A Freeper's Opinion: Free Airtime to Candidates. Is It a Good Idea?

E.G.C.

[E.G.C.]

HOWDY FREEPERS!!!!

I want to open up a discussion concerning a bill that was proposed today.

The name of this bill is the "Political Campaign Broadcast Activity Improvement Act." The Senate bill numer is S.3124

This bill if passed would require radio and T.V. stations to air at least two hours of candidate or issue oriented programming per week leading up to elections. It would also privde candidates with up to $750 million dollars in vouchers to be used to purchase ads which would come from a spectrum use tax imposed on radio and T.V. stations.

This bill is being proposed by John McCain, Russ feingold and John Durbin.

Here is my take on this bill.

Airing candidate or issue related programming would be no problem for news and talk stations like WBAP or WABC or WMAL or KABC or so on. but the idea of imposing requirements on radio and T.V. stations sounds a bit far-fetched. Yes I do realize that T.V. and radio are public trusts, but I don't think goverment should be in the business of telling radio and T.V. stations how to run their programming.

The people proposing this legislation have never run a radio or T.V. station in thier lives and have absolutely no idea whatsoever what it's like to run a broadcast station. Just because you're a Washington bureaucrat doesn't mean you know everything. These congressmen think they know everything about the broadcast industry but the reality is they don't. There is a lot involved and these stations need to make a profit.

This bill, I'm afraid is going to put some undo hardships on especially small town radio stations that are struggling to get by as it is.. Again I realize that T.V. and Radio are public trusts, but this kind of legislation being proposed is just not the way to go and I think we will see some struggling radio stations go down if not suffer as a result if this ends up becoming law.

[E.G.C.]

Again, the name of this bill is the "Political Campaign Broadcast Improvement Act." The bill number is S. 3124. I know this kind of a noble thing that we need to kniow more about candidates running for office but I don't think we should imposing these kind of requirments on every radio and T.V. station. The news and talk stations are doing good enough of a job as it is. Let's not force music stations to do this. This is just not the way to go.
I will now open it up for discussion. Regards.

[Nat Turner]

sounds like more BLUEBLOOD socialism... nothing is free not even air time.... I say let the candidates and there supporters buy the air time

how would you like it if the govt made you work for free or mandated unpaid overtime????

[2timothy3.16]

Humm, let me see here, so I say I wanna run for something and they gotta put me on televison? Can I wear a company shirt? Can I get a shamelss plug in for my favorite ice cream? I like it, yup, put those tax dollars into my campaign coffers or better yet, send me a voucher.

[dirtboy]

No friggin way should this become law. This will create yet another political board that will exert control over the flow of televised information regarding campaigns.

[dead]

This bill if passed would require radio and T.V. stations to air at least two hours of candidate or issue oriented programming per week leading up to elections.

While the McCain-Feingold abomination forbids anybody who doesn't own a radio or television station from airing their opinions.

The complete monopoly on political debate will lie solely with the leftist world of broadcast journalists.

I can't think of anything more unconstitutional than that.

Thanks McCain, you piece of garbage.

[scocha]

Very amusing. A spectrum use tax. So the broadcast companies would generate the funds to pay for the tax by doing what? Ah. By increasing the amount they charge for advertising? Which would, in turn, be paid by whom? Mmmm. The consumers of the products being advertised, perhaps? So the consumers, read "everyone", would involuntarily pay for campaign commercials for candidates they very well may not support at all. Let the candidates pay for their own ads. A spectrum use tax. Right.

[RAT Patrol]

Stupid! But I must say I am secretly enjoying this little effort by McCain to socialize political broadcasting. It serves the media right for supporting CFR!!!!!! I hope he demands free newspaper space next.

[Paleo Conservative]

Another idea.

Free Newsprint For Candidates.

Why don't we just require all newspaper to give several pages per day to politicians to get out their messages?

[RAT Patrol]

It will be interesting to see just what passes as "candidate or issue related programming." That is ripe for abuse--not that the media doesn't abuse us already.

Will West Wing count? How about late night political jokes? Barbra Streisand would just LOVE to give another day before the election 20 minute speech on national television for her candidate and have that count I'm sure. How much of their so-called "news" programs will qualify?

McCain is a socialist.

[E.G.C.]

Thanks everybody for you replies to this topic. I will once again bump it up for more replies.

I'm gonna go eat my supp and get ready to turn in for the day. I'll chekc back in the morning for more replies.
Regards:-D

[alpowolf]

Of course they would only include so-called "major" parties, i.e. the Dems and Repubs. Another way to further insulate the parties from the voters they allegedly serve. After all, God forbid an incumbent like McCain should actually have to engage in a real debate.

[glock rocks]