Anti-Porn Groups Ask Romney to Enforce Obscenity Laws

WASHINGTON —  A coalition of anti-porn groups has sent a letter to Republican Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney asking for a meeting to discuss the enforcement of federal obscenity laws.

Spearheaded by Morality in Media President Patrick A. Trueman, the letter, posted on The War On Illegal Pornography's website, claims the U.S. Department of Justice has stopped all enforcement of laws prohibiting the distribution of hardcore porn through nearly every means of distribution.

Dated March 20, the group’s request to Romney cites how “illegal adult obscenity” contributes to a host of societal evils and calls porn a “pandemic,” parroting the rants from former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum’s statement on his campaign website last week that caused a firestorm of controversy for the White House hopeful.

“We believe that the next president (sic) needs to understand that a wealth of research now exists that provides overwhelmingly evidence of the great harms cause by pornography. We deserve to have the nation’s obscenity laws enforced. There is widespread public support for enforcement of these laws, which were passed overwhelmingly by the United States Congress,” the letter states.

But industry attorney J.D. Obenberger told XBIZ that the move is just disguising the real message of complete censorship.

“What he [Trueman] really means is miles away from enforcement of the existing obscenity laws and he knows it," Obenberger said.

“The values and standards of the community are at the heart of the Miller Test that defines how far the government can go, under the Constitution, in punishing porn. Those values and standards do not descend to the community from the pronouncements of government leaders or fringe moralizing groups, nor can they be imposed on the people, the community of Internet users, from above," he added.

The attorney noted that community values and standards that are woven into two of the three elements of the Miller Test come down to a community’s attitude as to what erotic materials should not be permitted to be bought, sold, or obtained — which is almost always for private use.

For the censors to prevail, Obenberger said, they must overcome all of the tolerance and acceptance that is ingrained into our culture.

“Under the existing obscenity laws, 12 jurors could not agree to convict Ira Isaacs in L.A. two weeks ago for material all wrapped up in the theme of human feces as a food item. Under the exiting obscenity laws, not only did a jury in rural Arkansas acquit material featuring double penetration, multiple pop facials, and themes that played around with force and compulsion, not only did that jury do so in four hours, but several jurors broke into applause when the prosecutor finished playing the material in open court.

"Under the existing obscenity laws, the ‘Task Force That Couldn't Shoot Straight’ over at DOJ couldn't manage to get the case against John Stagliano into the hands of the jury because the case was so bungled up. After that fiasco, it was no surprise that DOJ pulled the plug. The existing obscenity laws and the cases which keep them on a leash because of Constitutional protections are quite protective of liberty because they are tied to the values of a free people highly tolerant of the quirks and eccentricities of their neighbors; that acceptance is the price of our own liberty, and we all know it,” he continued.

Obenberger stressed that obscenity laws are not decided by government, but by what the people accept.

He noted that 40 milllion Americans went to porn sites last year, many paid money for the privilege, and that porn is ingrained into every aspect of American culture.

“Hardcore porn is now as American as cherry pie. The moralizers know that. They hate it. They are not really about the existing obscenity laws; they don't like them and would like to change them if the could (which they can't do because of the First Amendment),” Obenberger said.

He further stated that the “moralizers” want to impose their narrow views "on all of us" and the more any candidate preaches about "enforcing" obscenity laws in this election, the more the candidate will alienate normal Americans and the more likely it becomes that the candidate will lose.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

UPDATED: Supreme Court Rules Against Adult Industry in Pivotal Texas AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday issued its decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, striking a blow against the online adult industry by ruling in support of Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

North Carolina Passes Extreme Bill Targeting Adult Sites

The North Carolina state legislature this week ratified a bill that would impose new regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

Supreme Court Ruling Due Friday in FSC v. Paxton AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on Friday in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, the adult industry trade association's challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

Ofcom: More Porn Providers Commit to Age Assurance Measures

A number of adult content providers operating in the U.K. have confirmed that they plan to introduce age checks in compliance with the Online Safety Act by the July 25 deadline, according to U.K. media regulator Ofcom.

Aylo Says It Will Comply With UK Age Assurance Requirements

Tech and media company Aylo, which owns various adult properties including Pornhub, YouPorn and Redtube, plans to introduce age assurance methods in the United Kingdom that satisfy government rules under the Online Safety Act, the company has announced.

Kyrgyzstan Parliament Approves Measure Outlawing Internet Porn

The Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday passed legislation outlawing online adult content in the country.

Show More