Posted on 11/05/2007 8:30:49 AM PST by Trueblackman
New Cable TV Vouchers Ban FOX News
Democrats' hard-fought battle to provide cable television to welfare recipients hit another snag yesterday when Republicans found a newly inserted provision that specifically excludes FOX News Channel from programming options. "This clause was not in this bill last week," said Rep. Jim Clements (R-CO) "I don't know whether someone thought they could slip this by us, or what, but this is getting to be a bit much." The affected bill, a 3.5 billion dollar spending measure that proponents say is necessary to educate potential voters before the 2008 elections, has met with great resistance from conservative legislators on both sides of the aisle who portray it as just one more unnecessary entitlement tacked onto an already over-burdoned welfare system. "The Federal Government is not obliged to provide people the ability to watch Sponge Bob Square Pants." Said Rep. Mitch Weyland (R-NM), "This whole idea was bad from the beginning... it's a waste of taxpayer dollars." "Contrary to what my friend from New Mexico thinks, this is not about entertainment. It's about education.," said Warren Billingsley, Democrat from Buffalo, New York, and co-sponsor of the 'Voter Education and Inclusion Act.' Billingsley claims that without cable television, an irreplaceable source of political info and events, millions of voters nationwide will be disenfranchised from the process. "We need to move beyond this notion that only the very rich should have access to the political process," he said. "We want the American people, all of the American people, to have the proper information before heading to the polls in 2008." Asked why language was inserted to specifically bar FOX News Channel from programming, he replied, "FOX News isn't a source of proper information."
True. We've been without one for 30 years. Relying on radio and print media makes us better informed voters, not the other way round. Short infotainment news clips really don't carry the depth to be real news.
Another warning shot across the bow. Here’s what the Democrats REALLY want to accomplish:
Fox News to get in line with the rest of the mainstream media.
Unfortunately, there are plenty of liberals at Fox News (especially behind the scenes) who probably agree with the Dims.
I'd rather my $3.5 billion be sent to public libraries, if their intent is education. People can survive without television. If they want news, current events, and general knowledge, the library is a better place.
You dirty.....
Well played.
Not only does the bill provide for Free Cable for every welfare household but also a Sony 96 inch Plasma TV.
Truth be told we have been paying for cable to the poor, since 1994. I bet many of you here did not know that!
In some states it is required by law to have cable TV for prisoners. Cable for welfare recipients just expands the practice.
It is Satire and the truth is we have been paying for cable to the poor for 14 years now. Clinton and the Dems slipped that one past us in 1994.
There's good votes to be had there!
Yes here in DC all the public housing units are wired for basic cable and have been since 1994.
voters nationwide will be disenfranchised...WHY is that word used to mean un-brainwashed. Every time an issue with voting comes up, somebody is disenfrenchfried. I’m sick of it.
President Bush will sign the bill.
Remember when Clinton/Gore were promoting internet for all back in 1994 and the American Public brought into it?
Another one for the legacy, even if the story is satire.
Problem is, it could so easily be true!
You hiding in my backyard? LOLOLOL You nailed it!
Actually, if you read the bill it says that households that do not own a TV will be provided with a Sony 96 inch Plasm TV.
More Pravda and Al Jeezera!
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