Posted on 01/17/2007 4:16:02 AM PST by IrishMike
Democrats in Congress are pushing for legislation that they say would bring more balance to the media, but critics say would muzzle conservative voices.
The Fairness Doctrine, a federal regulation requiring broadcasters to present both sides of a controversial issue, was enforced by the Federal Communications Commission from 1949 to 1987, when it was dropped during the Reagan administration.
Many in the broadcast industry credit the dropping of the rule to the rise of conservative talk radio that became a booming industry, featuring personalities like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham.
Bringing back the regulation will ensure more even-handed coverage of political issues, said Jeff Lieberson, spokesman for Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.), who has proposed the "Media Ownership Reform Act."
"The political interests of media owners can have a direct and indirect effect on the way news is presented to the public, so it's important that all sides are heard," Lieberson told Cybercast News Service Tuesday.
The Fairness Doctrine is a key component of Hinchey's bill, which also sets tighter limits on media ownership. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) has proposed a companion bill in the Senate.
"This is not an attempt to muzzle them at all," Lieberson said of conservative talk show hosts who are opposed to the Fairness Doctrine. "They will still be heard. This will ensure that different views that are not theirs will also be heard."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnsnews.com ...
Dems grab at control over the media. No surprise there. I just wonder how many 'Pubbies will help them.
Hopefully this doesn't pan out, but if it does, my prediction is broadcasters will put the liberal shows on in the middle of the night. They aren't going to "sacrifice" their profitable time slots to shows with no audiences and no sponsors (look how successful AirAmerica was, end/sarcasm)
All liberals have to do is call-in to the talk shows like they do on NPR...
The mind boggles..
O.K., We'll take NBC and ABC.... You guys can keep cBS and PBS.
McCain?
The tactic here would be to pint out liberals can call-in, like they do to public radio... and would Democrats apply this to NPR as well???
Wow, listen to the ACLU protest over this massive strike against free speech. Of course Bush will veto this nonsense just like he did the CFR bill.
Nah, NPR will get a loophole just like the one Native Americans got in McCain-Feingold.
What's next? A law requiring me to spend as much time at the DUmp as I do at FR?
The Cage Match of Death. I'm psyched.
Sheesh. I guess 99 and 44/100ths domination just isn't enough - a few curmudgeonly types take advantage of a moribund, obsolete spectrum - AM radio - and so-called "liberals" bubble into apoplexy. What a bunch of clowns.
Of course this cannot become law without the president's signature.........
and he would certainly not approve of this, right?
Considering the up coming election in 08, I wonder if any Republican contender has a plan to counteract the MSM spin? In the last election the MSM was basically a 24/7 commercial for the dems. That needs to be addressed if Republicans stand any chance of winning.
The Libs can't succeed on their own merits so the legislate to stifle those who would speak against them.
The Commie Thought Control Police silencing opposition.
Looks like the new Democrat bipartisanship is Totalitarianism.
And remember, you're not even required to own a radio. Free choice, that's what these crumbs are trying to kill.
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