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Will Obama and Biden curtail freedom of speech?
Jewish World Review ^ | Nov. 5, 2008 | Nat Hentoff

Posted on 11/10/2008 7:56:54 PM PST by nickcarraway

Candidates for higher office are indeed tested — if they win — from Day One. But the credibility of their declared principles is sometimes tested suddenly and revealingly on the campaign trail. I have often cited the voluble and often humorous Joe Biden as a passionate practitioner, and defender, of free speech. But on Oct. 23 — after participating in at least 200 interviews since chosen as Barack Obama's vice presidential on the Democratic ticket two months ago, Biden — offended at a question by an Orlando WFTV TV reporter-anchor — did not object when the Obama campaign then forbade more appearances on that station by its campaigners until the elections. An Obama gag rule.

After a series of reasonable, challenging, quietly voiced questions by interviewer Barbara West, she had said to Biden: "You may recognize this famous quote: 'From each according to his abilities (and) to each according to his needs.' That's from Karl Marx. How is Senator Obama not being a Marxist if he intends to 'spread the wealth'?"

As I watched the interview on YouTube, Biden, clearly nettled, first responded to what he called "this ridiculous question" by asking her: "Are you joking? Is that a real question?" He then launched into the standard campaign retort that Obama "is not spreading the wealth around. He is talking about giving the middle class an opportunity to get back the tax breaks they used to have."

The next day, the Orlando Sentinel's veteran TV critic, Hal Boedecker, reported: "Biden so disliked West's line of questioning that the Obama campaign canceled a WFTV interview with Jill Biden, the candidate's wife."

Then, Boedecker continued, Laura K. McGinnis, Central Florida communications director for the Obama campaign, said the cancellation was "a result of her husband's experience yesterday during the satellite interview with

(Excerpt) Read more at jewishworldreview.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: agenda; bho2008; biden; democrat; democrats; dumbvoters; fairnessdoctrine; fascism; freespeech; historyrepeatsitself; ignorantvoters; marxism; notfreespeech; obama; obamatransitionfile; repeatinghistory; socialism; speechcodes
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To: nickcarraway
Nat Hentoff is without doubt one of the great journalistic minds of our age:

"The language of 'fairness' is seductive."
And it celebrates the government deciding your allotment of freedom of speech.

Our young people have not been taught the fundamentals of what our Constitution stands for, so it is not so surprising that they fail to recognize the principles turn upside down. We the people are no longer the sovereigns since media can control so completely what is allowed to be known about the prospective leaders. Media has become the scum of the nation.

21 posted on 11/10/2008 8:40:19 PM PST by MHGinTN (Believing they cannot be deceived, they cannot be convinced when they are deceived.)
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To: The Great RJ

He shouldn’t be able to control satellite radio with the UNFairness Doctrine, so we could get satellite radio.


22 posted on 11/10/2008 8:40:41 PM PST by Pinkbell
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To: nickcarraway

btt


23 posted on 11/10/2008 8:40:51 PM PST by Cacique (quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat ( Islamia Delenda Est ))
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To: 5thGenTexan
1. I don't know, I don't read Jewish World Review, but they're very conservative, so if I had to bet I'd say yes.

2. If anyone is responsble for this country going aground on sharp rocks, it isn't Nat Hentoff.

24 posted on 11/10/2008 8:47:44 PM PST by Mr. Silverback ("[Palin] has not even lived in the Lower 48 since 1987. Come on! Really!" --Polybius)
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To: nickcarraway

In the immortal words of Tom Petty, “You can stand me up in front of the gates of hell, and I won’t back down.”


25 posted on 11/10/2008 8:49:39 PM PST by factoryrat (Better living through American Industrial Might.)
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To: nickcarraway

Short Answer = yes


26 posted on 11/10/2008 9:15:18 PM PST by Tzimisce (http://groups.myspace.com/nailthemessiah)
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To: dbacks
“FR, Has been shut down b/c DoS attacks, could it be related? “
Is that a fact?

...once in 8 months+/-, but three times (11/4, 11/8, today) in a span of a week after the election...
Red Obambi / "Plugs" Obiden / "Premium Gas" Pelosi / "Dirty" Reid, have stated one time or another,
their desire to re-instate the (so-called) "Fairness Doctrine"...and they're NOT hiding that desire.

27 posted on 11/10/2008 9:19:42 PM PST by skinkinthegrass (just b/c you're paranoid, doesn't mean "they" aren't out to get you.. :^)
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To: nickcarraway
We need help over here!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2129695/posts

28 posted on 11/10/2008 9:19:42 PM PST by pray4liberty (Always vote for life!)
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To: nickcarraway

Will Obama and Biden curtail freedom of spe

/sarc

Of focking course they will.


29 posted on 11/10/2008 9:43:09 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: Secret Agent Man
Acccording to some- Obama’s choice of FCC replacement in June 2009 is Michael Rivera - a rabid fan of the Fairness Doctrine. This will make 3-2 of libs to non libs - The suspicion is that the decision will be made this way so that the Obama Pelosi Reid bunch can shrug and act as though it was out of their hands. Knowing info ahead of time should give opposition time to expose the plan. Mark Levin is the most verbal on this subject yet- He has it in for Schumer for already declaring favor for it. Schumer is up for reelection in 2010 - Time to pick a good opponent. Hitlery won't mind it will make her be the Senior Senator!
30 posted on 11/10/2008 9:53:14 PM PST by newzhawk
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To: GaryLee1990
The only thing that can stop it is a filibuster

Once again we'll see Maverick John McCain to the Democrats' rescue. He must be salivating at the thought of sticking it to Rush.

31 posted on 11/10/2008 10:01:51 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (New Tone, My Friend)
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To: DBCJR

I’d bet the farm obamma lamma ding dongs ministry of truth has a swat team.


32 posted on 11/11/2008 3:46:20 AM PST by Joe Boucher (An enemy of Islam)
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To: DBCJR

Gestapo


33 posted on 11/11/2008 4:33:23 AM PST by DBCJR (What would you expect?)
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To: GaryLee1990

My understanding is that it is a regulation implemented by the FCC. New members will be appointed when the current term is up, June 2009. Three D’s and 2 R’s. The next day they can vote for the new Fairness doctrine regulation, no congress or Senate approval needed.


34 posted on 11/11/2008 7:24:55 AM PST by thirst4truth
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