[Delacon]

 

PETITION TO BLOCK CONGRESSIONAL
ATTACKS ON FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND PRESS

To: U.S. Congress, President of the United States, Supreme Court of the United States

Whereas, the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution clearly states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances";

Whereas, members of Congress are recently on record saying they want to re-impose the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" on U.S. broadcasters, or else accomplish the same goal of censoring talk radio by other means, and thereby establish government and quasi-government watchdogs as the arbiters of "fairness" rather than the free and open marketplace of ideas;

Whereas, the U.S. experimented with the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" for 38 years - from 1949 through 1987 - during which time it was repeatedly used by presidents and other political leaders to muzzle dissent and criticism;

Whereas, the abandonment of the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" in 1987, thanks to President Ronald Reagan, resulted in an unprecedented explosion of new and diverse voices and political speech - starting with Rush Limbaugh - that revitalized the AM radio band and provided Americans with a multitude of alternative viewpoints;

Whereas, talk radio is one of the most crucial components of the free press in America, and is single-handedly responsible for informing tens of millions of Americans about what their government leaders are doing;

Whereas, it is a wholly un-American idea that government should be the watchdog of the press and a policeman of speech, as opposed to the uniquely American ideal of a free people and a free press being the vigilant watchdogs of government;

Whereas, the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" - either under that name, or using a new name and even more devious methods - represents a frontal assault on the First Amendment, and its re-imposition would constitute nothing more nor less than the crippling of America's robust, unfettered, free press:

 

                                SIGN THE PETITION at http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=87882

 

Freepmail me if you want to join my fairness doctrine ping list.

[Delacon]

ping

[FormerACLUmember]

Freedom of the Dead Tree Press means Freedom of the Electronic Media!

The First Amendment means just what it says!

And anyone who says otherwise is by definition a totalitarian tyrant. Someone who must be crushed and brought to justice.

[lonewacko_dot_com]

This group is playing right into BHO’s hands. He’s on record as opposing the FD. Instead of concentrating on the FD and only the FD, they need to broaden what they oppose to include other proposals that will have the same effect. To his credit, Rush Limbaugh did that in a recent WSJ OpEd. See also the better language to use here:

http://24ahead.com/s/fairness-doctrine

[AmericanInTokyo]

Back it up with bucks, folks. And continue to "weapon and ammo up" while you are at it. We KNOW what the enemy has in store for us and in which order they are going to start in on it.

[Onelifetogive]

Maybe we could license a station in Cuba to beam “Radio Free America” broadcasts into Miami...

[Grunthor]

“The organization also plans to organize expert testimony in the event that the Federal Communications Commission or congressional committees hold hearings on the Fairness Doctrine.”

I would enjoy watching Rush or Roger or Rusty, Glenn or even Jerry Doyle or Mike Gallagher giving testimony before a Senate comittee. Win or lose on the “Fairness Doctrine” it would be entertainment that could sell PPV time at $60 per hour.

[watusa1775]

ping

[Beloved Levinite]

At Last!!!!!!!! Excellent News!!!!! About TIme!!!!!!

BRAVO, Mr. Hedgecock!!!!!!

[DBrow]

http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-218A1.pdf

Here’s one of the Localism reports from 2008.

I looked up some stuff and found that public hearings for renewals are not common. Public comment periods are more common but not universal.

[Roccus]

A while back (pre election?) Rush mentioned that he was meeting with people to help formulate a ‘new message’ and a ‘new vehicle’ to get that message out. I’m wondering if this may be part of that.

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

What about localism?

Fairness doctrine = Red Herring. Localism is the real threat.