Schlonging, Spamming, and 'SNL': These Are the FCC Complaints Inspired by Donald Trump

Over the past seven months, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been fielding complaints from the American public about Donald Trump, whose comments on the campaign trail about Mexicans and Muslims, for example, were described by one letter writer as "assault and terrorism on the American citizenry."

"Donald Trump saying we're going to round up and deport all muslims? Now you have American children in fear of being kicked out of their home and country," one person from Salt Lake City wrote in a formal complaint titled "Broadcasting Hate Speech" that was lodged with the FCC on December 23, 2015, the week after a Republican presidential debate. [All letters in this story are quoted as written.] "The FCC is failing to protect the rights of its citizenry not to be assaulted."

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The FCC did not take action.

The complaints were turned over to VICE News in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. The FCC allows consumers to register complaints online and by phone about programs on radio, broadcast television, and cable television, which are regulated by the agency. (The FCC redacted some but not all names of people who lodged complaints; it's not clear why.)

Last October, a person from Vallejo, California complained to the FCC that CBS radio was "spreading hate speech and discrimination against minorities and refugees by providing the xenophobic Donald Trump many minutes of air time to spread his hate while not providing equal time to people with differing views to counter the hatred."

"Said time seems to constitute an illegal promotion/commercial of a rich, hate-filled candidate without providing a counter voice," the person wrote. "Additionally, many minutes were provided for [Republican presidential candidate] Ben Carson to promote his seditious speech against the government. Lastly, the station promoted a right wing congressman's (didn't get his name) call for further right wing propaganda without providing equal air time to the other side or people who do not hate the government."

Again, the FCC did not take any action.

Perhaps the most famous source of FCC complaints was Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction" during her performance with Justin Timberlake at the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show. More than 500,000 people flooded the agency with indecency complaints after Jackson's breast was exposed. The FCC fined CBS $550,000.

Trump is not the equal of Jackson's right breast, but the complaints show he has managed to anger several Americans. One complaint, filed on December 22 by a person in Beverly Hills, Florida who was watching MSNBC, said Trump's characterization of current Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton as being "schlonged" by Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential race "put him in the dangerous demigog [sic] position."

Trump "should not be allowed to pollute the airwaves with his vulgarity," the person wrote.

Some people complained to the FCC that they were offended when people on radio and television news programs referred to Trump as an "asshole" and as a person known for his "douchebaggery." The people noted that they were not defending or supporting Trump, but that they did not appreciate hearing those words on public airwaves.

Other complaints filed with the FCC said news organizations were not treating all candidates equally.

Irina Blama, a Ben Carson supporter from Palm Coast, Florida, complained to the FCC that CNN was spending too much time investigating the neurosurgeon's background and not enough time probing Trump's past.

"CNN went out to Carson hometown to investigate his past by talking to his friends, calling his schools/are they FBI?! Who gave them permission to invade privacy?! Why didn't they investigate Trump?! They damaged Carson reputation and let Trump open his big dirty mouth even more!" Blama wrote last November.

The FCC also received a handful of complaints pertaining to National Review editor Rich Lowry's characterization of Trump's performance at last September's GOP debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. In an interview with Megyn Kelly, host of the Fox News show The Kelly File, Lowry said Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina "cut [Trump's] balls off with the precision of a surgeon."

"Rich Lowry… attacked two presidential candidates in a very offensive way by saying one candidate cut off part of the other's candidate's lower extremities," wrote Mary B. Duffy on September 22, 2015. She said she had been watching Kelly's evening broadcast from her home in New Jersey. "To be specific the candidates referred to were Mrs. Fiorina and Mr. Donald Trump. I was embarrassed and offended as was my family in our own home. I am requesting that there be a rebuke of such behavior and that Fox, Mr. Lowry, and Ms. Kelly be fined for such behavior to stop that disgusting stuff from coming into our homes."

Said another viewer from Dayton, Ohio, "This is unprofessional and extremely vulgar to force viewers of the fine news channel to listen to comments such as this."

Trump appeared to agree:

.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)September 24, 2015

In another complaint related to Fox News's treatment of Trump, one person said network host Neil Cavuto's physical appearance was made to look like Trump prior to last November's Republican debate in an effort to get people to vote for the billionaire real estate mogul.

"I have attached pictures of Neil Cavuto on Fox News the day before the 11/10/15 Republican Debate," the person from Mesa, Arizona wrote. "Neil Cavuto looks somewhat like Donald Trump, like he and Donald are related. I got the impression that he and Fox News wanted to influence people to support Mr. Trump."

The FCC closed the complaint, describing it as "incoherent/unanswerable."

It wasn't the only complaint that alleged hijinks on the part of the media. Someone based in Mesa, Arizona accused MSNBC of "taking down Donald Trump and trying to change peoples votes."

"MSNBC is reporting that President Eisenhower deported people from south of the USA border," the person wrote. "They are calling it Operation Wetback. Is any of this true? It looks like a complete lie to me. I can't see President Eisenhower doing this…. I don't like Donald Trump but this is still wrong."

Trump referred to the operation — which was very real and saw Eisenhower deport 1 million people — during last November's presidential debate. Though he spoke favorably of it, Trump didn't refer to the operation by name.

A person also complained to the FCC after watching "in disbelief" an ad broadcast on Fox News host Bill O'Reilly's show that featured two Latino children "slamming Donald Trump" and "using dirty foul language; showing the middle finger."

"A pure hate commercial," the person in Emmaus, Pennsylvania wrote. "Why not pull that ad, and do the right thing, impost a very high fine I mean 12-13 year old kids."

The ad, produced by the political action committee Deport Racism, went viral online.

Even Trump's selection as a host on Saturday Night Live prompted complaints.

"DONALD TRUMP SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE A HOST ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE SHOW," a person from Pennsylvania wrote in an online complaint form. The FCC explained that it could not do anything to prevent Trump from appearing as host, which prompted an angry response from the viewer.

"I guess you people agree it's okay for Donald Trump a racist whose also running for US President to host Saturday Night Live wow well you will all answer to God."

The FCC also fielded complaints about things that had nothing to do with its oversight duties — like the difficulty of opting out of spam emails.

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"I tried to opt out of emails sent to me by Donald Trump for President," someone from Westford Massachusetts wrote. "I am not entirely sure I was ever asked to opt in (I registered to attend an event via event brite), but I do know for certain his campaign does not have an opt out on a couple of their emails to me. I would like to unsubscribe and don't know how."

The FCC told the person to contact the Federal Trade Commission, which regulates online advertising and marketing.

Follow Jason Leopold on Twitter: @JasonLeopold