Posted on 09/11/2003 10:27:26 PM PDT by The Raven
Edited on 04/22/2004 11:49:53 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Republicans love to complain that they don't get a fair shake from the elites running the nation's airwaves and newspapers. Which has us wondering why they're helping their political opponents muzzle the likes of Rush Limbaugh.
Ever since the Federal Communications Commission's June decision to allow broadcast TV owners to own a few more stations, liberals have been channeling George Orwell -- claiming Big Brother broadcasters are a "threat to democracy" that will stifle "diversity of view." With the aid of many Republicans, they've already blocked the new rules in the House and may pass a resolution on Monday to do the same in the Senate.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
Liberals, on the other hand, are almost transparent in their aim to do precisely that [to bring back the old days when the three networks were the main source of news.] During July's House floor debate, Michigan Democrat John Dingell explained that once they roll back the FCC ownership expansion liberals can then move to reverse another recent FCC decision to allow companies to own TV stations and newspapers in the same market. They may then go to town on New York Representative Maurice Hinchey's proposal to revive the Fairness Doctrine and complicate life for both Fox and Rush.
In other words, all that's involved in the bill that Lott and Hutchison support is rolling back the FCC's rule to expand ownership, and the Wall Street Journal is only speculating that passing this bill will help Hinchey's proposal to revive the Fairness Doctrine. In point of fact (at least as long as Republicans lead both Houses of Congress and have a man in the White House,) there is zero chance that a bill reviving the Fairness Doctrine will be enacted.
DING DING DING DING! We have a winner!
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