GOP Approves Tougher Anti-Porn Language in Platform

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Tuesday, August 28, 2012

The Republican National Convention has approved stronger anti-pornography language in its platform, adding to its opposition to child porn, opposition to adult porn.

The new language reads that "current laws on all forms of pornography and obscenity need to be vigorously enforced."

Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, was able to get the language into the platform as a delegate at the GOP Convention.

Tom McClusky, senior vice president for FRC Action, told The Christian Post that it was Perkins "who recognized the problem and drafted the language to make the platform stronger."

"The original language mirrored previous platforms and only addressed Internet and child pornography," said McClusky. "As we have seen in previous administrations, including the current one, they all but ignore enforcing the other laws on the books that deal with adult pornography and obscenity."

Morality in Media, an anti-porn group that spearheaded a successful boycott of Groupon earlier this year over a deal the site was promoting that was connected to a porn business, celebrated the GOP platform update.

"Distribution of obscene or hardcore pornography on the Internet is a violation of current federal law," said Patrick A. Trueman, president of MIM in a statement. "Yet, most children in America have free access to obscene pornography as soon as they learn how to use a computer. The average age of first exposure to obscene Internet pornography is now eleven."

McClusky of FRC told CP that while there are many socially conservative Democrats, he did not believe a similar anti-pornography position would make it into the Democratic Party platform.

"Working with pro-life and pro-marriage Democrats, any attempts to modify the Democratic platform on life and marriage have been rebuffed strongly," said McClusky.

"We have little doubt that similar attempts on this issue would meet the same results."

"We are most grateful to Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council who led the effort to get the tough new language into the platform," said Trueman of MIM in a statement. "Without enforcement of federal obscenity laws, pornographers have had a green light to target our children and families."

The Republican National Convention began Monday at Tampa, Fla., and will continue until Thursday. The proceedings on Monday were cut short due to concerns over the landfall of tropical storm Isaac. The Democratic National Convention will take place in Charlotte, N.C., Sept. 4-6.