Posted on 05/16/2009 7:08:17 AM PDT by Delacon
Corporations
Yesterday, the Federal Communications Commission’s “Diversity Committee,” chaired by Fairness Doctrine proponent Henry Rivera, made it clear that they were going force the President’s supporters into positions of power within the broadcast industry.
FCC Chairman Michael Copps forcefully denounced the current racial and gender make-up of the broadcast industry and called its lack of diversity “a shameful state of affairs.” Copps then asked the Committee: “Is it any wonder that minorities are so often stereotyped and caricatured and that the positive contributions of the minority community are so often overlooked?”
Copps told Committee members, many of whom represent left-leaning activist groups such as the National Urban League, the Asian American Justice Center and One World Economy: “Be bold. Take these issues and run with them. This is not a ceremonial appointment. This is your chance to make a real and lasting difference. I hope that you will set an aggressive agenda for yourselves and that you will not hesitate to propose aggressive solutions.”
Many in the broadcast industry fear the Committee will do just that, and work to shut down conservative talk radio in the name of “diversity.”
Before handing the microphone to Diversity Committee Chairman Henry Rivera (who, as an FCC Commissioner during the Reagan administration worked to preserve the so-called “Fairness Doctrine”), Copps had strong words for the many who fear the Committee will resurrect Fairness Doctrine-type discrimination and censorship, saying such people are attempting to “deflect this country’s passage to equal opportunity” and their “issue-mongering has no place in twenty-first century America.”
At no time was any mention made of a recent Zogby poll that shows 66% of American voters opposed the creation of advisory committees designed to promote diversity in the broadcast industry.
When it was Rivera’s turn to speak to the Committee, he issued an ominous warning to his fellow colleagues, reminding them: “The public is here and the press is here so you might want to keep that in mind as you formulate your thoughts.” (In other words: Watch what you say and do in public.) So much for the Obama administration’s pledge for open and accountable government.
Rivera’s warning was especially ill-timed, as it came prior to a talk on full disclosure requirements, delivered by FCC Office of General Counsel representative Paula Silberthau, advising Committee members that any communication between them and the FCC regarding rulemaking or legislation must be documented and filed, as required by the “sunshine” requirements of Federal Advisory Committee Act.
At no time did Copps or Rivera explain the process of how members of the committee were selected, or why conservative groups were not represented on the Committee. The O’Leary Report has requested copies of any emails, letter, or phone conversations between Copps and Rivera over the push to force American broadcast corporations to hire more minority employees.
Rivera said that the Diversity Committee would begin making recommendations to the FCC on how to implement a “full file review” of broadcasters, which would require broadcasters to submit reports that include details such as race and gender make-up of their companies. According to the committee, broadcasters will begin submitting race and gender data to broadcasters this November, and then every two years after that.
The Diversity Committee and the FCC would then analyze this data, and according to Rivera, if it is apparent that a “race-neutral” policy approach is not working, “the commission could move into a race-based rulemaking procedure.” In other words, the FCC would establish a quota system for broadcast licensees.
In his bestselling book, “Shut Up, America! The End of Free Speech,” author Brad O’Leary warns that the FCC may look to shorten the broadcast license renewal period from 8 years to 2 years, thus forcing broadcasters to comply with diversity mandates immediately, or jeopardize their license.
This won’t work. Period.
Even if they manage to get all the radio station stuffed with Leftists, and Rush etc. forced off the AM/FM dial.
Satellite radio will enjoy a boom in business like it’s never experienced.
Conservatism is the natural state of a free person, and they are trying to force Leftism, which is the unnatural, on everyone. Just like a kid trying to lie on a ballon, conservatism is going to pop up somewhere else.
“On TV programs and movies, how often do you see a judge, scientist, computer expert, or police chief who isn’t black?”
...yep....and many times it’s the “wise” negro authority figure who schools Whitey with wisdom....too bad the negro race can’t educate themselves in our public school system.
Tired of all these white people prejudicing all of the minorities...
I recall a midterm in a senior cell biology class where the spread of grades was 87 to 92 in a room of 300 students. There were 2 grades of 62 and 65 from some "non-contiguous" minor students in the class. By that point in the academic experience, the folks who weren't going to finish had been culled. In general, I also enjoyed being the "curve wrecker" along with two of my friends. We drilled each other mercilessly prior to a test. The game was to anticipate every question that would appear on the test. In general, we left an exam with nearly perfect scores.
Returning to the topic, the channel selector and power switch are the tools available to the consumer. If the channel selector doesn't yield a satisfactory result, the power switch certain will. Fallback to a disk full of my favorite music is always an option. Forcing politically correct crap in place of programming that the public wants will result in a re-run of the "Air America" experience. The stations will die for lack of an audience.
In spite of the "minority" status, they will continue a high level of performance. It will still be "unfair" when that performance yields promotions over those in the "majority" who still aren't performing. The press will bring out the same story each year about the "achievement gap". They will just update the dates and locations. The content of the story never changes. The plea for more money to "fix" the problem comes every year. The money is allocated and the "gap" remains.
bttt
“The content of the story never changes”; quite correct, which is why I’ve slowly come to the conclusion that in many respects U.S. society is a load of BS.
There is no reason why we should be impressed when an Obama appointee whines that "it isn't fair" if he isn't allowed to steer FCC licenses to Democrats.
Followed in 6 months with announcements of another format change when the liberal content leaves the station devoid of listeners and advertising revenue.
This is the same dog and pony show the left uses to take over every business and every and every private and government institution in the US. Race baitng and then all of a sudden everything is liberal/socialist.
It is boring and unconstitutional. It cancels out freedom of association so that thought and expression can be controlled in the name of race.
This has nothing to do with race; it has to do with speach and thought control. I am so tired of it. I should think, legally, they would have to prove there is a need for government racial intervention - a pattern of racial discrimination for it’s own purpose. In this case conservative talk radio it is a service being employed for customers who buy it because it is unique in the market place of media.
Talkers should be quick to employ legal representation and kick FCC’s communist, thought and speach control ass on this. It is not race these pigs are worried about. It is the ideas expressed on talk radio they want stopped because they want total control over what is read and heard by the American people.
I totally agree.
I’m tight as bark on a tree and won’t pay for anything free, but I will make an exception for this.
PING!!
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