[Delacon]

 

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

[FlingWingFlyer]

I wonder if it’s time for the GOP to draft a “fairness doctrine” for our schools, colleges and universities. That would work for me.

[JimSEA]

After I get off the radio today with you, Rush Limbaugh will have three hours to say whatever he wants --

A lot of would be despots have had this same reaction to public criticism. Successful tyrants have followed the models of Mao and Stalin. Putin is happily going on his merry way assassinating his verbal opponents and the respectable, honest press. We have precious little of that kind of press here. However if things are done the "Chicago Way". Rush could end up like Putin's opponents.

No, I don't think I am being hysterical or engaged in fear mongering. I wasn't at all optimistic about this administration but it is turning out much worse than even my gloomy expectations.

[feedback doctor]

Bttt

[pawdoggie]

The Fairness Doctrine is a red herring being used by two different groups: 1. Radio talk show hosts (to boost their ratings); 2. Democrats to send radio talk show hosts and their listeners off on a different tangent so that they’ll have less time to devote to the other failings of the Obama Administration.

[blueplum]

watch out Rush - the last time Clinton declared someone the ‘most dangerous broadcaster in america’ that person and his dog were erased.

[hyperconservative]

Thanks for the ping.
It’s possible that in addition to trying to suppress Rush and Mark and others, the socialist-commie-facsist-mutant pigs(AKA the demonrats)are trying to depress us, as in demoralize us.
Because they won the election and perhaps they believe that winning an election is the same as winning the war for operational control of the United States of America.
Just a hypothesis.