AT&T censors Pearl Jam's anti-Bush lyrics

Bleeping during Lollapalooza cybercast prompts outcry; company says it was "a mistake by a Webcast vendor."

The story "AT&T censors Pearl Jam's anti-Bush lyrics" published August 9, 2007 at 11:18 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

Content from Reuters expires after 30 days.

[hancocrates522]

No Surprise Here

I do not believe AT&T for one minute. How convenient is it for them to say after the fact that it was an accident? They are like so many of the other corporations who could care less what this country is really all about. Thankfully I have no affiliation with their sorry, pathetic excuse of an American company. I encourage all who are affiliated with AT&T to sever ties with them and tell them exactly why you are doing it. Tell them if they like censorship so much to pack up and move to China!!

[cryforlife]

None at all...

Not to mention that AT&T has been instrumental in Bush's warrantless wiretapping program... How convenient!

[WJeansonne]

Good for ATT

These scumbags should be censored. Self righteous drug induced, decadent liberals. What a cancer on our society!

[cryforlife]

Say what?

You don't know your bands very well do you.

Self righteous? Maybe.

Drug induced? Hardly.

Decadent? Are you sure we're talking about the same band here? I think you're thinking of Marilyn Manson.

[brianbot5000]

Non-intelligent folk

Is anyone who speaks their mind self-righteous? And if so, wouldn't that include yourself - and me too? Or is it just when a band speaks their mind?

In any case, you're totally ignorant.

[R. U. Sirius]

You should be censored

Amoron Wrote:

> These scumbags should be censored. Self
> righteous drug induced, decadent liberals. What
> a cancer on our society!



These scumbags should be censored on Cnet. Self righteous drug induced decadent criminal republicans. What a cancer on our society!

See it cuts both ways.

[Penguinisto]

You're an idiot.

...and this is a Conservative/Libertarian type telling you this.

Here's hoping you get the hint.

/P

[m.o.t.u.]

Now there's a coincidence.....

substitute the word "liberal" for "evangelical preacher".

Does Jimmy Baker ring a bell? How about the other Conservative Messenger from Jesus - Mr Taggart was that his name?

Big sigh....ho hum....never mind.

[gerhard_schroeder]

Angry Liberals

Liberals are always so angry... this is hilarious. Like all liberals, Pearl Jam is more angry with Bush than they are with the 7th century throat cutters or nuke acquiring dictators.

Their outrage is as false as a plastic banana. They sound like big whining babies...

[brianbot5000]

No happy with either

I'm sure Pearl Jam is not a big fan of the Iranian government or the Taliban. It's just that, they don't like leaders who lock up people without due process, or those that try to aquire more and more nukes. Bush and our enemies have much in common.

[R. U. Sirius]

psst...

> Liberals are always so angry

Oh yes, and Bill O?Reilly, Hannity and Rush Limbaugh are always so even tempered. What a joke. Listen to right wing talk, it's all anger.

[finoa]

Vedder's comments aside. . .

why aren't you concerned about the censorship (and yes, this is censorship as AT&T was likely the only carrier distributing the content) of a perfectly legal opinion by a corporate giant?

Even in your fantasy black/white world, censorship SHOULD be a bad thing.

[jbtampa]

Your world, delivered. (ok, our world)

Sadly, Bush won't even read about it. He may be told about it, but he proudly ignores what he is told. This emporor doesn't even care about his clothes. His mood and his tidly winks. That's all he knows.

[Penguinisto]

Question:

Why should the President give a damn about what AT&T does in this matter?

Personally, AT&T is paying Vedder's bills here, and he agreed to work under their conditions. If he doesn't like it, he can go find someone else's money to spend.

/P

[coyote_ptm]

Pearl Jam who?

Musicians telling me what they think about our president? Come on.. who cares what they think? Play your music, entertain me.. especially bands that haven't been in any way relevant in over 10 years.

They say "AT&T" did this. It was Joe Switchboard who heard it, didn't know what to do and pushed the button. Even if he/she had let it go, only about 4 people would have heard it.

Bush doesn't care and shouldn't care and neither should you.

I'd write more but I'm off to see "REO Speedwagon" at the state fair so I know which way to vote next year...

[happywarrior]

Angry NeoCons

I find it hilarious when someone rants on and on about ?angry liberals? when the NeoCon crowd contains people like Rush, Bill O?, Ann Coulter and numerous others on the Fake News Channel. And don?t forget VP Dick. These are not happy people. It?s like anger is embedded in their DNA.

[Penguinisto]

Well Eddie, it's like this...

...if you want to jump from music to politics, get your own distribution channel and venues to do it in.

If you don't want to do that, then don't whine when the companies footing the bill for your outings decide to apply their own standards to what you do on their dime.

That, or get Kos and MoveOn to sponsor your next concert series...

/P

[sudhop]

Bush is wrong, let's all say it

Eddie, has freedom of speech like the rest of us.Your President BUSH is an IDIOT,how many more innocent people have to die to feed his "EGO". Whatever happen to Osama? Oh I forgot, we looking WMD, the weapons that dont exist. Death to George W.Bush, what useless piece of garbage!

[WJeansonne]

What a joke!

Not angry at all dude. Just find most liberal causes reviling, phony and a joke.

[Penguinisto]

If you think that's funny...

Any cause that requires blind passion , shows no tolerance, and doesn't allow for mitigating factors...

...can be properly labeled as a joke. This includes causes and passions arising from either side of the ideological aisle.

/P

[WJeansonne]

Penguinista = Socialist

Yeah, I get it, LOL.

[Penguinisto]

Try "Classical Liberal", or "Free Thinker"

Sorry kid, but I think for myself, and have zero use for any government control over our lives other than what is absolutely necessary (e.g. defense, infrastructure, fire/police, etc).

/P

[Xenu7-214951314497503184010868]

AT&T = Republican shills

So much for the "liberal" bias in media. I guess this is what you call "fair and balanced," eh?

[Stating]

Politicians = AT&T Shills

You have it backwards, the politicians are AT&T shills. Look at how much money the telcos peddle in Washington. Do you think it's a coincidence that there is less competition today than there was 10 years ago?

[GraysonBuzz]

Ah...I love it when rock bands...

(and other entertainers for that matter) spout their political opinions. While they do have freedom of speech, what credentials do they have that should make anyone seriously consider their opinions. In many cases, they are probably less qualified than most of the already unqualified voters to push their political views on others. Alas, that is the risk that comes with freedom. Unfortunately, a lot of the young people whose minds are still soft, spongy and suspectible to celebrity suggestion regardless of qualifications will eat such instances up. Can we raise the voting age to say...oh 30?

[muskratboy]

as opposed to super-cool message boarders

so, what credentials do YOU have that would make anyone seriously consider your opinion? more than Bono? less than Bono?

i'm sure if we all just listened to YOU it'd be better. cause YOU know. not Bono. you.

i get it now. awesome. so how many albums have YOU sold?

[R.Jefferson]

This is not censorship

A good example of censorship is a broadcaster cutting the microphone on a political debate because one of the candidates feels that cannabis should be de-scheduled as a schedule 1 drug, because the broadcasting executives are raging alcoholics and will not allow America?s drug of choice to be usurped.

This is more of a case of risk management. Ever since the brown nip came out at the superbowl, the FCC will levy fines, sponsors will desert, and the Helen Lovejoy?s of the world will cry ?won?t somebody think of the children??

There are consultants out there who help produce these events and if something is questionable they will use their time delays to protect the bottom line. abc