Thursday, February 19, 2009

Pushing Open The Door for Fairness Rules

I have no faith in the administration's denial. It was not very strong to begin with.

From Hot Air
"I’d like to hear a little more about Obama’s opposition to reimposition of FD on talk radio. Would he block such a move by Congress with a veto? Or would he replace an FCC commissioner who attempted to reimpose it?

That’s not an academic question. We have had several members of Congress talk approvingly of reimposing equal-time requirements on talk radio, including Senators Tom Harkin, Debbie Stabenow, and Representatives Maurice Hinchey and Dennis Kucinich, among others. Just in the last two weeks, we have seen a veritable avalanche of support from Capitol Hill for the Fairness Doctrine or its equivalent."


They will not even try to pass it. Why?
From US Common Sense:
"The first reason is that the government should not be dictating how the media companies should schedule the news/commentary formats and programs that they carry. Even though these stations use government regulated frequencies, the general public will view any attempt to strong-arm the messages shared on air as an infringement of free speech or an attempt to push propaganda to the masses. The second reason is the conservative hosts will use such an action as a reason to wage war against the President (not that they needed any additional ammo). Obama already has to deal with Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity; both men whom he has addressed by name in his first month in office."

It is good political reason not to. It is made much easier by the fact they don't have to. They can easily go through the FCC. I don't believe that they are trying to push any "fairness" rules right now. The issue is that they are pushing over the road blocks, setting up government to easily implement them. Stimulus? Net Neutrality? I don't know what the end game is. Yes, i believe they think they have America's best interest at heart. I am just not sure that their ideas and mine of America's best interest are even in the same ball park.

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