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.

Fairness "Red Herring" Doctrine

There is a Problem. The Fairness Doctrine is Not the Answer. It is picking up steam
From Wizbang:

"Bob Beckel said on Hannity last night that Democrats' bringing back the Fairness Doctrine is a figment of conservatives' imagination"

No, you might have been able to make that case before the election. Now ant number of people are coming out in support of this stupidity.

From Fox News:

"A political battle is brewing over control of the radio airwaves as Democrats consider pushing for the revival of the Fairness Doctrine, an FCC policy that requires broadcast stations to provide opposing views on controversial issues of public importance.

Democratic lawmakers who support the doctrine say it will help increase the number of liberal shows in a landscape dominated by conservative talk radio hosts like Rush Limbaugh."

Stabenow, Harkin and Bill Clinton are now both on board just for starters.
From News Busters via Michelle Malkin:

"Former President Bill Clinton isn’t pleased that conservatives are allowed to express views counter to his on the airwaves, and wants a re-enactment of the Fairness Doctrine.

In a preview of an interview with liberal talker Mario Solis-Marich to be aired in its entirety Friday, Clinton complained about the money funding “right wing talk shows” like Rush Limbaugh, and believes we should have “more balance in the programs or have some opportunity for people to offer countervailing opinions.”'

It looks as if Obama is starting to cave as well.
From Hot Air:

"It’s an easy question. Does this administration believe in free speech or government censorship? Their sudden inability to provide a clear answer, when they had no problem giving such assurances eight months ago, does not bode well for the answer."

The Talk about this is heating up. More from Hot Air:

'“Where they want it, [liberal radio] succeeds, and where they don’t, it doesn’t.” That seems clear enough to everyone except Press, who responds by naming a list of markets where people don’t support libtalkers. He complains twice about the death of libtalking Obama 1260 in DC without mentioning the fact that its ratings were so low it took a microscope to find its listeners."

Ever heard of a red herring? This is exactly what it is. Obama gets to replace at least one of the committee people in the FCC. In March? April? That is all he needs.

It will not be called the Fairness Doctrine. It has more to do with what those in the administration think is fair. If not through the FCC it will be passed in bill or regulated in in little pieces. In the budget? Bank bailouts? Through treasury measures? The next stimulus? This stimulus? We don''t know the effects of much of any of it.

Stimulus Bill Passes, Now Wrong on Even More Levels

I am not going to link to every thing. Google it your selves. So to the best of my knowledge.

"The measure was passed on a 246-183, with no Republican "yes" votes. It will now go to the Senate, where a vote is expected later Friday. "

Congress Ready to Vote On 1,073 Page Stimulus Bill That Was Only Released at 11 PM Last Night.

"Democrats made the bill available at 11 p.m. on Thursday night.
At 9 a.m. Friday morning, the House begins debate on the bill.
If members of Congress actually took the time to read the bill, they would have to read through the night at a rate of 626 words per minute before heading to the House floor. What are the odds of that happening?"

I am also hearing that there was still hand written changes to the bill still in the bill when they voted on it. There is also a movement to get this signed today before the news tonight. I is becoming apparent that some of this push is from Pelosi. Pelosi has a flight to Rome? tonight. Her office is not denying it. They are running as fast as they can. It can wait till Monday. What the hell is in this thing. The Religious Oppression provision was removed with the school funding.

Some of the school funding is back. Is the Religious restriction back?

Can it wait till Monday?

No One has read the bill. It is not even TYPED.

No Bipartisanship.

Health Care Intervention (they haven't convinced me that is not)

Religions Repression.

The proses is beyond corrupted(CNN saying repub. just don't like it)

Spending only fixes it for a while.

IT makes work not jobs.

Tax cut in this bill are a joke.(no rate cut just rebate)

Some of this comes from Colbern on Beck today. Colbern Is PISSED. Talking of pitch forks an revolution. WAIT TILL MONDAY. It is at least common courtesy.

The plane crash is sucking the air out of the news cycle. Plane crash is bad but this is far more important.

The next two years the Leftist/Marxist/Socialist/Communists are running the show. SAY GOOD BUY TO THE AMERICA YOU KNOW. I would never say that lightly but its over. If the Republicans can't get together to stop this. They can't stop anything. AT least wait till Monday. At least sunset the welfare expansion.Congress is getting over whelming calls against and they do not listen. Wait, Lead, GET THE PEOPLE ON BOARD. NO IT IS OVER. Next the gun ban and Censorship.

FREEDOM IS DIEING FAST AND GOVERNMENT IS NOT LISTENING

There is a Problem. The Fairness Doctrine is Not the Answer.

There is very much a problem in the media. The left leaning types demonize business, race bait and paint every thing with a big government solution. The right leaning types commonly drop little facts, constantly fall back on religion and the constitution with little explanation (even if they are right) and write off groups like the humanists and segment of the culture they can't seem to understand.

The solution is not the Fairness Doctrine. You need many more fair journalists. And more entertaining commentators that are willing to be fun and inquisitive. I have mentioned Dave Glover in this area before and he is a good example, although he has gone more to the entertainment side of late.

From: Broadcast Blackout of Left’s 'Fairness' Doctrine Push

New York Senator Charles Schumer: "The very same people who don’t want the Fairness Doctrine want the FCC to limit pornography on the air," Schumer told the Fox News Channel. "You can’t say, ‘government hands off in one area’ to a commercial enterprise, but you’re allowed to intervene in another. That’s not consistent."

Talk radio and porn are the same thing to the government? The whole thing is insane. I am not diving to far into this, because well it is insane. There is a good chance it will happen like the rest of the insanity. Others have gotten in to it.

The Fairness Doctrine: What You May Not Know

"If you are unfamiliar with The Fairness Doctrine...and perhaps "fairness" sounds like a good thing, here is an example of what such a doctrine, more commonly known today as a "censorship doctrine," would require: if Rush Limbaugh has a 3 hour daily program, that station must allow a 3 hour daily program with an opposing viewpoint - think the failed Air America, Al Franken, Randi Rhodes. If sponsors do not want to advertise on an unpopular show, because no one listens, then what? I don't think we know."

And there are links to the left. And look like they are going to paint the right as the problem.

Podesta's Media Matters Paves the Way For Fairness Doctrine

They are starting early and going hard at the right. Is this the Obama Nuclear Option? Time will tell.