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....
From what I heard on Hannity last night, apparently they are only going to apply it to commercial talk radio. Imagine the pants-wetting that would occur at NpR if they enforced it across the board.
The battle lines have been drawn - the people as represented by the House vs. the President and the Senate.
DING DING DING...we have a winner for post of the year!
As Rush always says, “The Constitution guarantees youthe right to speak, not the right to be heard.”
Getting out in front of this issue may be the best way to combat it.
While that does not surprise me in the least, I do not see how they can possibly do that on a variety of different gorunds.
Pence is a good man! This is not the first time, by a long shot, he has stood up for what is right. A real Conservtive.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1857081/posts
If the liberals are so in love with it applying to radio, it would seem to me that we could demand that ABCNBCCBSMSNBCCNN be required to air a conservative viewpoint along with their usual liberal tripe.
Like everything else the libs say and do, it applies to everyone else.
They are exempt.
The Senate holds no allegiance to anyone but the Senate, per the 17th amendment. Sure, they are popularly elected, but that’s the sole connection they have to a representative republic.
That is exactly what I pointed out.
this guy used to be a radio host in south central Indiana (still guest-hosts) everyonce-in-a-while!
I call him he next Ronald Reagan (though noone could really replace “the great communicator”).
I say since the Senate has been unresponsive to the public during this immigration debate; really shows behind the scenes they never were, they were always beholden to wall-street first. Something the “Progressive” seventeenth Amendment was supposed to “fix”: I say we ‘Repay’ the favor, and “Repeal” the 17th..That would really show ‘em!
This is even worse than that great Whore of Babylon, McCain-Feingold. Absolutely disgusting. If this passes, the left are our dictators.
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