Date: Wed, 8 Apr 1998 19:58:37 -0400 (EDT)
From: louisgodena-AT-ids.net (Louis R Godena)
Subject: M-I: Protecting the children



They made quite a pair; William Bennet, known to himself as "Mr Virtue",
rotund, reservably amiable, with about as much engaging charisma as a
small-town chief of police.  He dwarfs a shrinking Joe Lieberman, the
sad-faced and earnest, not quite sure what to say, or even, if he should say
anything at all.  But he, at least, is a Senator, while his colleague has
never won anything at all, a perennial appointee of departed politicians,
sitting out a string of highly visible offices, all of which proved
spectacular failures.  But, C-Span means never having to fade away, and so
long as the Right has causes to promote, Mr Bennet will be among us.

C-Span *is* serious business, this time of day.  They are at the Marriot, at
Washington, I think.  A little cheezy for the former Education secretary and
drug czar, but oddly appropriate for his pursuing his current peeve, which
happens to be Jerry Springer, the racy, raucous, but enormously popular
afternoon talk show.  

A series of clips from recent shows are up on the big screen.  Irate
girlfriends slug and pull each other's hair when they "discover" the
infidelity of their common lover.  "I'm having sex with your
boyfriend/husband" runs perennially beneath the squirming "guests", advising
late-comers and the hard of hearing as to what's going on.  "You don't get
(bleep) VD from no (bleep) toilet seat!" shrieks one participant, jumping to
her feet and lashing out wildly at her former paramour ("My lover's been
having sex with prostitutes!") explains the legend.  Fetching breasts, bared
almost before the censor can "fog" them out, jiggle adventurously in the
face of another guest, a chiropractor, just above the on-screen explanation
("I'm married, but I'd really like to go to bed with you!"), while the
mostly young, white male audience hoots its approval.  And so on and on...

Mr Virtue and the Senator from Connecticut are out to "persuade"
broadcasters, station managers and -- above all -- sponsors, to remove their
imprimature from Jerry Springer until he cleans up his act or get out of
town.  That is, until he features some family fare, or else moves his show
to a "more appropriate" time slot, like maybe right after Letterman.  Jerry
has so far refused (remember, he used to be a serious journalist himself for
NBC, and he does have dignity, after all).  And the ratings?   They're
great.  And getting better, which may explain the reticence of not only Mr
Springer, but of his corporate backers, like Proctor and Gamble, and
Birdseye.  We may like "Virtue" (however fashion may define it at any given
moment), but it sure don't pay the rent.

The question, then, seems not be why we tolerate Jerry Springer, but rather
why we put up with William Bennet?  We know deep down that he doesn't
*really* care about our children.  Like the rest of official Washington, he
has been quite content to remain silent while American children are
systematically deprived of an adequate diet, health care, educational
opportunities, housing, and personal safety, all of which, to my mind, add
up to a society that is truly humane, principled and decent.

Even virtuous.


Louis Godena



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