Free Republic

ABC’s “Good Morning America” program on Wednesday led their 7 am Eastern hour with three positive reports about Judge Sonia Sotomayor, highlighting her judicial background and personal story. Anchor Diane Sawyer began the program with a promo of this coverage: “The battle begins: How will President Obama’s Latina powerhouse handle the opposition?...And we also go home to bring you personal details about the girl from the housing projects, nominated for the Supreme Court.” Correspondent Claire Shipman went so far as to play up trivial details from the nominee’s personal life: “She’s also an avid Yankees fan, a mean guacamole maker,...

Radio Talk Show Rusty Humphries has gotten a death threat and is fearing for his life. So tonight his show is from an undisclosed location. He says he will be continuing to do his show no matter what. Rusty is one of the few radio hosts supporting Michael Savage in his legal battle with the Country of England. Ralph "Rusty" Humphries (born 1965) is an American radio host, conservative political commentator, and songwriter. Humphries' nationally-syndicated radio show, The Rusty Humphries Show, airs on over 250 stations through Talk Radio Network. Humphries has been named one of "America's 100 Most Important...

Could you imagine Democrats rushing to his rescue if Rush Limbaugh needed a bailout? Even if he was a black man (Alan Keyes), or Asian (Michelle Malkin), or Hispanic (Linda Chavez)? Would a conservative minority broadcaster get a helping hand from Democrats if his or her station were failing? How naive do you have to be to say "sure, they would." Democrats seek financial rescue of minority-owned broadcastersBy Silla Brush Posted: 05/19/09 High-ranking House Democrats are urging the Treasury Department to prop up minority-owned broadcasters suffering from a lack of capital and lost advertising revenue amid the economic slump. House...

Of Fairness & Freedom by: Emily Kanyi, May 20, 2009 “For a long time, the fairness doctrine has been sound asleep. In my opinion let it rest in peace,” said Jerald N. Fritz, General Counsel at Allbritton Communications Company, during a discussion panel on the fairness doctrine. The panel, hosted by Judicial Watch, tackled the fairness doctrine policy head on in an effort to enlighten the public on the virtues and vices of the policy. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) dissolved the fairness doctrine in 1987, stating that government interference into broadcast content prevented objective reporting of issues of public...

(CNSNews.com) - Academy Award-nominated actor William H. Macy told CNSNews.com that the government should not regulate talk radio so it is “balanced” -- with some variant of a Fairness Doctrine or local ownership rules -- because “this is America” and “you can say anything you want.” He also said the average American is “smarter than all the politicians.” “Absolutely not. This is America. You can say anything you want,” Macy told CNSNews.com at the White House Correspondent’s dinner when asked whether the content of talk radio should be regulated by the government for political balance. “I think it’s fair that...

"Good Morning America" co-host Diane Sawyer on Tuesday aggressively lobbied for the Obama administration to install a European-style gas tax on the United States. Talking to Carol Browner, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, about Obama's plans for increased fuel standards, she began, "Why not just go to a gas tax, for instance, which would accomplish a reduction in the use of gasoline, dependence on foreign oil right away?" Sawyer would proceed to ask variations on this question six times. Citing calls for a gas tax by New York Times columnist Tom Friedman,

The crackdown on conservative-talk radio begins with an FCC probe into the new rating system that Obama says the ethnic minorities will be less willing to wear the PPM rating device than whites. Once this more accurate and fraud-proof device was employed, ratings for conservative talk radio surged (putting Rush Limbaugh at times with 50 million listeners); but at the same time liberal talk stations and hip-hop saw their ratings plunge. Read more... http://www.butasforme.com/2009/05/19/obama-declares-talk-radio-ratings-racists-takes-official-steps-to-curb-talk-radios-influence/

At Right of Course (FMJRA Site O’ Th’ Day at The Other McCain), Chance makes an important observation about Obama at Notre Dame: The other problem with this whole ‘open discussion’ argument is the very people making it. These are the same people who see no problem at all with the near monopoly the left holds on the public and secondary education system. There is no open discussion on evolution or global warming, it is taught as absolute fact. I took several Sociology courses at two separate state universities (my college career was long and meandering). There were no opposing...

Corporations Yesterday, the Federal Communications Commission’s “Diversity Committee,” chaired by Fairness Doctrine proponent Henry Rivera, made it clear that they were going force the President’s supporters into positions of power within the broadcast industry.FCC Chairman Michael Copps forcefully denounced the current racial and gender make-up of the broadcast industry and called its lack of diversity “a shameful state of affairs.” Copps then asked the Committee: “Is it any wonder that minorities are so often stereotyped and caricatured and that the positive contributions of the minority community are so often overlooked?”Copps told Committee members, many of whom represent left-leaning activist groups...

A socialist-oriented “media reform” group with intimate ties to the Obama Administration and George Soros is calling for new federal programs and the spending of tens of billions of dollars to keep journalists employed at liberal media outlets or at new “public media.” The group, which calls itself Free Press, is urging “an alternative media infrastructure, one that is insulated from the commercial pressures that brought us to our current crisis.” However, speakers at this week's Free Press "summit" had nothing to say about the well-documented liberal bias that has contributed to the decline in readers and viewers for traditional...

Conservative talk radio is like a big pot of soup filled with chunks of carrots, potatoes, celery, tomatoes, corn and whatever other vegetables were tossed in. Each personality is different, but they contribute to the overall flavor. Liberal talk radio is a similar pot of soup with the same ingredients but it's been pureed. There are no lumps, and it all looks the same – bland with no personality. It's no surprise then that conservatives get attention and criticism from the political opposition, which doesn't like to be confronted with differing thoughts and ideas. Political correctness clashes with reasoned opinions....

From the notification email: "Media Research Center’s Director of Communications Seton Motley is attending and will be reporting from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) “Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age” took place today 10 a.m. until 3 p.m Friday, 7 May." "Given the fact that not one free speech-free market organization is involved in this “Diversity” meeting, Seton’s presence and “spin-free” audio updates are critical to all who are interested in protecting our Free Speech Rights."

The acting chairman of the Federal Communications Commission has told members of a "diversity" committee who almost exclusively represent left-leaning organizations to tackle the status quo in America's broadcast industry and suggest "aggressive" solutions to what they see as problems. According to The O'Leary Report, published by author Brad O'Leary, author of "Shut Up, America!: The End of Free Speech," the FCC's "Diversity Committee," headed by "Fairness Doctrine," supporter Henry Rivera, has begun its work. The report said the committee made it clear at a meeting yesterday its members will force President Obama's supporters into positions of power within the...

[A]s Brian Jennings argues in "Censorship: The Threat to Silence Talk Radio," the popular format does face threats to its freedom and future -- not all of which are external. Mr. Jennings is a radio veteran credited with pioneering the all-conservative talk format at Seattle's KVI-AM in the early 1990s, and "Censorship" was clearly shaped by that experience. The book is a repetitious, one-sided barrage of generalities and anecdotes, alarmist at times, corny at others. In other words, it reads a lot like talk radio sounds. But that doesn't mean its concerns shouldn't be taken seriously. Most of the conservative...

Let's face it folks, we have the liberal media on the ropes. Drive by newspapers are dying. liberal broadcasts are setting record lows. Liberal cable outlets are always claiming 2nd, 3rd, etc best to Fox. So what's the next step?

It's beyond dispute that leftist thought and spin dominate news and political coverage on the major television networks, National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting System (to say nothing of K-12 public education, academia and the entertainment industry). But apparently that's not enough for the left, which finds it intolerable that conservatives continue to enjoy prominence on talk radio. Their opening gambit was an attempt to resurrect the Fairness Doctrine, repealed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1987 during the Reagan administration. That was an idea whose time had long since passed. In the infancy of radio and television...

A quick tour of the internet shows that the England has NO PROBLEM WITH ALLOWING U.S. RAP/HIP HOP PERFORMERS enter UK territory for concerts, business deals, etc. despite their filthy lyrics including extremely racist and sexist as well as lewd and violence-inciting comments.

No Fairness Doctrine, says the FCC's Michael Copps. And if the interim Chairman of the FCC says that, and candidate Barack Obama said that - maybe some of talk radio's conservative voices will lower the Fear Factor volume. But "the return of the Fairness Doctrine" has been a great straw man - Copps' phrase - for conservatives. To be sure, there are Democrats on Congress who'd like to get even with the talk radio scene of the last 20 years and level the playing field (their term). But the Fairness Doctrine would surely be called unconstitutional today and politically, it's...

This thing is going global (rough FR translation since original site is only in Chinese): Major Chinese website, seen by millions, is running the story.人民网5月6日讯 �美国有线电视新闻网报�，英国政府日�公布了一份22人的“��欢迎者”��，其中白人至上主义者，伊斯兰神�人员，一�堪�斯州神父以�美国脱�秀主�人�因“煽动仇�”榜上有�。 ("According to British Press reports, the UK government has made a prohibition of 22 people to enter the country, among them are white supremicists, fundamentalist Islamists, an extremist preachers, but also a famous American talk show host.") 　　英国内政部表示他们将至少在数月内拒�这些人入境。内政部仅公布了其中16�“上榜”人士的信�，然而他们拒��露其他六人的姓�。 ("This is a report by the Home Ministry which prohibits certain people from entering British territory. 16 of the names were made public, but 6 names were not made public.") 　　在这份��中最被人熟知的莫过于美国脱�秀主�人Michael Savage，其本�Michael Alan Wiener赫然在��之列。他的电�脱�秀全美排�第三，这�主�人以他�对堕胎，�对�性�婚姻，�对移民的观点备�争议。("A famous...

It is going global now. 英公布“��欢迎人士”�� 美脱�秀主�人榜上有� 2009年05月06日08:56 ��：人民网-国际频� �字� 大 中 �】 打� 留言 论� 网摘 手机点评 纠错 E-mail推�: 　　人民网5月6日讯 �美国有线电视新闻网报�，英国政府日�公布了一份22人的“��欢迎者”��，其中白人至上主义者，伊斯兰神�人员，一�堪�斯州神父以�美国脱�秀主�人�因“煽动仇�”榜上有�。 　　英国内政部表示他们将至少在数月内拒�这些人入境。内政部仅公布了其中16�“上榜”人士的信�，然而他们拒��露其他六人的姓�。 　　在这份��中最被人熟知的莫过于美国脱�秀主�人Michael Savage，其本�Michael Alan Wiener< 赫然在��之列。他的电�脱�秀全美排�第三，这�主�人以他�对堕胎，�对�性�婚姻，�对移民的观点备�争议。

FCC Acting Chairman Michael Copps, announced the full membership of the commission’s Advisory Committee on Diversity for Communications in the Digital Age. The committee’s reason for being is to guide the FCC about policies and practices to enhance the participation of minorities and women in telecommunications and related industries. Access to capital--one of the biggest bugaboos to entry--will be examines as well as transactional transparency, career advancement, and the impact of new and emerging technologies on diversity issues. The committee is re-chartered through Dec. 16, 2010. “The sad truth is that the diversity of this great nation is not reflected...

Call it an ominous warning, but Fox News Channel afternoon host and ratings sensation Glenn Beck is warning the government is strengthening its grip of power it's not going to stop at the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Beck, on his May 6 program cautioned viewers on his May 6 broadcast that the government is out of control, noting that Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests were a weekly occurrence, including efforts to make the TARP bailout more transparent earlier this year from the Treasury Department. ...more (w/video)...

Note: The following text is a quote: THE BRIEFING ROOM THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary _____________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 1, 2009 Statement by the President in honor of World Press Freedom Day World Press Freedom Day is annually observed on May 3 to remind us all of the vital importance of this core freedom. It is a day in which we celebrate the indispensable role played by journalists in exposing abuses of power, while we sound the alarm about the growing number of journalists silenced by death or jail as they attempt to bring daily news...

The Federal Communications Commission has announced the roster of a new advisory committee on "diversity" in communications, a move many critics have warned would mark the beginning of government regulation of talk radio and a reinstallation of the "Fairness Doctrine" by another name.

Freedom of speech is one of the most important protections we have against tyranny. The right to speak out and expose corruption and to spread new amazing ideas. Of course the left doesn't like that one bit. Over the past decades, government has eroded our first amendment with the Federal Communications commision which dictates what we can or cannot listen to. The FCC and its many regulations and licensing fees prevent the creation of new radio and TV stations that would otherwise produce alternative views and regulates what we can or cannot watch. A dangerous prelude to totalitarianism. Enter the...

Regulatory czar nominee favors gun grab, animal rights, 'Fairness Doctrine' for Net – The announced retirement of Supreme Court Justice David Souter could result in Barack Obama's nomination of a man who has been an outspoken proponent of tough restriction on gun sales and ownership, a ban on hunting, animal rights and what has been characterized as a "Fairness Doctrine" for the Internet. Cass Sunstein, a law professor friend of the president and his current nominee to be regulatory czar, is on a list of eight possible names, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to replace Souter in an article...

Behold one of the new "Fairness" Doctrines - "media diversity" - coming soon to a radio station near you. President Barack Obama's Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has released the names of the thirty-one members of their Advisory Committee On Diversity For Communications In The Digital Age. This May 7 gathering is made up of a laundry list of left-wing grievance groups, with a smattering of radio and television companies included to break up the monotony. Not a single conservative organization is taking part in this Commission - more than a dozen Leftist groups are. A little ironic for a "diversity"...

For the first time, a U.S. Supreme Court justice is offering some legal insight about the so-called Fairness Doctrine, suggesting the off-the-books policy could be declared unconstitutional if it's revived and brought before the bench. In written discussion on yesterday's ruling cracking down on indecent language on television, Justice Clarence Thomas called the policy "problematic" and a "deep intrusion into the First Amendment rights of broadcasters." The doctrine requiring broadcasters to air opposing viewpoints on controversial issues was brought to an end in the 1980s under the direction of President Ronald Reagan's Federal Communications Commission.

Most Americans are sleepwalking right now through the early reign of Obama the Magnificant. He tells them he is cutting spending, cutting taxes, and cutting the deficit, and they believe him. When they find in 2010 and 2011 that he deliberately misled them and has been doing just the opposite, and they are deep in the soup as a result, public opinion will turn decisively against him. Meanwhile, our "mainstream media," which should be called the Party Controlled Press, are quite successfully maintaining the smokescreen in promoting the Obama propaganda line, acting as slavishly as Pravda and Izvestia did towards...

There are those who hang their First Amendment hats on President Barack Obama's statement that he isn't for reinstating the Censorship Doctrine, also mis-known as the "Fairness" Doctrine. These people are ignoring ever mounting examples of the censorious intent of this Administration on all things information. They are playing the Ostrich Defense despite the fact that nearly every Obama appointee to anything that has anything to do with regulating anything is a strident Leftist whose first impulse is to loathe the American people exercising the freedoms the Constitution affords them. Just three days after his November victory, President Obama floated...

Cass Sunstein sees Web as anti-democratic, proposed 24-hour delay on sending e-mail WASHINGTON – Barack Obama's nominee for "regulatory czar" has advocated a "Fairness Doctrine" for the Internet that would require opposing opinions be linked and also has suggested angry e-mails should be prevented from being sent by technology that would require a 24-hour cooling off period. The revelations about Cass Sunstein, Obama's friend from the University of Chicago Law School and nominee to head the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, come in a new book by Brad O'Leary, "Shut Up, America! The End of Free Speech."...

U.S. regulatory czar nominee wants Net 'Fairness Doctrine'Cass Sunstein sees Web as anti-democratic, proposed 24-hour delay on sending e-mail. WASHINGTON – Barack Obama's nominee for "regulatory czar" has advocated a "Fairness Doctrine" for the Internet that would require opposing opinions be linked and also has suggested angry e-mails should be prevented from being sent by technology that would require a 24-hour cooling off period. The revelations about Cass Sunstein, Obama's friend from the University of Chicago Law School and nominee to head the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, come in a new book by Brad O'Leary, "Shut...

WASHINGTON – Putting aside their own competitive interests, representatives of more than two dozen of the nation's top talk shows held an unprecedented private meeting over the weekend to brainstorm strategies against what they agreed are government plans by to squelch critical political speech on radio.

Putting aside their own competitive interests, representatives of more than two dozen of the nation's top talk shows held an unprecedented private meeting over the weekend to brainstorm strategies against what they agreed are government plans by to squelch critical political speech on radio. Organized by Brad O'Leary, author of the new book, "Shut Up, America! The End of Free Speech," and Joseph Farah, editor and chief executive officer of WND, the group chose one attendee to be spokesman and chairman of the coalition – syndicated host Roger Hedgecock of San Diego . A daylong discussion today focused on what...

The nation's largest organization of professional journalists announced Tuesday it will oppose the reintroduction of the Fairness Doctrine. The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) announced it would stand against the Fairness Doctrine, which the group said would allow the government to control broadcast editorial content. The announcement makes for strange bedfellows with conservatives in Congress, who have alleged the Fairness Doctrine would result in severe constraints on their talk radio base, including superstars like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. "SPJ in general opposes government intervention on speech. The Fairness Doctrine does that and discussion about having it again should end,"...

WEEKNIGHTS at 9 ET on BLOG TALK RADIO PROGRAM SCHEDULE Next Show: Tuesday, April 21 at 9 pm ET. *** TONIGHT... We're talking with Brad O'Leary who has written a book about the real threats to free speech. Brad has discovered a move afoot to eviscerate the First Amendment and smother the free exchange of ideas in America. Though the White House claims it doesn't support the return of the so-called "Fairness Doctrine", Obama and his thugs in Congress are quietly plotting to censor talk radio, this blogsite and others like it through a host of insidious methods.Brad was on...

Congress shall make no law establishing articles of faith, or a mode of worship, or prohibiting the free exercise of religion, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition to the government for the redress of grievances. ~ Proposed Bill of Rights, James Madison 14 Sep 1789 In the mid to late 20th century a great many technological advancements changed American society. None had greater impact than the advent of Radio and Television, and its widespread use. It created the opportunity for a far greater dissemination...

Brad O'Leary, the author of the latest WND Books release, "Shut Up, America! The End of Free Speech," will be a guest on Glenn Beck's Fox News TV show Monday at 5 p.m. to talk about the Barack Obama administration's plan to silence talk radio. The book explains how, as popular opposition to the reinstitution of the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" mounts, Obama and the Democrat-dominated Congress will end-run critics with legislation that will curb dissent on talk radio through the imposition of "localism" rules and community watchdog boards across America. In "Shut Up, America! The End of Free Speech," O'Leary...

"I certainly didn't expect this much attention." Video: http://www.butasforme.com/2009/04/17/update-first-tv-interview-with-tea-party-protester-who-faced-hostile-cnn-reporter/

WASHINGTON (Dow Jones)--Federal Communications Commission Acting Chairman Michael Copps said Wednesday he intends to act boldly to help improve the diversity of broadcasters in the U.S. "Today we commit to getting independent and credible information to gird what I intend to be meaningful action to right the injustice" of the lack minority- and women-owned broadcasters in the U.S., Copps said at an FCC meeting. The FCC approved a proposal to improve data collection about broadcasting entities owned by women and minorities. The FCC voted to expand the number of broadcast entities that must file data to the commission about the...

The catch-all liberal argument of "Shut Up!" perfectly summed up.

The Left is so often keen on science and technology - until they're not. The moment modernity proves them wrong, they demand a return to the Dark Ages. (snip) A part of the ongoing, disingenuous liberal narrative is that the American system is out to get Minorities in every conceivable way. If the butterfly ballot is used and the Left loses, it's a conspiracy against poor people (read: minorities) who can't afford electronic ballot machines. If we upgrade and they lose, it's a mechanical conspiracy of the EEE-VIL corporations to disenfranchise them. The old-school Arbitron on-your-honor diary system was working...

Beginning Monday, we welcome a name and voice familiar to many of you, deliver MORE from your favorite morning team, and say goodbye to a good friend and top-notch talk show host. On Monday, the Grandy and Andy Morning Show will expand to 5 hours! The Grandy and Andy magic starts at 5am and won’t stop until 10am (or slightly earlier if Fred starts to choke on his daily ration of mixed nuts.) Between 5 and 9am, it’s all of the great stuff you’re accustomed to: 20 minutes of news and views commercial free at the top of every hour,...

Beginning Monday morning, the Grandy and Andy Morning Show will expand to 5 hours! The Grandy and Andy magic starts at 5am and won’t stop until 10am (or slightly earlier if Fred starts to choke on his daily ration of mixed nuts.) Between 5 and 9am, it’s all of the great stuff you’re accustomed to: 20 minutes of news and views commercial free at the top of every hour, opinion and analysis, lots o’ laughs, plus traffic and weather first on the 5’s. At 9am, Fred, Andy and Bryan tackle the big story of the day with plenty of your...

Democrat Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia has introduced two senate bills that may severely regulate traffic on the Internet. The Canadian Free Press explains it this way: The White House will have new powers to access private online data, regulate the cyber security industry and even shut down Internet traffic under the provisions of Senate bills No. 773 and 778, introduced by Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.V. It’s called the Cybersecurity Act of 2009. You can see a draft of the legislation here. The Center for Democracy and Technology reviews some of the legislation’s possible effects: The Cybersecurity Act of...

Everywhere it's been tried - liberal, or progressive as it's sometimes described as, talk radio hasn't taken off with the success conservative talk radio has. Case and point - the top six of March 2009 Talkers magazine "Heavy Hundred" talk show hosts are conservative. The top liberal host, Thom Hartmann, come in at number 10. However, liberal talk show host Stephanie Miller appeared on CNN's April 5 "Reliable Sources" and insisted there is more at play than just pure market forces holding the liberal format back. "Well, you know - I just did a panel on the Fairness Doctrine," Miller...

FORUM: Keep listening to Limbaugh By JULIE GILBART -- Murrieta Sunday, April 5, 2009 I applaud Larry Coonradt for listening to Rush Limbaugh's CPAC address (Forum, March 19). My advice, though: Keep listening. Yes, Limbaugh expresses distrust of an authoritarian government ---- as should any citizen who cherishes his liberty. Born to freedom, Americans tend to believe it's the natural order of things, when in fact, as Ronald Reagan observed, "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. ... It must be fought for, protected ...." No one knew this better than the Founding Fathers, about whose writings...

While President Obama's Federal Communications Commission (FCC) prepares to attack conservative talk radio with some version of the Fairness Doctrine, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in open court last week may have thrown a bombshell into those plans. During oral argument in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission, Justice Scalia said, "Do you think that there's a possibility that the First Amendment interest is greater when what the government is trying to stifle is not just a speaker who wants to say something but also a hearer who wants to hear what the speaker has to say?"...

Beginning Monday, we welcome a name and voice familiar to many of you, deliver MORE from your favorite morning team, and say goodbye to a good friend and top-notch talk show host. On Monday, the Grandy and Andy Morning Show will expand to 5 hours! The Grandy and Andy magic starts at 5am and won’t stop until 10am (or slightly earlier if Fred starts to choke on his daily ration of mixed nuts.) Between 5 and 9am, it’s all of the great stuff you’re accustomed to: 20 minutes of news and views commercial free at the top of every hour,...

The newspaper industry is turning upside down. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the Rocky Mountain News, the Baltimore Examiner and the San Francisco Chronicle are among the papers that have ceased daily publication or announced in recent months that they may have to stop publishing. Not long ago, Tribune Co., owner of the Baltimore Sun, filed for bankruptcy. None of this bodes well for our democracy. Our country depends on an open and free press to monitor what happens in our communities so that Americans can make sound judgments about their lives and leaders. Thomas Jefferson, a man who was frequently vilified...