Posted on 06/27/2007 7:32:29 AM PDT by 3AngelaD
Rep. Mike Pence is ready. He’s introduced legislation today to combat the “Fairness” brigade.
Here’s the press release: In remarks to be presented on the floor of the U.S. House today, U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, a former radio talk show host, will discuss a bill he plans to introduce that would prevent reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine:
“The American people love a fair fight, especially where the issues of the day are debated. In a free market, fairness should be determined based upon equal opportunity, not equal results. As some voices are calling for Congress to enforce their idea of ‘fairness’ upon the American people, it would be good for us to proceed with caution whenever some would achieve their ‘fairness’ by limiting the freedom of others.
“Beginning in 1949, the Federal Communications Commission and its precursor developed and enforced the so-called Fairness Doctrine. The Fairness Doctrine required broadcasters to present controversial issues in a fair and balanced manner. However, because of the lack of clarity in the Commission’s ruling, broadcasters opted to offer non-controversial programming in lieu of hours of paperwork or countless legal fees.
“Thankfully, the FCC began to overturn its own ruling on the Fairness Doctrine in 1985. And, following that change in policy by the FCC and President Reagan’s veto of attempts to reinstate it, the results have been dramatic. The lifting of the Fairness Doctrine has opened the public airwaves to free and vigorous discussion of controversial issues by individuals of all political stripes.
“Since the demise of the Fairness Doctrine, talk radio has emerged as a dynamic forum for public debate and an asset to the nation.
“Unfortunately, in the name of fairness, there has been much talk in recent days about the need to level the playing field of radio broadcasting by restoring the Fairness Doctrine.
“A liberal think tank recently condemned what they called the ‘massive imbalance’ on the radio airwaves. “Some elected officials have said that Congress should ‘deal with that problem’ and others are ‘looking at’ bringing back this outright regulation of the American political debate.
“Bringing back the Fairness Doctrine would amount to government control over political views expressed on the public airwaves. It is a dangerous proposal to suggest the government should be in the business of rationing free speech.
“Congress must take action to ensure that this archaic remnant of a bygone era of American radio does not return. There is nothing fair about the Fairness Doctrine.
“During my years in radio and television, I developed a great respect for a free and independent press. Since being in Congress, I have been the recipient of praise and criticism from broadcast media, but it has not changed my fundamental belief that a free and independent press must be vigorously defended by those who love liberty. It is with this in mind that I will introduce the Broadcaster Freedom Act.
“The Broadcaster Freedom Act will prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from prescribing rules, regulations, or policies that will reinstate the requirement that broadcasters present opposing viewpoints in controversial issues of public importance. The Broadcaster Freedom Act will prevent the FCC or any future President from reinstating the Fairness Doctrine. This legislation ensures true freedom and fairness will remain on our radio airwaves, and I would encourage my colleagues to cosponsor and support this bill....
Now if we could only clone Mike Pence and sweep out all the pro-terrorism-via-amnesty RINOs...
Perhaps if the liberal networks practiced some voluntary “fairness”, their ratings wouldn’t be in the toilet.
Liberals can’t compete in the marketplace of ideas, so they have to suppress and censor and crap all over the First Amendment in the name of “fairness”.
God bless, Pence, who truly understands the first amendment!
Pence needs Lugar’s job.
Yes!
Do you or anyone else know, if he has endorsed anyone for POTUS yet?
As an aside, do you notice how our reps are now stepping up more than the senators?
If the left felt that way about “fairness”, they can start with PBS, NPR, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, BBC, Rueters, AP, Pravda, Al Jezera, and all other programs and shows used as propaganda tools for the left.
And herein lies the conflict of visions. Conservatives believe in equal opportunity, ie, the same rules for everyone, and those who play within those rules in the best way, succeeds, others fail. Leftists look at the outcomes - some succeeding, and some failing, and see systemic problems with the rules. The rules must be monkeyed with by elites who know better in order to achieve equal outcomes.
a) Free speech cannot be government regulated and remain free.
b) The media are currently 95% liberal and 5% conservative, and this so-called Fairness Doctrine aims to shut down the 5%. Is that fair? I don’t think so.
“Fairness”, as we all know, will be a one way ratchet to the left.
Time to load up on XM Radio stock and short anyone who owns AM stations that Rush et al are on now. If this goes through, they’ll all take the Howard Stern “banishment” and laugh all the way to the bank. Those knotheads pushing this have no idea that the genie is out of the bottle and there are too many holes in the information dike for them to plug with their fat fingers.
It is outrageous; but am concerned that it has gotten 'this far'; and we now how a fresh harvest of 'head-bobbers' out there.
Appearantly.
Yup. Lugar is a burned-out, tired old loser, who DOESN’T GET IT.
Mike Pence needs to sneak wording into this bill that negates McCain-Feingold and put the dems in a position of voting against freedom of speech if they dare.
We could demand equal "fairness" with respect to other media distribution channels, e.g. "public roads". IOW, require that newspapers, magazines, etc. "level the playing field" because they use "public roads" to distribute their content. Same with broadcast TV news--they too use "public airwaves" to distribute their content.
If an ABC/CBS/CNN/FOX/NBC TV reporter can state their political/personnel opinion why wouldn't they have to also give equal time to an opposing point of view?
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