Sex, Violence & Satan: 6 Unbelievably Dumb Congressional Hearings

In the wake of last December's school shooting, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-West Virginia) has proposed yet another congressional study on violent video games (he's joined in his effort by Nebraska Republican Sen. Mike Johanns). As Congress gears up for another round of scare-mongering grandstanding, Reason TV presents "Sex, Violence and Satan: 6 Unbelievably Dumb Congressional Censorship Hearings."

The hearings covered include the following:

2001's House Committee on Energy and Commerce's hearing on Children and Media Violence. Popeye the Sailor identified as dangerous influence. (starts around 2:27 minutes)

1997's Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs hearing on the Social Impact of Media Violence. Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Conn.) steals the show amid attacks on Marilyn Manson, Tupac Shakur, Cannibal Corpse and Snoop Doggy Dogg. (3:01)

1997's Senate Commerce Committee hearings on the ineffectiveness of the TV ratings system, featuring smutty clips from Friends and Beverly Hills, 90210. and testimony from Rep. Joseph Kennedy (D-Mass.) that a violent television show gave one of his sons nightmares. (4:09)

1993's Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs hearings on the scourge of ultra-realistic 16-bit video games and plastic toys including Mortal Kombat, Street Fighter, and a Nintendo gaming accessory called a "Super Scope." (5:34)

1993's Senate Commerce Committee's hearing on Violence in Television Programming, featuring Attorney General Janet Reno responding to mail from elementary school students begging her to end violent programming and Sen. Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.) excoriation of MTV's cartoon "Buffcoat and Beaver" (a.k.a. Beavis and Butt-head). (6:04)

1985's Senate hearings featuring Tipper Gore and other members of the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), Twisted Sister's Dee Snider, Frank Zappa, and unintentionally hilarious recitations of lyrics from artists as diverse as Prince, KISS, and scat-rockers The Mentors. (7:15)

About 10 minutes. Written and Produced by Anthony L. Fisher

Music: "80's interlude" by Fanas (http://localrec.ro/fanas)

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