Pete Townshend Responds to Child Abuse Advocates

Source: http://www.spinner.com/2010/02/05/pete-townshend-child-abuse-super-bowl/

In advance of the Who‘s Super Bowl halftime performance this Sunday in Miami, Pete Townshend has answered a local group of advocates that handed out flyers and postcards that suggested the legendary rock guitarist was a threat to area children. Townshend, who was cleared after being arrested in the during a 2003 child pornography sting, spoke about the matter Thursday in an NFL news conference before his band performed three of its classic songs for the media.

“I’ve been really saddened by it, and concerned about it. It’s an issue that’s very difficult to deal with in sound bites,” Townshend told the Associated Press. “I kind of feel like we’re all on the same side, I guess that’s all I can really say.”

Townshend has long maintained that he accessed a website with child pornography but said it was for research for his own campaign against child porn. Despite being cleared, Townshend — who alluded to his own abuse as a child and says he has been a children’s advocate for many years — was required to register as a sex offender.

“For a family that has suffered the issue of childhood abuse or anything of that sort, vigilance, common sense vigilance is the most important thing, not vigilantism,” Townshend explained. “Anybody that has any doubts about whether I should be here or not should investigate a little bit further.”

Despite the serious tone of the press conference, the mood turned celebratory when bandmate Roger Daltrey announced he was rooting for the New Orleans Saints. Townshend responded with “Then I guess I’ll go for the Colts.” Then, as a warm-up to Sunday’s set, the Who played ‘Behind Blue Eyes,’ ‘Pinball Wizard’ and ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again.’