to enforce pornography laws, then hold them to it. Please, please, please do what you can - my letters and emails to candidates go unanswered!”

Robert Peters, President of Morality in Media, had the following comments:

In April 2008, MIM commissioned Harris Interactive to ask this question in a national survey: “Were the next president to do all in his or constitutional power to ensure that federal obscenity laws are enforced vigorously against commercial distributors of hardcore pornography, would you support or oppose the President in this matter?” An astounding 75% said they would support the President; only 19% said they wouldn’t. These poll results prompted no response from the Presidential candidates.

In May, MIM organized a conference at the National Press Club, followed by an orderly demonstration at the Justice Department, to call attention to the Department’s failure to enforce federal obscenity laws vigorously. Both John McCain and Barack Obama were invited to attend the Conference or to send a written statement expressing their views on enforcement of federal obscenity laws.

A representative of the McCain Campaign called to say that the Senator could not attend but they hoped to send either Senator Sam Brownback or former Senator Dan Coates. Neither could attend. Another representative of the McCain Campaign called to say a written statement would be forthcoming. No written statement was ever issued. The Obama Campaign did not respond at all.

After the Conference, follow-up letters were sent to both candidates. Neither candidate has responded to those letters. MIM members and others were also urged to contact the candidates. The Obama Campaign responded to one email (which asked the candidate to state his views on enforcement of federal obscenity laws) with a general letter that did not mention pornography or obscenity.