Pence KILLS the Fairness Doctrine...

Townhall ^ | 6/28/07 | Kevin McCullough

[Valin]

Congressman Mike Pence led the charge in the House of Representatives that effectively headed Feinstein, Kerry, and Durbin off at the pass. By adding an amendment to the Financial Services and General Government bill.

His amendment will disallow any federal funds to be used to carry out any enforcement of a revived "Fairness Doctrine."

It passed 309-115...

Meaning - even a major chunk of Democrats thought the idea of reviving the ancient rule that would in essence stifle most free speech in on-air capacities - was a really stupid idea.

Pence had this to say upon the overwhelming victorious vote in his favor:

"Today the House of Representatives affirmed that freedom will continue to reign on the airwaves of America. Thanks to the support of 308 of my colleagues, Congress has ensured that the Fairness Doctrine will remain in the grave for now. This was a resounding victory for free speech.

"However, the fight for freedom on the American airwaves is not over. With many still hoping to resurrect this archaic doctrine of unfairness, we must continue to stay on the offense. Tonight I will introduce the 'Broadcaster Freedom Act' to ensure that the victory we experienced on the House floor today extends to future generations.

"I thank all my colleagues, especially the Republican leadership in the House for delivering this resounding victory for the freedom of speech."

[Brilliant]

If they are going to regulate talk radio, then they should also censor the TV network news.

[elizabetty]

The Dems were not going to bring back the Fairness Doctrine.

They wanted to TALK about and CAMPAIGN while TALKING about the Fairness Doctrine.

Pence deprived them of that opportunity. Brilliant

[hsalaw]

The timing of this is just excellent. The whiney dems were working themselves into a hissy fit (yes, DiFi, I’m talking about you and your pal John F’n Kerry) about talk radio’s impact on the “amnesty for illegal aliens” bill, and the House has now yanked the rug out from under them.

[BunnySlippers]

If they are going to regulate talk radio, then they should also censor the TV network news.

Which was what they were saying on DU ... "Oh, don't pass the Fairness Doctrine because they will demand time on NPR! Blech!

[padre35]

I sort of wish that Mike Pence hadn’t done that, I would prefer the Liberals go nuts over trying to censor Rush et al.

INOW, that was a great issue for us conservatives and it really highlights the hippocracy of the Left....

[jveritas]

Excellent news.

[LibKill]

Congressman Mike Pence has my respect and gratitude. Guts and genius!

Now, if we could only de-fund NPR and PBS.

[Valin]

Oh but they already self-censor themselves, when was the last time you saw goodnews from Iraq? So you see there’s no need. We do however have to do something about the (cue the ominous music) evil ultra/extremeist/radical/hate filled rightwing talk radio

[South40]

"Oh, don't pass the Fairness Doctrine because they will demand time on NPR!

We can't have the fair use of tax dollars, can we now?

I always feel dirty after visiting DU.

[imahawk]

What a guy! What a guy!

[Marathoner]

WOW, what a great day in America!. Killing amnesty and the unfairness doctrine in one day. Man, it doesn’t get much better than this!!!

[dbacks]

[If they are going to regulate talk radio, then they should also censor the TV network news.]

The dems just had to know that were they to hold hearings on the subject, it would bring out thousands of sound and TV bites showing TV “news” positing commentary under the guise of news and other examples of liberal BS!!

Radio stations would scream bloody murder and ask for millions in compensation and PBS would be defunded in a heartbeat (which should happen anyway).

[Valin]

Man, it doesn’t get much better than this!!!

Well not with your pants on. :-)

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Drive a stake in it.

[ken21]

po’ senator fineslime

she’ll just have to put up with more talk radio revealing

the unethical business dealings of her husband.

[NewJerseyJoe]

Great news. But I am still disheartened.... some (not all) of the GOP politicians have been showing an extraordinary streak of inventiveness and determination these last couple of weeks. My question: where was all this initiative when they were in the majority?? Imagine all the good that could have been done!!

[ChessExpert]

There are some great conservatives out there and Mike Pence is one of them. So why are McCain and Giulliani so prominent? Anyway, it’s great to see the Fairness Doctrine going nowhere.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

“even a major chunk of Democrats thought the idea of reviving the ancient rule that would in essence stifle most free speech in on-air capacities - was a really stupid idea....Except for extremely STUPID people like Diane Frankenstein or John Kerry!....

[paudio]

When the Republicans were in the majority, nobody talked about fairness doctrine... There’s a talk about immigration bill, but it got killed fast. Now, with Dims majority, all kinds of nasty stuff came up and need to be stopped.

[do the dhue]

If they are going to regulate talk radio, then they should also censor the TV network news

State Run Colleges, Universities and Hollywood too.

If they regulate talk radio, I want to see equal air time for Conservatives in the NY Times, Berkley, and Fahrenheit 911.

[Valin]

McCain? Who’s he?

[PGalt]

Hooray Mike Pence!

[HardStarboard]

>>> "Oh, don't pass the Fairness Doctrine because they will demand time on NPR! Blech!<<<

Better plan...since the principle that money equates to free speech has been codified into election law...and it is evident that the government funding of NPR subsidizes only one side of the debate... for FAIRNESS, NPR must therefore share its funding with all other syndicated radio outlets - that carry Rush, Hannity, Ingraham, Levin, Hewitt, Praeger, Miller, O'Reilly....et al!!!

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Did they really say that on DU?

Nice that they finally admit that NPR (and PBS, by association) are flamingly left-wing in their bias.

Now it’s time to strip them of their federal funding, since they are now, admittedly, mouthpieces of the Democrat party.

[gidget7]

As I said on another thread, this is a GREAT American. Thank you Mike Pence!!

[WilliamofCarmichael]

As I recall Larry King was king of nationally broadcast talk radio. I'll never forget one caller complaining about a tax increase.

"Don't you love your country?" admonished King.

Yes, the era of the "Fairness Doctrine" was just swell.

One hour a week of William F. Buckley on PBS balanced the other 167 hours, said the "middle-of-the-road" folks like the Eugene McCarthy-George McGovern Rats. "Yes," agreed Walter "NV Communists' Most Trusted Man in America" Cronkite.

It was the era of the silenced generation -- yet despite that Richard Nixon won 49 of the 50 states in 1972. Why? Like I said, folks like the Eugene McCarthy-George McGovern Rats.

By the 1980s the courts were all set to erase the "Fairness Doctrine" -- it was no longer needed. President Reagan stopped it 1987.

[tcrlaf]

Looks like the Clinton-Podesta Plan to attack the only media outlet capable of getting the people to rise against SHE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED has failed....

We have seen these tactics before. The din starts to rise just before some “think-tank” release an atttack(Fact-Free report) on our side.

[Viking2002]

Even most Dims realized that, if the 'Fairness' Doctrine were to be brought back from the grave, their own propensity for continual legislative re-interpretation would come back to bite them hard. Eventually, things like NPR/PBS, and even Leftist-slanting broadcast television (right down to TV sitcoms) could end up being called to account for expressing an opinion, regardless of context. Both sides would wield it like a cultural tactical nuke. And those poltroons in Washington need that sort of existential sovereignty over us like a manic-depressive 5-year-old needs a loaded shotgun.

[3AngelaD]

He did good, but that bill isn’t law yet. And when it passes, it still has to be reconciled with the Senate version. He’ll have to keep a shart eye out, perhaps get himself named to the conference committee, to make sure his amendment is included in the final bill. And then he’ll have to do it over again next year, and the next.

[ellery]

The timing of this is just excellent. The whiney dems were working themselves into a hissy fit (yes, DiFi, I’m talking about you and your pal John F’n Kerry) about talk radio’s impact on the “amnesty for illegal aliens” bill, and the House has now yanked the rug out from under them.

It wasn't just the whiny donks. Lott and Voignavich were also having fits about mean old intimidating talk radio.

[ellery]

All kinds of nasty stuff came up when the GOP had the majority, too (prescription drug bill, no child left behind, pork-o-rama, etc.). It’s just that it took us a while to get energized to fight tooth and nail against our own party. Then the Miers nomination came along, and we’ve been in fighting form ever since.

[Rembrandt]

Maybe it’s time to start thinking about 2012 or 2016:

BUILD THE PENCE!!

[hsalaw]

Lott and Voignavich were also having fits about mean old intimidating talk radio.

Lott backed down when confronted by Chris Wallace. RINOs.

[ellery]

Ugh. What a blockhead.

[California Patriot]

Outstanding — kudos to Mike Pence!!!

[hsalaw]

I don’t know what is wrong with Lott. It seems like he opens his mouth and words just fall out without any observable thought process.

[irv]

he opens his mouth and words just fall out without any observable thought process.

Oh. You mean he's like a politician. Yes.

[California Patriot]

Vacant Lott.

[weegee]

There is no "Fairness Doctrine".

There IS the "equal time imposition" legislation that the Democrats are getting riled up about. It is legislation that would require Red Tape for broadcast talk radio but would not apply to ABC/NBC/CBS/PBS/NPR/CNN/MTV/VH1/Lifetime/Nick/MSNBC/AlJazeera nor would it apply to print journalism despite the monopolies of the newspaper trade.

And what is "equal time"? Just for DNC authored rebuttals? Or also Green Party, CPUSA, Socialist Worker, MoveOn, SorosInc, Gate, FordFoundation, NOW, et al to also respond to each discussion "equally"?

[George W. Bush]

IMO, the remaining danger is probably from BushCo using the FCC or FEC to retaliate against talk radio. Trent Lott spoke the truth when he mentioned the dangers of talk radio (the citizens) running the country. They regard it as a threat to them.

[California Desert Rat]

Actually I think there’s a pretty strong national security case to be made for censoring TV network news. Unfortunately, the Wimp in the White House isn’t willing to go there.

[California Desert Rat]

De-funding is only a partial answer. NPR and PBS need to be silenced. Treason is not protected speech.

[rhinohunter]

He did good, but that bill isn’t law yet.

Great point! It's hard for me to imagine that Dingy Harry will be in any hurry to allow it onto the Senate floor.

[shield]

It does get better...the Supreme Court Ruling today. WOW!!! Three wins in one day.

[California Patriot]

They don’t like it, but I don’t think any major Republicans would really support a return the Fairness Doctrine. Lott is a punk whose mouth writes checks that his butt can’t cash. The danger here comes only from the Rats.

[California Patriot]

It won’t get through the Senate, but the House vote is a good indicator that, in the short term (at least through ‘08) a restoration of the Fairness Doctrine is unlikely to get through the Senate.

[Liberty Valance]

You know, between Sessions, Vitter and now Pence ...
...today kinda pepped me up a bit ...

[George W. Bush]

They don’t like it, but I don’t think any major Republicans would really support a return the Fairness Doctrine.

You're probably right and I'm just being paranoid. But after Bush and Lott and, yesterday, Voinovitch going on about the evil voters listening to talk radio, my paranoia isn't entirely justified. After all, they just demonstrated their utter contempt for us and were so proud of it.

[California Patriot]

Understandable. But cowards and fools aren’t necessarily statists, and to reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine is real statism.