DeMint to Force Vote Next Week on Bill to Stop Fairness Doctrine

demint.senate.gov ^ | February 19, 2009 | Senator Jim DeMint

[Delacon]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina), chairman of the Senate Steering Committee, announced that he will offer the Broadcaster Freedom Act (S.34) as an amendment to the D.C. Voting Rights bill next week. The Broadcaster Freedom Act, introduced by U.S. Senators DeMint and John Thune (R-South Dakota), prevents the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from reinstating the Fairness Doctrine, which would suppress free speech by requiring the government to monitor political views and decide what constitutes fair political discourse.

President Obama stated yesterday that he opposes the fairness doctrine, but Democrats in Congress have disagreed with the administration and announced their support for suppressing free speech on the radio, including: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) and U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan), Charles Schumer (D-New York), Jeff Bingaman (D-New Mexico), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Diane Feinstein (D-California).

“I’m glad President Obama finally confirmed his opposition to the Fairness Doctrine, which attacks the right of free speech on talk radio, but many Democrats in Congress are still pushing it. With the support of the new administration, now is the time for Congress to take a stand against this kind of censorship,” said Senator DeMint. “I intend to seek a vote on this amendment next week so every senator is on record: Do you support free speech or do you want to silence voices you disagree with?”

The Fairness Doctrine was implemented by the FCC in 1949 in an attempt to ensure balanced and fair coverage of controversial subject matter by broadcasters. In 1985, the FCC determined that the Fairness Doctrine was no longer necessary due to the emergence of a “multiplicity of voices in the marketplace.” The FCC was also of the view that the Fairness Doctrine may have violated the First Amendment. In a 1987 case, the courts declared that the doctrine was not mandated by Congress and the FCC did not have to continue to enforce it. Twice, Congress has passed legislation restoring the Fairness Doctrine, but Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush vetoed the bills.

The DeMint-Thune Senate bill, S. 34, has 29 cosponsors including Senators Lamar Alexander (R-Tennessee), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Christopher Bond (R-Missouri), Sam Brownback (R-Kansas), Jim Bunning (R-Kentucky), Richard Burr (R-North Carolina), Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia), Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma), Thad Cochran (R-Mississippi), Bob Corker (R-Tennessee), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) John Ensign (R-Nevada), Michael Enzi (R-Wyoming), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia), Mike Johanns (R-Nebraska), Jon Kyl (R-Arizona), Richard Lugar (R-Indiana), Mel Martinez (R-Florida), Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Pat Roberts (R-Kansas), Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama), David Vitter (R-Louisiana), George Voinovich (R-Ohio), and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi).

The Broadcaster Freedom Act has also been introduced in the House by U.S. Congressmen Mike Pence (R-Indiana), chairman of the House Republican Conference, and Greg Walden (R-Oregon) and the bill currently has 177 cosponsors.  

[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]

Senator DeMint will introduce the Broadcaster Freedom Act tomorrow. Contact your senators and show your support.

[txnativegop]

This is great! We need to get the Democrat congress critters on the record doing their best to destroy the 1st Amendment.

[Sun]

Thank you Senator DeMint!

Now it’s our job to contact our U.S. Senators and congresspersons and tell them to support this!

[tbpiper]

The fundamental mistake that these socialists have made is in assuming that they can just steamroll real Americans without out us doing anything about it. It is a common trait of all our enemies.

[jafojeffsurf]

Thanks for the ping.

First step on this one but a long road to go.

Good News though!

[Dilbert San Diego]

While Rush Limbaugh and others can be bombastic in making their points, they have the right to speak. And just because liberal talk radio has failed to compete, that doesn’t mean that we need to censor people like Rush.

The answer to free speech that Obama and Dems. don’t like is more free speech. If they don’t like what Rush has to say, then let them tell us why liberalism is superior. Let them tell us where Rush is wrong. Let them tell us how liberal solutions to our problems are best. But don’t try to censor someone like Rush because you are afraid what he says will resonate with people.

[Tunehead54]

Monday To Do List Addition bump! ;-)

[Sun]

“We need to get the Democrat congress critters on the record doing their best to destroy the 1st Amendment.”

While many congresscritters supported Rep. Mike Pence’s one-year Broadcast Freedom Act, not even one supported his PERMANENT Broadcast for Freedom Act. They were all afraid of Pelosi. It makes me think that blue dogs Dems are a hoax (or chicken).

[G.Mason]

Bombastic ?

Give me a break! There is nothing pretentious, about Rush Limbaugh, and he is only inflated when he is poking fun at the Left.

As when he did the parody on the magic negro, suggested by (of all things!) another negro.

[combat_boots]

“They were all afraid of Pelosi. It makes me think that blue dogs Dems are a hoax (or chicken).”

Media must have told people that folks would just stop watching. No cable $$ every month.

That wouldn’t help them much. Think of all the unused HGTVs and free time to talk amongst ourselves.

[FlashBack]

Bookmark for action.

[unkus]

Exactly, FRiend. they can’t compete against the truth.

[HollyB]

DeMint is doing great, We’ll soon see who is on board. And if Obama doesn’t agree with the FD, then the proof will be in the pudding, right? This should be interesting. Let’s put them on the defensive for a change. Good move, DeMint.

I wrote my senator about a month ago and received a response saying there is no current legislation regarding the Fairness Doctrine. Of course then there was not, but now there is. Time to follow up.

Knew this was on the list of issues the current admin would want to roll right over us.

[cc2k]

---

“I intend to seek a vote on this amendment next week so every senator is on record: Do you support free speech or do you want to silence voices you disagree with?” — Senator DeMint

---

If Democrats were honorable people, this would be important. But they will all vote against DeMint's forced vote on censorship. Then, within a week, they'll vote for their own censorship bill. Democrats don't care if they are "on the record." They care about advancing their agenda on their schedule.

Look at the "on the record" House votes from a couple weeks back. On February 10, in a roll call vote, the House unanimously agreed not to vote on H.R.1 until the bill was available to members and the public for at least 48 hours. All the Demcrats that cast votes voted to wait 48 hours. And then, later the same week, on February 13, in another roll call vote, all but seven of the same Democrats voted to pass the conference report when it had been available to the public for only about 12 hours.

A roll call vote on this means nothing. They will vote against this when DeMint proposes it, and then, later, they will change their votes and pass this when they want to.

[HollyB]

Good point, but my theory is, if they don’t like what they hear, they are more than able to turn the station off or tune in to something the would like more. That is one of the joys of freedom. No one is forcing anything on them.

[txnativegop]

From my experience in Tx, a lot of the blue dog Dems, are conservative on gun issues and some other issues. However, there are a lot of issues where they are decided left of center. Abortion is one that I can think of.

When push comes to shove on national issues, most of the Blue Dogs will vote with the national party.

[uncommonsense]

bump

[Think free or die]

"Senator DeMint will introduce the Broadcaster Freedom Act tomorrow. Contact your senators and show your support."

Done. I just wish it weren't Senator Specter . . . may as well go howl at the moon. Senator Casey is even worse, but at least he doesn't pretend to be a Republican.

[DGHoodini]

Yes force them to state outright, who have the hearts of darkness, who entertain such fascist thoughts in their evil little fascist minds.