Posted on 11/10/2008 12:41:39 PM PST by Publius804
Obama Appoints Fairness Doctrine Backer
Monday, November 10, 2008 10:41 AM
By: Jim Meyers
President-elect Barack Obama has designated former Federal Communications Commissioner Henry Rivera to head the team that will select the next FCC chairman — an Obama move that bodes poorly for conservative talk radio.
That’s because Rivera is widely believed to support the reinstitution of the so-called Fairness Doctrine.
Originally instituted in 1949 by the FCC, the Fairness Doctrine required broadcasters over the public airwaves to give equal time to opposing political views.
Since talk radio is overwhelmingly dominated by conservative hosts, and liberal talk radio draws few listeners, the “equal time” provision would likely force many radio stations to pull popular conservative hosts from the air rather than air low-rated liberal hosts.
Rivera served on the five-member FCC from 1981 to 1985 under Republican chairman Mark Fowler. His departure paved the way for the Fairness Doctrine’s repeal when President Ronald Reagan replace him with an opponent of the doctrine, Brian Maloney disclosed on his Web site The Radio Equalizer
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
For what it’s worth............
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/obama-and-the-fairness-doctrine/
In June of this year a spokesman for Barack Obama had this to say about reimposing the “Fairness Doctrine”:
“Sen. Obama does not support reimposing the Fairness Doctrine on broadcasters. He considers this debate to be a distraction from the conversation we should be having about opening up the airwaves and modern communications to as many diverse viewpoints as possible. That is why Sen. Obama supports media-ownership caps, network neutrality, public broadcasting, as well as increasing minority ownership of broadcasting and print outlets.”
Of course they will call it something else, media diversity doctrine or some such crap.
Why would they bother? We’ll never win another election once they pass the McAmnesty bill and they know it, they should let us have our pacifier while they take the rest.
ping
Silence the opposition - SOP of all dictators.........even "messiahs."
Silence the opposition - SOP of all dictators.........even "messiahs."
Here’s a terrible secret, and I hope he’s lurking:
Rush doesn’t care.
He’s made his pile, and he’s not going to hurt for the rest of his life. He could stop working tomorrow, and never suffer.
Operation Chaos simply drove up his ratings.
great idea.
And yes, by all means, let’s begin with network news and NPR.
The conservative base is at a low ebb right now and it behooves the O man to keep them there as long as possible. The Fairness doctrine is red flag for us and the Congressmen that stood up against the 700 billion dollar giveaway.
A certain talk radio station in Virginia that runs Rush, Neal, and Sean wanted to sign up specific programming from Air America shortly after they signed on. AA replied that it was an “all or nothing” package, which would have occupied the entire broadcast day.
AA slit its own throat in order to create a false impression of low interest from stations. I believe they were angling for this the whole time.
“Heard on Cavuto that the FCC chair merely has to vote with the other appointees to re-start the fairness doctrine and that it is a regulation and requires no legislative action.
And that Rivera is a self-proclaimed whining marxist.
Any fellow freeper know more on this?”
That about cover it. Regulations and the agencies that spew the will be the hammer and sickle in the hands of our shiny new socialist government, crushing and mowing our liberties.
Will this require a balance of commentators that will or will not have a tingle down their legs, or will this require ALL commentators to have a tingle down the leg? I think it is time to get a Sirius or XM radio - will Rush, Hannity, and others follow Howard Stern and do the same? YES WE CAN!
RE “the “equal time” provision “
This is democrats dream but something tells me it is not that easy. Even Clinton would not attempt it and all he had was Rush. I suspect they have some long term abstract strategy, I doubt the fed courts would tolerate the doctrine as it is being commonly stated. The federal government cannot tell radio stations what to say politically, and for free. Finally I think a direct battle would paint them as a Chavis, so bring it on!
Communism!!!!!! If I were radio station owner I’d be pretty pissed, to be told what to put on the air. A left-wing nut radio host = zero listeners. Air America was a complete failure. With no listeners there goes the ad revenue. With no revenue the station “goes dark” as the say in the radio business. I’m sure Rush, Hannity, Savage, Laura, Bortz and the rest will FIGHT this with all that they’ve got. I’m with all of them.
The will of the american people was never intended to override the rights guaranteed in the bill of rights unless by constitutional amendment, an unthinkable act worthy of the country’s destruction. It has historically happened without an amendment, but that’s no excuse to allow it. Civil disobedience is the proper course of action when our basic rights are unconstitutionally infringed on. Pirate radio, here we come.
20 years ago AM radio still had major broadcasters ~ today it's got "talk radio", religion, ethnics, Spanish language broadcasting.
Will the stars of talk radio go to satellite radio?
I’d love to listen to Rush without commercials!
IS satellite radio owned by rich and powerful dems as well?
If so, then we really have no hope. Soros will probably buy up control in satellite radio.
What does that have to do with it?
...oh, they would. Nevermind.
More to the point, do you think a conservative-leaning satellite radio business will stay unregulated under socialism?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.