Harkin: Bring Back the Fairness Doctrine

Newsmax ^ | February 11, 2009

[Delacon]

U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, is pushing for return of the Fairness Doctrine even as some of his Democratic colleagues are quietly backing off the idea.

Originally instituted in 1949 by the FCC, the Fairness Doctrine required broadcasters over the public airwaves to give equal time to opposing political views.

[Delacon]

Gosh, Bill Press has been busy. I guess getting kicked off a DC market station(not invited to all the DC cocktail parties so much) due to low ratings makes one want everyone else to have no ratings. If you can't succeed, then nobody gets to try to succeed. Press knows he can't succeed so he wants to make sure everyone fails(Rush etc). You've heard the phrase "taking you bat and ball and going home." Press wants to take the field home.

 

PETITION TO BLOCK CONGRESSIONAL
ATTACKS ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND PRESS

To: U.S. Congress, President of the United States, Supreme Court of the United States

Whereas, the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution clearly states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances";

Whereas, members of Congress are recently on record saying they want to re-impose the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" on U.S. broadcasters, or else accomplish the same goal of censoring talk radio by other means, and thereby establish government and quasi-government watchdogs as the arbiters of "fairness" rather than the free and open marketplace of ideas;

Whereas, the U.S. experimented with the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" for 38 years - from 1949 through 1987 - during which time it was repeatedly used by presidents and other political leaders to muzzle dissent and criticism;

Whereas, the abandonment of the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" in 1987, thanks to President Ronald Reagan, resulted in an unprecedented explosion of new and diverse voices and political speech - starting with Rush Limbaugh - that revitalized the AM radio band and provided Americans with a multitude of alternative viewpoints;

Whereas, talk radio is one of the most crucial components of the free press in America, and is single-handedly responsible for informing tens of millions of Americans about what their government leaders are doing;

Whereas, it is a wholly un-American idea that government should be the watchdog of the press and a policeman of speech, as opposed to the uniquely American ideal of a free people and a free press being the vigilant watchdogs of government;

Whereas, the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" - either under that name, or using a new name and even more devious methods - represents a frontal assault on the First Amendment, and its re-imposition would constitute nothing more nor less than the crippling of America's robust, unfettered, free press:

 

                                SIGN THE PETITION at http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=87882

 

Freepmail me if you want to join my fairness doctrine ping list.

[Delacon]

ping

[Cindy]

RECAP:

ONE NEWS NOW.com (AP): "CHRISTIAN BROADCASTERS SEE THREAT OF CENSORSHIP" (February 9, 2009, 8:40 am) (Read More...)

HUMAN EVENTS.com: "TARGETING RELIGIOUS BROADCASTERS" by Rowan Scarborough (February 6, 2009) (Read More...)

[Diogenesis]

Will FReepers control 50% of the New York Times and NBC
and CBS and PBS and CNN and ABC?

That would be fair.

[pbear8]

Call it what it is - The Censorship Doctrine.

[Diogenesis]

America, February, 2009

Censorship of Opposing Views is a Fairness Doctrine
Four Score Missing Nuclear Weapons Computers is Security
A Two-tiered Tax System is Fair
Extra Healthcare for US Officials and their families is Equality
Eliminating US Military Capacity is Increasing Strength
Freed, Armed Terrorists Make for Improved American Safety
Censorship for US Officials at their Whim is Transparency
War is Peace (*)
Freedom is Slavery (*)
Ignorance is Strength (*)

[ * from 1984, Orwell; rest instituted by President Obama ]

[Delacon]

I am a conservative. I have been opposed to many libertarian positions as not being politically realistic or viable. I stand by that. However, I honestly wish that there will be an electable libertarian to correct the coming Obama years. Lord knows no republican is up to the task.

[aShepard]

Hey! Should be no problem!

As Zer0 is on all the media shows almost incessantly, maybe more conservative opiniona should be able to bloom, under a fair hourly coverage for differing opinions.

Based on the saliva that the MSM lavishes on Zer0, Pelousy, Dirty Harry, Schmuckie, and all the other RATS, the MSM has a long way to go to get an even representation by more conservative viewpoints!

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Time to unleash the hounds on Harkin, the way they were unleashed on Backstabenow (peacefully, via phones and emails).

[pbear8]

Work makes you free.

[businessprofessor]

Call it what it is - The Censorship Doctrine.

The rats have changed tactics a little. They know that the old fairness doctrine is a loser possibly in the courts and probably with the voters and the viability of talk radio.

The rats have morphed their plan from censorship to confiscation. They are prepared to force owners of radio stations to dedicate more stations to leftist talk. In essence, the left wants successful conservative talk radio to subsidize unsucessful lefty talk. The rats may let the FCC take the lead or they may pass legislation requiring oversight of content by local boards. The rats are prepared to make an offer to radio station owners that they cannot refuse. I am not sure how station owners will react. This confiscation doctrine is a hidden tax on the owners. I would not doubt that the rats will provide some subsidies so that the owners do not scream too loudly. We will be left with fewer conservative talk radio programs and much more government control over private radio programming.

[BallyBill]

Of course, the Democrats will probably lock the Republicans out of any meetings on the “Fairness” Doctrine. They don't understand irony.

[A Strict Constructionist]

“I have been opposed to many libertarian positions as not being politically realistic or viable.”

The same can be said about many conservative positions. I think the key is to work together on those that are common and ignore the extreme ones from both sides. I know many will scream certain arguments ad nauseum but they don’t matter much when your walking to the gallows and the hangman is ignoring you. Too many people believe that they have the moral high ground and I agree in most instances but when you start pushing your moral values you have to realize there is a fine line between preaching and judging and we all know what the Bible says about judging. Judging instead of preaching doesn’t win elections...and as we see the other side is trying to kill our country. Let’s not let Satan win because some want to play God.

[angelcindy]

Why harkin??? are you afraid of conservative talk radio letting the country know how the democrats are??

Is this for all the liberal newspapers and tv??
If I wanted to hear what the liberals had to say I would listen to a liberal radio talk show...oh wait there isin’t any!!!!!
no one wants to listen to the liberal lies!!!!

[RoadKingSE]

Maybe the Fairness Doctrine will allow some energetic truth teller to let all your constituents know how you've lied about serving in Viet Nam, Harkin, you lying sack of shi+!

And don't even get me started on your little journey to worship at the feet of Daniel Ortega in El Salvador you commie bastard. Fairness my @$$.

[CaptRon]

I'll be in favor of the Fairness Doctrine as soon as Tom Harkin signs onto the Truth Doctrine.

Not happening. He's genetically incapable. Love to have a beer with this a-hole.

[LegalEagle61]

Harkin: F!@# off!!!!

The Fairness Doctrine is yet another socialist type thing in an attempt to control what the American people hear. Like North Korea, I bet Obama would love that---after socialism why not communism?

[oneamericanvoice]

Guess we better keep the phone & congressional contact list handy for the next four years! Melt away!

[PizzaDriver]

“Call it what it is - The Censorship Doctrine”

You almost called it, but not quit. It is an Indoctrination Doctrine.

[cydcharisse]

I e-mailed the fascist creep. Lot of good it’ll do, but I feel a little better.