Bucks County Courier Times 5/23/06

In the first dustup in the race for Congress here, Democratic hopeful Pat Murphy spanked Republican incumbent Mike Fitzpatrick over Fitz's parent-pleasing bill that would restrict kid access to online chat havens like MySpace.com.

MySpace.com, with some 50 million members, is quickly overtaking MTV as the bane of adults who complain about the demise of youth culture. MySpace is among the most popular online “social networking” Web sites where kids chat, post their photos, diary entries and lots of personal info.

Unfortunately, adult sexual predators use these sites to hunt for unsuspecting victims.

“It's a diabolical cultivation,” said Sean Gresh, a Bucks County assistant district attorney who specializes in prosecuting online sleazoids. “They try to find weaknesses, cultivate trust, then they pounce.”

The national news bristles with chilling tales of MySpace.com and Web sites like it, detailing how predators conned underage victims.

Last week in this newspaper, candidate Murphy called it a “serious problem.” But he criticized Fitzpatrick's “Deleting Online Predators Act,” which would force schools and public libraries to install screening software to block kid access to such sites.

“You don't protect children by infringing on people's constitutional rights,” Murphy said.

Yesterday, Murphy amended this remark, saying he's serious about protecting kids from online creeps.

“You stop it from happening by having more cops on the [online] beat and more prosecutors and stricter penalties,” he said. “[Fitzpatrick's bill] is like putting a finger in the dike. That's why I said this is just an election year thing. We have to protect kids, but we have to be tough and smart, too.”

I told Murphy it was a blunder to talk about “constitutional rights” when the issue is protecting children from pervs.

It's OK to be high-minded on all that “rights” jazz when you're trolling for votes during primary season. But when the general election season begins, as it has, it's best to respect the family-oriented sensibilities of the suburban heartland, which defines most of Bucks County , but especially defines where I live, Levittown .

In my house, children have no “constitutional rights.” I am the law, judge and jury. My word is final. Three weeks ago, I was at the top of my game in this role during an incident that involved, coincidently, MySpace.com.

It was my son's fifth birthday. Two nieces attended, both 13. They quickly grew bored with the little kid festivities and asked, “Uncle John? Can we go on the computer?”

Sure, I said. But I warned: Have fun — but no online shenanigans, high jinks, tomfoolery or mischief.

Ten minutes later, I found the girls on MySpace.com, giggling as they chatted with an oily 20-something who called himself “Lorenzo.”

Without discussion, I yanked the plug on the computer. No more Internet for you, I said. Instantly, I became the world's most unpopular uncle and Levittown 's biggest wet blanket.

Yes, constitutional scholars and online vermin everywhere will scream, “Violation of free expression!” But I felt good trampling all over my nieces' First Amendment rights.

I expect grownups who run our schools and our public libraries to do the same, if it means keeping youngsters safe from a malevolence they are too naive to understand.

If a United States congressman or anyone else in a position of power wants to lend me a hand, thanks.

Mullane's opinion column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday.