Put up or shut up
The Democrat Congress is now on notice - either begin public debate to restore the so-called Fairness Doctrine or shut up and get on with your despicable mission to destroy America. If South Carolina Republican Senator Jim DeMint has his way, the Democrats will have no other options.
Recently, four prominent Democrat Party politicians have vocally supported re-instituting the Fairness Doctrine to muzzle their critics in conservative talk radio, despite Obama administration assurance to the contrary:
Michigan Democrat Senator Debbie Stabenow: "It is absolutely time to pass a standard."
Iowa Democrat Senator Tom Harkin: "We need the Fairness Doctrine back."
New Mexico Democrat Senator Jeff Bingaman: "I would want this station and all stations to have to present a balanced perspective and different points of view instead of always hammering away at one side of the political spectrum."
Democrat microphone hound Bill Clinton: "You either ought to have the Fairness Doctrine or we ought to have more balance on the other side."
I guess these clowns have never heard of market-driven product preference.
It is interesting to note that since the Fairness Doctrine's inception in 1949, it was twice approved by a Democrat Congress and twice vetoed by Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.
DeMint to force vote on bill
DeMint, in his role as chair of the Senate Steering Committee, will offer the revived Broadcaster Freedom Act as an amendment to the D.C. Voting Rights Act next week. The Broadcaster Freedom Act was introduced by Republican lawmakers last month and prevents the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from reinstating the Fairness Doctrine.
Although an Obama spokesman said the administration wouldn't pursue the revival of the Fairness Doctrine, Senator DeMint remained skeptical. According to DeMint:
"I'm glad President Obama finally confirmed his opposition to the Fairness Doctrine, which attacks the right of free speech on talk radio, but many Democrats in Congress are still pushing it. With the support of the new administration, now is the time for Congress to take a stand against this kind of censorship. I intend to seek a vote on this amendment next week so every senator is on record: Do you support free speech or do you want to silence voices you disagree with?"
Aside from conservative political talk shows being targeted by the Fairness Doctrine, another potential victim is Christian radio, according to Oklahoma Republican Senator James Inhofe. He recently warned the revival of the Fairness Doctrine would make Christian radio the most vulnerable since there is already judicial precedence supporting the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authority to regulate it.
From censorship to ridiculous
The debate over the so-called Fairness Doctrine has heated up. Conservative talk show hosts such as Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin, Sean Hannity, and Glenn Beck see the doctrine as abject censorship, an abridgement of First Amendment rights, and an attempt to force radical liberalism on America.
As they rightly contend, radical liberalism must be forced on America because nationwide liberal talk shows simply are not popular, have no audience, and therefore cannot sell advertising to stay solvent.
There is reason for censorship concern, and reason not to trust Obama. A report in the American Spectator this week said aides to California Democrat Representative Henry Waxman met last week with staff for the FCC to discuss ways to enact Fairness Doctrine policies. The report said Waxman was also interested in applying those standards to the Internet, which drew ridicule from supporters and opponents of the doctrine.
Write your senators today and tell them to support Senator DeMint's efforts next week. Thank goodness there are still a few conservatives left in Congress who haven't lost their grit or backbone.