Film Critic Dole Supported In Northwest Some Republicans Share His Views On Sex, Violence, But Say There Isn’t Much That Can Be Done

Several Northwest Republicans in Congress share Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole’s outrage over Hollywood sex and violence. But they say there isn’t much the government can or should do about it.

“I’ve got four kids. I basically agree with him. But it’s a difficult issue for me,” said Rep. Rick White, a freshman Republican from Washington state.

“On the one hand I’m very offended by the sort of things like Howard Stern and others put on TV,” White said, referring to the so-called “shock jock” who peppers his radio and cable television shows with obscenities and sexual references.

“It’s a disgrace. People shouldn’t listen. It demeans our national discussion. On the other hand, I’m skeptical that government can do much about it,” he said.

“We have a First Amendment that allows people to be far out in expressing themselves. I’m reluctant to give the government any authority to regulate content of what people say.”

Dole, R-Kan., singled out several movies in a speech last month criticizing the entertainment industry for casual sex and graphic violence in music and movies.

Later, he waved a newspaper on the Senate floor, saying the murder of an elderly Massachusetts man was evidence that movies can inspire acts of violence. The paper’s headline screeched, “We’re Natural Born Killers.” The article said one suspect compared himself to a character in the Oliver Stone movie, “Natural Born Killers.”

“Those in the entertainment industry who deny that cultural messages can bore deep into the hearts and minds of our young people are deceiving themselves,” Dole said.

Stone countered: “Senator Dole’s renewed attack on my film … is a shameless act of political grandstanding and hypocrisy, coming from the man who is leading the NRA’s (National Rifle Association’s) campaign to repeal the assaultweapons ban.”

But Rep. Jack Metcalf, R-Wash., says Dole is right on target.

“Nobody can quarrel with the fact we have a lot of absolute junk on TV. Some of it is violent. We have more sex on television now. I think everyone must agree that violence and those things do have an impact on our children,” Metcalf said in a recent interview.

The freshman said he’s considering legislation to get the Federal Communications Commission to address some of the evils of the modern airwaves.

“The FCC isn’t doing anything as far as I can tell,” Metcalf said.

Rep. Wes Cooley, R-Ore., said he objects to a lot of modern films and television programs.

“But I’m not sure the government can come in and censor everything,” he said.

Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., dismissed Dole’s assault on Hollywood as a political ploy by the GOP presidential hopeful.

“It’s the usual campaign-for-president rhetoric,” he said.

Dole will “have to be selective because there are a lot of Republican donors who are big into making movies,” McDermott noted.”This is a violent society. Our art forms reflect it. Fifteen-year-olds are shooting people in the street. No wonder our art forms reflect that.”

McDermott believes Dole’s outburst was aimed at Texas Sen. Phil Gramm, a rival for the 1996 Republican presidential nomination who has been scrambling to addresss reports that he invested in an R-rated movie.

“That’s really what it was, a direct slap at Phil Gramm,” McDermott said.

Rep. Linda Smith, R-Wash., disagrees.

Dole was “voicing the frustration of mainstream America,” she said.

“People are fed up. I think we all need to return to the time where adults kept track and kept a protective eye on all the kids in the communities,” she said.

“Now it appears Hollywood has decided to take advantage of our children. They say it is freedom. I say it is the mighty dollar. They are looking to their mighty dollar and using freedom of speech as the excuse and harming our children,” Smith said.