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The “Fairness Doctrine” is The Censorship Doctrine

Media Research Center's Free Speech Alliance is a fast-growing coalition of organizations and individuals, who, like you, cherish free speech and who have proactively joined to ensure the misnamed “Fairness Doctrine” never returns to silence the conservative voice in America.

First enacted by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) in 1949, the Fairness Doctrine required radio stations give equal time to all sides on political issues. However, the result wasn’t equal time, it was zero time – as stations simply avoided topics that would fall under FCC equal time rules.

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan rescinded the Fairness Doctrine and since then, talk radio has flourished. Conservatives dominate it, and liberals can’t stand it. By re-instating the Fairness Doctrine, liberals would effectively silence the conservative leaders of the day including Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Laura Ingraham and others, and would essentially take control of all forms of media.

In recent months, the groundswell for reinstatement is intensifying. In fact, a growing number of liberal leaders in Washington, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, have openly stated their intent to do so.

As Americans, we cannot sit idly by while this gag order on conservative speech is resuscitated. The time to act is now—so when the time comes, we are mobilized and prepared to defend our Free Speech Rights.



Join the hundreds of thousands of citizens taking action now through MRC’s Free Speech Alliance, and our national petition opposing the re-instatement of the Fairness Doctrine. Media Research Center’s Free Speech Alliance goal is to mobilize 500,000 citizens to forever end the threat of the Fairness Doctrine and other attacks on Free Speech. Click on this link.
http://www.mrcaction.org/517/petition.asp?PID=18645182
 
Freepmail me if you want to join my fairness doctrine ping list.

1 posted on 01/28/2009 2:14:06 PM PST by Delacon
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To: Delacon

I didn’t think Bam Bam would jump on this right away. He has to be stopped.


2 posted on 01/28/2009 2:18:48 PM PST by brooklyn dave
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To: Delacon
Unfortunately, your last link doesn’t work.
3 posted on 01/28/2009 2:19:16 PM PST by Rocko (America First -- 0bama Last)
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To: xcamel; steelyourfaith; neverdem; free_life; LibertyRocks; MNReaganite; ...

There was a saying that politics stops at the water’s edge meaning that the US should present a united front in the world arena. Well we all know that ship has sailed. Now the opposite is happening. Certain politicians are joining other countries and foreign organizations as a united front in attacking the US constitution and its institutions. Obama may surf a tidal wave of european born threats to our freedoms onto our own shores. My apologies for the tortured metaphores.


4 posted on 01/28/2009 2:22:40 PM PST by Delacon ("The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule." H. L. Mencken)
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To: Delacon; abb

The Fairness Doctrine would only apply to public broadcast spectrum. Right?

In other words, satellite radio, cable TV, and so forth would not be subject to it. Only AM, FM, UHF and VHF TV. Correct?

Not that I’m in favor of it (which I’m definitely not), nor do I think it’s “harmless” (I think it’s VERY harmful).

However... the blowback from a reinstituted fairness doctrine might just be the accelerated death of the broadcast media, and an explosive new subscriber rate to e.g. satellite radio.

That might be kinda cool.


5 posted on 01/28/2009 2:23:08 PM PST by Nervous Tick (Party? I don't have one anymore.)
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To: Delacon
The new president seems to want to make sure that as few people listen to Rush Limbaugh as possible.

And has most likely increased Rush's listenership in the process.

7 posted on 01/28/2009 2:24:48 PM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: Delacon

8 posted on 01/28/2009 2:26:16 PM PST by America2012
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To: Delacon
the knife cuts both ways. NPR and the other LIB rats would all start complaining when and if this takes effect. They are going after the select few with buckshot and the collateral damage is going to be horrendous.
9 posted on 01/28/2009 2:34:22 PM PST by IllumiNaughtyByNature (If the Average nObama Voter is Antyhing Like Peggy Joseph, The Next 4 Years Will Be A Hoot!!!!)
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To: Delacon

The lefties already have the MSM, PBS, NPR, etc. that are their propoganda machine. Of course, they deny that they are liberal media, but sponsors of talk radio know the audience of the conservative shows ARE wage-earners and buyers of goods and services. Unlike Lefties, who have to be funded by TAXPAYERS because their voterbase ain’t got two nickels to rub together, and is dependent on handouts for their survival.


18 posted on 01/28/2009 2:54:19 PM PST by traditional1 ("The American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of personal discovery")
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To: Delacon; knighthawk

People here are starting to figure out that the Wilders persecution does not just affect the Dutch.


21 posted on 01/28/2009 3:03:58 PM PST by facedown (Armed in the Heartland)
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To: Delacon
As I have been saying, Rush needs to be careful.

His biggest asset is his brain, his greatest flaw is his ego. I suspect that the plan is to insult his ego enough that Rush reacts in a way that will take him down. It has happened before, but I hope that Rush has learned how to control himself.

22 posted on 01/28/2009 3:05:03 PM PST by redgolum ("God is dead" -- Nietzsche. "Nietzsche is dead" -- God.)
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To: Delacon
There's an old story that goes like this:

Two men are talking about "rights" and the Constitution.

The first man askes the second man, "Do you believe in the First Amendment right to free speech?"

The second man replies, "Absolutely!"

The first man then asks, "Do you believe in the Second Amendment right to carry arms?"

The second man says, "No, I don't believe people should own guns."

The first man then says, "Then shut the heck up!"

-PJ

26 posted on 01/28/2009 3:09:05 PM PST by Political Junkie Too (You can never overestimate the Democrats' ability to overplay their hand.)
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To: Delacon
F-0!!!
33 posted on 01/28/2009 3:38:23 PM PST by Chode (American Hedonist -)
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