Recent calls for reinstating the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" has prompted members of Congress, talk radio and blogosphere to take action. This morning, Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., spoke to bloggers about recent efforts by congressional Democrats to reinstate the policy. "I think it's a very serious threat," he told the group of roughly a dozen bloggers. Pence came direct from the floor of the House, after introducing a bill, called The Broadcaster Freedom Act, which "will prevent the FCC or any future President from reinstating the Fairness Doctrine."
"This legislation ensures true freedom and fairness will remain on our radio airwaves, and I would encourage my colleagues to cosponsor and support this bill."Calls for reinstating the Fairness Doctrine have been repeated by several prominent Democrats. Sen. John Kerry recently appeared on WNYC with Brian Lehrer, stating, "I think the Fairness Doctrine ought to be there and I also think equal time doctrine ought to come back." Watch the video of Kerry's interview.
Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois has recently said "It's time to reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine [...] I have this old-fashioned attitude that when Americans hear both sides of the story, they're in a better position to make a decision."
Pence believes Democrats are thinking about how to move their liberal agenda more effectively, and that the Fairness Doctrine to cut their critics in half, or taking their main critics off the air. Even if the Fairness Doctrine was defeated, there's nothing to stop a Democratic president in the future with Democrat appointments to the FCC and a Democratic Congress from reinstating it in the future. "If people in power think they can manage criticism they will do it," Pence told the group of bloggers.
Pence recognizes the uphill battle the will follow to prevent government regulation of the media. "The problem," he says, "is that it's called the fairness doctrine." He cited Durbin's statement, which he called "appealing rhetoric," as a good example of the challenge facing those who oppose government regulation of media, particularly talk radio. "The upper hand belongs to those who say they are on the side of fairness and balance," and Americans love fairness. Congressman Pence explained that it's up to us "to explain to the American people that there's nothing fair about the Fairness Doctrine."
For those who oppose government regulation of the media, the good news is that congressional Republicans are united in their opposition to the Fairness Doctrine, and even the Democrats have majorities in both the House and Senate, those majorities are not veto-proof.
Pence is currently looking for cosponsors for his Broadcaster Freedom Act legislation, and plans to file the bill by the end of the week.
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. Is this really a big shock? 90% of the media outlets in the USA (newspapers and TV) are liberal. They hate that Fox has been killing them in the ratings with its Fair and Balanced programs. They cant cut it on radio because no one wants to listen to people tell them how evil their country is 24/7. Thats why Air America went bankrupt. Liberals can just turn on the TV when they want to see other liberals. Republicans have to listen to Laura Ingram or Sean Hannity on the radio. They think if they can force equal time on these people it will take away their only competition. Typical liberal strategy of if you cant beat em legislate em.
S Tripp at 4:23PM on Jun 27th 2007
2. Seems Pense has no sense of democracy when it comes to the "Fairness Doctrine". The truth is secret...the lies repeated for Empire? Don't speak until given permission by the king ya think?
Judy Stevens at 8:57PM on Jun 27th 2007
3. democrats will do anything to silence any critisism of their agenda. They do not want public, no less congressional debate of their plans. That is why this has become the most secretive of all Congresses in History. Bills and amendments are not even allowed to be read before a vote is forced on them. This is only the beginning. Free speech is the last of the Bill of Rights to be attacked.. All liberty rests on it. This is why the DEMOCRATS wish to control all speech and end all public input on their dictates...This only the beginning...hey liberals .. is this starting to resemble the utopia they promised.. looks more like a tyranny and the old Soviet Union.. what's next concentration camps for anyone who voices an opinion?
joem at 7:49PM on Jun 28th 2007
4. Liberals L-O-V-E free speech – as long as you agree with them!
There was a report the other day that 91% of commercial radio was Conservative and the remainder was Liberal. It was stated that it was because of misgivings in the marketplace that brought this about rather than acknowledging that Liberalism (the equal spreading of misery) is out of touch with reality and, therefore, unmarketable to the masses who listen to talk radio. The report did not dive into the basic social differences between the groups of listeners and how they cause one format to succeed and the other to fail.
One point that should have been included in that report, which is glaringly obvious to me, is that the majority of DemocRats out there are very Clinton-esque in the way they approach their lives – they just want to party and have a good time. This is why Slick Willy had such high approval numbers. He embodied that attitude and his loyal followers adored him for it. However, other than that, they do not want to be bothered with the nuts and bolts of our Representative Republic.
However, Republicans view life more seriously. It is that seriousness that is embodied in the works of Neal Boortz, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Mike Gallagher, etc., etc. These radio personalities started speaking to the people and the people realized that what was being said struck a resonating cord with their thought patterns. So they kept listening. Eventually, the audience grew to be what it is today.
As Rush said the other day, if it had been 91% Liberal and 9% Conservative in the commercial radio marketplace, the Libs in the media, if they even bothered to report on it, would have simply stated that it was just “mainstream”.
Hmm… What is that adage about a better mousetrap?
BlueCollarPolitico at 4:31AM on Jun 29th 2007
5. Let's see - "90% of the media is liberal" and "91% of commercial radio is conservative". Apparently radio is no longer a part of the media. Got it.
Wasn't the media already supposed to be liberal ? It's been a standard crying point for the Rushes, Hannitys, and O'Reillys of the world for years now. If it's true why would the liberals want equal time if they're already "controlling" the media ? Makes no sense - just like most of the blither we get from the "dittohead" nation. No need to think for yourself when you already have someone doing it for you - right ? Maybe they should just start working on an explanation for the massive debt and incompetence that we will be left with from the past few years of "conservative" leadership. Of course it will all be the fault of someone else - it always is. Probably that damn "liberal" media !
max at 11:41AM on Jun 29th 2007
6. "This only the beginning...hey liberals .. is this starting to resemble the utopia they promised.. looks more like a tyranny and the old Soviet Union.. what's next concentration camps for anyone who voices an opinion?"
Hye joem, if you go to such ultraliberal sites as Democratic Underground and Dily Kos, you'll quickly find out that's EXACTLY what they want. Those creeps wear their sickle & hammer pins with pride on their Che Guevara t-shirts and Swastika armbands. If those people ever had any power, America would become the very empire of tyranny they think it is now.
Eddie at 5:02PM on Jun 29th 2007
7. What's in a name?
We just went through a big "Immigration Debate" when the real crux of the matter wasn't about immigration at all, it was about open borders. Thanks to talk radio, a big spotlight was aimed at Washington and the senators who would have preferred to remain in the shadows.
I say, if we're talking fairness, let's outlaw the use of euphemisms. And let's take a good look at this "Fairness" doctrine, which also hides behind a euphemism.
This morning, CBS's Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer lobbed out a bomb. He said that in the defeat of the "Immigration Reform" bill, we all lost.
I wondered, "How is that? There are perfectly good laws on the books pertaining to secure borders, why not enforce?" Yet, when I attempted to email that thought to CBS -- GUESS WHAT? The email link was disconnected! So, here's CBS whining about "fairness" when they engage in cowardly, hit-and-run political tactics.
Fairness is not about compelling the other side to comment, but in ALLOWING them to comment.
Fairness is about covering the political news as it unfolds, not about covering it up with Paris Hilton stories. And that applies to every news carrier on the television spectrum.
So long as I have been a listener of talk radio, everyone has been allowed to comment. Some hosts have been aggressive at shouting down their opponents and it is not a behavior that I find appealing. There does need to be some place where people can debate openly - not propagandize. But on balance, talk radio has been the best we have at gathering accurate facts and laying them out for the public's attention.
By the way -- where's our beloved ACLU? They seem to be all about the rights of child molestors and pornographers, but I haven't heard a peep from them on this. Maybe I'll email them - think they'll be "fair"?
Sierra at 2:08PM on Jul 1st 2007