Posted on 07/02/2007 10:14:37 PM PDT by goldstategop
Today I would like to discuss the proposed reintroduction of the Fairness Doctrine in a way no one else has.
First let me say there is another name for government regulating political speech to determine what is fit and proper and ensuring all sides of an issue are heard. It's called censorship. And it is not only anathema to all we hold dear in America, it is unconstitutional, totally at odds with the First Amendment and the founders' idea that there should be no bounds on political speech.
Yet, there is a more practical objection to re-instituting the Fairness Doctrine in our increasingly morally relativistic culture.
Taken to its logical extreme, a radio talk-show host who condemns al-Qaida for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America would have the responsibility to balance those views with others. For instance, there could be demands from the following:
* Those who believe 9-11 was actually a giant U.S. government conspiracy;
* Those who believe al-Qaida's actions were justified because of U.S. meddling in the Muslim world;
* Al-Qaida itself.
Now, you may view this idea as preposterous. No one would take these demands seriously, you might say.
But why not?
If "fairness" means "balance," then these demands should be taken just as seriously as those of Democrats who think they have been slighted by Rush Limbaugh or Republicans who think they have been given the shaft by Air America.
In other words, the Fairness Doctrine enforcement bureaucracy could never consider "truth" in the equation. It could never consider who is "right" or "wrong." It could only consider whether someone using the public airwaves did not present all sides of a story.
The proposition is so ludicrous on its face it is amazing to me that anyone living outside a mental institution or a working anywhere but on a university campus could seriously suggest it.
Never before in history has there been so much information available to people. Everybody's got an opinion and a blog and a podcast of their own. Why on earth would politicians choose this time and this place for such a draconian, Stalinist, evil proposal?
I'll tell you why.
You just witnessed the reason.
The people spoke loud and clear on the issue of immigration. Their opinions were galvanized by talk radio. Their activism was boosted and channeled by talk radio. Their victory in the U.S. Senate was made possible by talk radio.
Now it's retribution time. The political and cultural elite don't like it when they don't get their way – when the riff-raff like you and me mess things up.
So they are coming after talk radio.
This is going to be one of the biggest showdowns in the history of American politics.
Already, Sens. John Kerry, Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer have spoken out in favor of bringing back the Fairness Doctrine. Kerry even went so far as to call for bringing back the equal-time provisions, which would mandate not just "fairness" in broadcasts but actual minute-for-minute, second-by-second measurements of what is said on the public airwaves.
As we approach Independence Day, it's a good time to consider just how hopelessly un-American these people and their ideas are.
The Fairness Doctrine is the antithesis of freedom. It is meant to stifle free, open and lively exchanges of opinion. It is designed to control the flow of information. It is worthy only of a totalitarian society, not the birthplace of self-government and the free press.
Kerry and company can put as much lipstick on this pig as they like, but there's still no disguising this oinker. They are showing their true colors this Independence Day – and they are not red, white and blue.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Great column by Joseph Farah and why anyone who cherishes freedom doesn’t understand this is beyond me.
The Farah examples are not the the way to go — Liberals would live for those conspiracy theories to be broadly spread.
There’s a loophole in the un-Fairness Doctrine: Who defines what is “Talk Radio”?
Political talk radio, like music, spanish-radio and religious radio shows include the following:
Talk Ads Music Humor
Rush, and the others, play bumper music, music parodies, patriotic music and (some) advertisements that can be perceived as leaning a certain way. But so does music radio!
Have any of you heard morning and afternoon drive-time music station programming? They frequently bring up political topics and almost without exception they put down the right with no depth to the conversation. Isn’t this political opinion on the radio?
What about spanish-language shows? They are usually waaaay left. Will someone monitor them too and have a right-winger on for balance? I doubt that the left will want to subject music stations, which outnumber the political shows by at least 10-to-1 in virtually every major market, to such scrutiny. Can you imagine them “judgin’” any Spanish-language radio and R&B shows for their content? No. Will athiests have equal time on religious shows. What about late-night sex talk shows. Can celibate have equal time?
We need to really challenge what is “talk radio” to put this to rest once and for all.
The Sneakster
Time to rehash DiFi’s crooked biz deals she voted on and Kerry-Kohn’s garbage again
Stir in Ted Kennedy and ex-SIL of Hillary Boxer
That’s what I really like about the Rats....they just keep on giving us a club that we can beat them over the head with.
Free Speech is not an issue of debate. It is an issue of gauge or caliber.
Never before in history has there been so much information available to people. Everybody's got an opinion and a blog and a podcast of their own. Why on earth would politicians choose this time and this place for such a draconian, Stalinist, evil proposal?I'll tell you why.
You just witnessed the reason.
The people spoke loud and clear on the issue of immigration.....
And our Washington crapweasels are wetting their pants...
They better start looking for new jobs.
Stir in Ted Kennedy and ex-SIL of Hillary Boxer"
That sounds good to me!
Of course, that's just the tip of the iceberg.
There's more where that came from...
Bump THAT!
.
Hit ‘em hard and ruthless with their true history & scam businesses now
DiFi & Reid & Pelosi & Murtha are panicked they will be nailed on their crooked deals they vote on and for that conflict with their elected positions in Congress
They want talk radio, the internet, evem emails controlled by themselves alone
A fatal and foolish calculation on their part according to Th. Jefferson
Strangely we’ve never made anything on DiFi, but she isn’t big news that often.
one more bump!
bttt!
Add one more bump! ;o)
Hope you had a Happy 4th, dixiechick!
(another little bump : )
I had a GREAT Independence Day!
I hope you had the same.
‘Nother li’l ole bump backatcha!
;o)
My “independence day” was yesterday officially. The county here does it the day before (don’t ask me....). But good thing as yesterday was beautiful, and today rained ALL day..with tornado watch at the end, lol. And, forecast of yet more rain tomorrow...yippee! : )
“The county here does it the day before...”
Apparently, they are psychic. ;o)
I hope you aren’t getting the same amounts of rain that Texas is getting.
If you are, you have my sincere sympathies.
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