On Wednesday morning, Sen. Kerry phoned Bush to concede the presidential election, a White House aide said.
Bush has 254 electoral votes to Kerry's 252, according to CNN projections, with 270 needed to win. Key state Ohio, with 20 electoral votes, hasn't completed its vote tally.
Here is what a few industry players had to say regarding the election's outcome so far:
Lawrence G. Walters, Esq., Weston, Garrou & DeWitt
"I think I speak for a larger contingent of adult industry participants and leaders along with first amendment lawyers in expressing significant regret and concern over the apparent outcome of the election. Four more years of a Bush administration spells a uncertain future for the adult Internet industry, which has been in the crosshairs of the Department of Justice for quite some time now. This is certainly a time for the industry to tighten up its legal compliance in that we are certain to see a reactivated obscenity unit since the president is no longer running for reelection."
Jason Tucker, Partner, President of Falcon Foto, Playa Solutions.
"This election has been unnerving. I was on the edge of my seat all day watching numbers fly across my computer screen. This has reinforced how our common mindset represents such a small margin of the population when you poll the United States on a whole. The concentration of power and wealth that makes up the administration will continue to line their pockets at the expense of those who were misguided enough to reelect them. Remember the term "deficit spending" because when middle America wonders why they are losing homes and businesses, it will be your responsibility to explain it to them, and while you have their ear, remind them that they asked for it."
Joan Irvine, Executive Director, Adult Sites Against Child Pornography
"What does four more years of Bush and Ashcroft mean for ASACP? Four more years of limited government resources being used to fight terrorism and obscenity under the guise of child protection. Thankfully, ASACP is prepared with its new system, which monitors its Approved Members and Sponsors sites, so that law enforcement knows that these sites are actively protecting children.
"What does this mean for the adult entertainment industry? Four more years of closer government scrutiny. Ashcroft will spend more taxpayer money to cover the genitals on works of art. If Larry Flynt follows through on his threats, we will lose him to Europe. Plus, how many other companies will follow his lead and leave the country.
Irvine added by saying, "On a personal note, it’s four more years of our young people being killed or wounded in Iraq, a lack of tolerance for alternative lifestyles, and a concern about revoking a women’s right to choose."
Britney Andrews, Porn Star, Director, Producer, Britco Pictures
"I'm still in shock and bewilderment. I personally think that probably one of Kerry's faults was that he didn't use multimedia enough and Bush used radio and television a lot more wisely. I think the next four years are going to be a nightmare. It is going to mean a lot more regulations on adult and a lot more attacks on obscenity within the industry. We're going to be looked at through a microscope. When you look at what happened with 2257 and the way that Ashcroft is making it almost impossible for webmasters to be legal, I think we will see a lot more of that. Bush won on a moral landslide, and I think he will have a lot of confidence about that.
