The Republicans are so convinced that they are going to lose HUGE in 2008 that they are beginning to take precautionary measures. Rep. Mike Pence (R-Indiana) is trying to force a vote to officially do away with the Fairness Doctrine. Here’s the wiki on the Fairness Doctrine.
The Fairness Doctrine was a United States FCC regulation requiring broadcast licensees to present controversial issues of public importance in a manner deemed by the FCC to be honest, equitable and balanced. The doctrine has since been withdrawn by the FCC, and certain aspects of the doctrine have been questioned by courts.
Actually, the FCC got rid of the Fairness Doctrine in 1987 and within a few short years our national discourse was polluted with Rush Limbaugh and various copycats. It’s almost unthinkable that the current Congress, even with a Democratic president, would restore the Fairness Doctrine. But what if the Dems pick up another 20-30 House seats and a filibuster proof majority in the Senate?
That must be weighing on Mike Pence’s mind.
“To my colleagues in Congress I respectfully say: If you oppose the Fairness Doctrine, sign the petition. If you cherish the dynamic national asset that is American talk radio, sign the petition. If you simply believe that broadcast freedom deserves an up-or-down vote on the floor of the people’s House, sign the petition,” Pence said.
Republicans strongly oppose the Fairness Doctrine, saying it is a tool Democrats use to attack conservative talk show hosts.
They are worried that forcing stations to make equal time for liberal talk radio would cut into profits so severely that radio executives would choose to scale back on conservative programming to avoid rising costs and interference from the government.
The Fairness Doctrine has been a dead letter for 20 years and Pence wants a vote opposing it. What does that tell you about the Republicans’ mindset?
Fairness — it’s the new
ERA
abortion
gay agenda
evil empire
same-sex marriage
terra terra terra
…
There’s always gotta be some bugaboo to rile up the citizenry with, doesn’t there?
“trying to force a vote”
What is he doing, physically twisting Pelosi’s arm? The Dems hold the procedural reins and it would be ridiculous if they allowed this to get to the floor.
That said, there’s been enough similarly ridiculous behavior out of congress that I’m not totally at ease.
It would be great if the Fairness doctrine was reinstated, though. Even better if it was expanded to cover cable (ahem… FOX).
That maybe, just maybe, the latest antics of drug-addled Limbaugh and his ilk have finally reached the point where Pence is realizing that the PUBLIC may start calling out for something like the Fairness Doctrine to be re-instated?
Personally, I wouldn’t mind if the Fairness Doctrine never came back PROVIDED some reform of airwave ownership were instituted. For starters, bringing back the laws about how many TV stations and radio stations were allowed to be owned by a single entity in a single market would go a long way to promoting competition again. And maybe we could slip in a provision that if you want to own the airwaves for a TV station or a radio station in a market, you have to actually LIVE IN THE MARKET. That would break up the Clear Channels and the News Corps and put the market back to a more competative mom and pop structure – which would promote diversity of programming and just overall better attitudes towards the folks in the particular market.
There’s a choice to put in front of conservatives: Choose a more competative model of frequency ownership OR reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine. I wonder how much rending and gnashing of teeth would be performed there…
What does that tell you and the Republicans’ mindset?
nothing l didn’t already know.
they’ve failed to rein in the internet…which has become a very big bete noire for them and if they lose the megaphone of reich wing talk radio, then they’re down to relying on cable…which should the fairness doctrine came back, will no doubt have some restrictions/requirements, hopefully…and the print media, which is on life support via rupert, etal.
not a bed they contemplate with any pleasure, but one they have made, and will, sooner, rather than later, be given the opportunity to sleep in.
and on what planet does a discharge petition such as this get a majority of signatures? if the D’s…read: bush dogs…allow this to come to the floor, they’re bigger fools than even l suspect.
madame speaker, are you paying attention? shut it down!
lTMF’sA