Silencing conservatives on the airwaves

"Any efforts to silence me are just further proof of how desperate and pathetic liberals have become"

Don't draw the wrong conclusion. Any efforts to silence you are further proof of how strong they are. Why shouldn't freedom's enemies assault freedom?

What their efforts also prove is that, in the main, freedom's stewards have become pathetic by ignoring the desperation they should feel and weak in the struggle to preserve freedom.

Truth too a liberal is always hate speech.

I think, if the Libs bring back the Fairness Doctrine, it should extend to the networks, the newspapers and the weekly rag-mags.

_hg

Don't lower yourself to whining Melanie. Just do what you do and let this run it's course. Don't do Donald v. Rosie.

Threats are for weak people Melanie. Carry on. Thanks for all that you do.

What their efforts also prove is that, in the main, freedom's stewards have become pathetic by ignoring the desperation they should feel and weak in the struggle to preserve freedom.
So, what's your suggestion(s) for winning our struggle to preserve freedom in America?

Don't lower yourself to whining Melanie. Just do what you do and let this run it's course. Don't do Donald v. Rosie.

Mega dittos. In fact, prominent conservatives shouldn't talk about this in public. Fight behind the scenes but don't give the liberals attention. Liberals just want attention, that's all.

bump

(THEY TRIED AGAINST RUSH BEFORE, CAUTION PUKE ALERT) November/December 1994

The "Hush Rush" Hoax:
Limbaugh on the Fairness Doctrine

By Jeff Cohen

"I, Rush Limbaugh, the poster boy of free speech, am being gang muzzled."

The broadcaster was crying censorship (Limbaugh Letter, 10/93) over congressional efforts in 1993 to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine -- which he labeled "The Hush Rush Bill," "The Get Limbaugh Act" and "The Rush Elimination Act of 1993." Limbaugh's daily on-air crusade generated thousands of calls to Washington, and helped derail congressional action. As usual, Limbaugh's followers were mobilized through misinformation and deception.

The Fairness Doctrine -- in operation from 1949 until abolished in 1987 by Ronald Reagan's deregulation-oriented Federal Communications Commission --calls on broadcasters, as a condition of getting their licenses from the FCC, to cover some controversial issues in their community, and to do so by offering some balancing views.

Reinstating the Fairness Doctrine can hardly be a "Hush Rush" plan aimed at silencing him, since it was broadly and actively supported on Capitol Hillwell before anyone in Washington had ever heard of Limbaugh. In 1987 (when he was still the host of a local show in Sacramento), a bill to inscribe the Fairness Doctrine in federal law passed the House by 3 to 1, and the Senate by nearly 2 to 1, but it was vetoed by President Ronald Reagan. Voting for the bill were such "commie-libs" as Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) and Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.).

In 1989 (when Limbaugh was just emerging as a national host), the Fairness Doctrine easily passed the House again, but didn't proceed further as President George Bush threatened to veto it. In 1991, hearings were again held on the doctrine, but interest waned due to Bush's ongoing veto threat. Yet when the same Fairness Doctrine emerged in 1993, with a new president who might sign it, Limbaugh egotistically portrayed it as nothing but a "Hush Rush Law." And his followers believed him.

And they believed him when he claimed the Fairness Doctrine was aimed at censoring conservative talkshow hosts (Limbaugh TV show, 9/17/93): "It's the latest attempt by the United States Congress to legislate against me, and talk radio hosts." Remarked Limbaugh (Limbaugh Letter, 10/93): "Why is 'fairness' so needed now? Because there's too much conservatism out there." In reality, not one doctrine decision issued by the FCC had ever concerned itself with talkshows. Indeed, the talkshow format was born, and flourished, while the doctrine was in operation. Right-wing hosts often dominated the talkshows, even in liberal cities, but none was ever muzzled.

The Fairness Doctrine doesn't require that each program be internally balanced, or mandate "equal time": It would not require that balance in the overall program line-up be anything close to 50/50. It merely prohibits a station from blasting away day after day from one perspective, without any opposing views.

It would not "hush Rush," but it may get stations that offer only a constant diet of Limbaugh and fellow right-wingers to diversify their line-up a bit. Limbaugh was uttering nonsense when he claimed (Limbaugh Letter, 10/93) that to balance his show under the Fairness Doctrine, station owners "will have to go out and get two liberal shows. Or maybe three. Even three might not be enough."

Various citizen groups have used the Fairness Doctrine as a tool to expand speech and debate -- not restrict it. For example, it prevents stations from allowing only one side to be heard on ballot measures. (A study found that the abolition of the doctrine had disastrous effects for democratic debate in 1992 ballot measures.) Over the years, the doctrine has been supported by hundreds of grassroots groups across the political spectrum, including the ACLU, National Rifle Association and the right-wing Accuracy In Media.

"The Fairness Doctrine isn't going to take Rush Limbaugh off the air," remarked Larry King (The Rush Limbaugh Story, Paul Colford). "Be fair: What's wrong with that? If I were Rush, I would want a liberal host following my show."

Limbaugh argued on his TV show (9/17/93) that there should be no government fairness standards on broadcasters, since there are none on the print press: "You can buy a newspaper, and start it all you want, and they wouldn't dare try to do this [establish a Fairness Doctrine]."

He misses the key difference: If you want to compete with Limbaugh's partisan publication in the marketplace of ideas, you can simply start your own publication right next to his. But if you set up your own competing broadcast program right next to a Limbaugh station on the radio dial, without acquiring a government license, you will be prosecuted. Broadcastfrequencies are limited; printing presses are not. That's the legal -- and practical -- underpinning of the Fairness Doctrine.

Melanie, for 11 of those 12 years I listened to you and Lee Rogers at home, in the car, on a portable radio at work, enjoying every moment and understanding that you were working to uphold all that you held dear.

Only stopped listening because I moved into a different time zone and you are missed.

Did you ever finish your murder mystery?

Ms Morgan and three of her fellow KSFO hosts were today on a special three-hour show to highlight the Left's distortions. The leftists were invited to call in. I'd say that there were four callers that could be classified as KSFO critics.

One was Mike Stark. Mr. Stark claimed to have no connections to the defunct Air America. Yet this Nov, 2006 Huffington Post blog states otherwise:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/the-young-turks-on-air-am_b_33019.html

"The Young Turks" on Air America Radio has hired Mike Stark to be a reporter for the show.

The Young Turks apparently was a show that aired weekdays on Air America Radio live from 6 - 9 AM ET. I suppose one could say that technically the connection of Mr. Stark to this show is not the same as a direct connection to Air America but. . .

Stark is the student at the University of Virginia who harassed George Allen during the campaign for senator. Supporters describe him as a renegade reporter and media prankster. He has been very active in the Left's personal attacks on KSFO hosts.

It's widely said on the Net that Mr. Stark is a four-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. Thank you, Mr Stark for your service -- oh, try to get word out to your supporters that Marines should be capitalized.

I am sure Mr. Stark did not learn to fear "threatening" comments in the Marines. He sounded disingenuous to me as he listed those complaints against KSFO hosts.

Mr Stark aspires to be this generation's Dick Tuck, IMO. Dick Tuck was a Democrat trickster who helped cause the demise of President Richard Nixon. I knew (of) Dick Tuck, Dick Tuck never whined about opponents "meanness." You're no Dick Tuck, Mr. Stark.

Broadcastfrequencies are limited; printing presses are not.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

In my city there is plenty of broadcasting room on our AM and FM station dials. The only reason the liberal/Marxist/Collectivist Socialist can't get their message out is that NO ONE wants to listen to their drivel. They can't make a business success of it.

I think, if the Libs bring back the Fairness Doctrine, it should extend to the networks, the newspapers and the weekly rag-mags.

The fairness doctrine should apply to University Tenure boards, School Districts, Newspaper Editors, PBS and NPR empoloyees, etc.... Liberals need to be careful what they ask for.

RE: "whining"

It may be more than "whining."

One of the things opined by the KSFO hosts on today's special three-hour call-in show was that the campaign of attacks on KSFO and sponsors was possibly a "test run."

That is, it could well be an effort to find an effective way of coercing conservative talk radio.

Another thing, the Corporation lawyers did (apparently) force the closure of the blog of one "Spocko" who had been "pleading" with sponsors to stop doing business with KSFO.

The grounds for closing down the site was unauthorized use of copyrighted material; i.e., the few seconds of sound used to convey a false impression.

Other leftists published "Spocko" on their sites, some 350 of them if I remember correctly.

Local Bay Area media (press and TV) have been doing stories virtually verbatin of "Spocko;" nationally the Soros-sponsored site, Media Matters was also active in the "test run."

This cannot be ignored, IMO.

_hg

This cannot be ignored, IMO.

Sure it can. So a bunch of leftist blogs publish whatever "Spocko" is. Ma and Pa American don't surf these sites. It will be about as successful as Air America.

Funny how these idiots never say anything about the filth like Ray Taliaferro and Bernie Ward across the hall at KGO...

Dr. Bill Wattenburg is the only one at KGO 810 AM that really makes the station and he is only on later Friday and Saturday nights...

Other wise, when I was living in the area, KSFO 560 AM was on my dial during the week. Melanie Morgan, Lee Rogers and Officer Vic were my morning sunshine, Jeff Metcalf in the afternoon - - then it was the SAVAGE NATION for the ride home...

He misses the key difference: If you want to compete with Limbaugh's partisan publication in the marketplace of ideas, you can simply start your own publication right next to his. But if you set up your own competing broadcast program right next to a Limbaugh station on the radio dial, without acquiring a government license, you will be prosecuted. Broadcastfrequencies are limited; printing presses are not. That's the legal -- and practical -- underpinning of the Fairness Doctrine.

That is the legal rationale, but it is in contravention of the First Amendment and it is impractical.
The planted axiom in the Fairness Doctrine - and indeed in FCC broadcast licensing - is that the government (in whatever guise, bureaucratic or otherwise) can judge fairness. Read the First Amendment and you will not find any justification for that conceit. The First Amendment expresses the right of the people to speak and print their own opinions, on their own dime, to their hearts' content. That means, as journalists love to say, that journalists are free to tell the truth. It also means that journalists are free to be extremely partisan.
Journalists are free under the First Amendment, but no more so than gun owners are free under the Second Amendment. Indeed, although the First Amendment nowhere stipulates that it is necessary that the Sultzberg family own a printing press, the Second Amendment stipulates that a militia is "necessary" and that gun ownership is protected for that reason. So newspapers are free but they must fend for themselves economically. No newspaper is inherently in the public interest.
Yet the planted axiom of the Fairness Doctrine is that journalism is objective and is in the public interest. That could not be proved even if it were true - you can't prove a negative of lack of bias - but even worse, it is provably false. Bad news for the public is good for the journalism business. If it bleeds, it leads. That is the economic interest of journalism, and it interests the public - but that is not identical to the public interest. News that terrifies you, interests you without at all being in your interest.
Once recognize that journalism's interest is not the public interest, and the conceit that journalism is objective collapses of its own arrogance. The government has no legitimate authority to judge between The New York Times - or any broadcaster who parrots it - and Rush Limbaugh or Al Franken or anyone else. The conceit that the Fairness Doctrine is constitutional is absurd from a First Amendment perspective.
Why Broadcast Journalism is
Unnecessary and Illegitimate

Well my fellow Americans you can bet you ass that if a socialist dimocrat gets the White House and the commies hold the Peoples Lefty Congress, THEY WILL GO AFTER TALK RADIO. Their main aim will be to shut up Rush and all conservative talk shows. You can count on it. Bet your last dollar on it. Because IT IS THE LAST line of truth we have. If we lose talk radio, we lose the war. That simple.

There's always some leftist who wants to stifle speech he or she doesn't agree with. You have to constantly be on guard.