...NBCUniversal -- to voice displeasure over one element of the network's coverage of the annual Golden Globe awards last weekend. Four United States Senators took time out of their schedules for this:
Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin of Illinois and three of his Democratic colleagues are criticizing the Golden Globe Awards for showing celebrities using electronic cigarettes on TV. Durbin, along with Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts, sent a letter Tuesday to NBCUniversal and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association expressing concern about the potential that showing the e-cigs at the awards show will “glamorize smoking.” The senators ask the two groups to take action to prevent similar appearances by e-cigs at future shows.
A few excerpts from the Senate nannies' hectoring missive:
We write to express concern regarding the prominent display of electronic cigarettes at Sunday night’s Golden Globe Awards...Unfortunately, this year, many young viewers saw notable displays of e-cigarette use throughout the awards show, including the opening monologue and repeated shots of celebrities smoking e-cigarettes. In light of studies showing that exposure to on-screen smoking is a major contributor to smoking initiation among youth, we are troubled that these images glamorize smoking and serve as celebrity endorsements that could encourage young fans to begin smoking traditional cigarettes or e-cigarettes...The Golden Globes celebrates entertainers who are an influence on young fans. We ask the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and NBC Universal to take actions to ensure that future broadcasts of the Golden Globes do not intentionally feature images of e-cigarettes. Such action would help to avoid the glamorization of smoking and protect the health of young fans.
Ed Morrissey tees off:
Julia Louis-Dreyfus is an influence on young fans? On an HBO show about politics? How about objecting to the nudity on Girls, or the violence and nudity on Game of Thrones? Or how about paying attention to their own jobs instead — say, for instance, the disaster they foisted on America with ObamaCare? “Young fans” will be paying for that the rest of their lives.
Matt Welch of Reason and Fox Business Network doesn't mince words either (language warning):
Senators send bitchy little letter to the Golden Globes about showing people smoke e-cigarettes: http://t.co/rBYR2XcqpX These people suck.
— Matt Welch (@mleewelch) January 15, 2014
I'm beginning to wonder why America is even having this whole pot legalization debate. Even if weed getsdecriminalized, won't the statist anti-smoking scolds eventually harangue the public into compliance on that issue, too? The horror:
BAN! BAN! BAN! For The Children.