Hey, What’s With This “Fairness Doctrine” Brouhaha?
WinstonI’m with Atrios. It’s not a Big Deal to me. I don’t know of anyone on the Left to whom it IS a Big Deal. Now, I’m quite sure public airwaves turned to commercial use and profit are not like upended orange crates in Trafalgar Square in that everyone’s got an unrestricted right to one of their own, and I’m quite sure the public in the form of the federal government is entitled, indeed required, to reasonably regulate the use thereof without violating the First Amendment.
And I’m quite sure not even the various proposals being bandied about (to the extent there even ARE any) would do what the Nuthouse Extremists claim they would.
Yes, it annoys the hell out of me that the AM airwaves that collectively belong to all of us now effectively function as a colossal nationwide, coordinated, unreported contribution to one political party and as a central cog in the The Mighty Wurlitzer Extremist Rightwing Propaganda Machine. But I don’t really see any serious people backing any serious move toward reinstating a Fairness Doctrine and moreover I don’t think even Limbaugh and the rest of the Senior Head Cases currently squawking so insistently about it believe that’s in any way a danger. I think it’s just a useful canard they rely on to rile up people who aren’t all that bright.
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Reader Comments (6)
"But I don’t really see any serious people backing any serious move toward reinstating a Fairness Doctrine..."
So you don't consider Senator's Schumer, Durbin, and Feinstein serious people?
Rosie says;
"it annoys the hell out of me that the AM airwaves that collectively belong to all of us now effectively function as a colossal nationwide, coordinated, unreported contribution to one political party"
Now you know how Republicans feel when we turn on the T.V, read the newspaper or pick-up periodical. Interesting how the left, the champion’s of free speech only want speech that they can agree with.
If you were to ask the average American what are the top issues that most concern you, he/she will give answers like the economy, healthcare, the Iraq war and national security. If you asked the average Limbaugh/Hannity listener to list their concerns, the answers would be the fairness doctrine, reparations, ACORN, gay marriage and abortion.
This is why wingnuts keep losing elections. In 2010, you will lose more House and Senate seats unless you begin to understand what the average American's priorities are.
Personally I'm tired of all of the whining and bitching by conservatives about being such an oppressed populace in the media. Seriously what kind of idiot think that the conservative position isn't represented on TV? or in print?
Seriously.... Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Brit Hume, George Will, Joe Scarborough, Glen Beck, Neil Cavuto all have hours on the TV everyday. Conservative columnists abound in the news papers. George Will David Brooks Bill Kristol David Broder Peggy Noonan etc.
Get over the persecution complex will ya?
You're right, Kwawk.
In the 21st Century, there's boundless media freedom for finding a political viewpoint you want to hear. Now kindly let Dem party leaders know they can stop talking about bringing back the Fairness Doctrine.
Tom, anyone can start a newspaper or magazine.
Not everyone is licensed to access the airwaves and the broadcast spectrum.