Fairness Doctrine Watch: A “progressive” attack on talk radio
Bumped
10:20am Eastern update: The Left wants increased regulation to address the lack of ideological diversity in talk radio. What do they have to say about the lack of ideological diversity in America’s newsrooms?
MSNBC.com identified 144 journalists who made political contributions from 2004 through the start of the 2008 campaign, according to the public records of the Federal Election Commission. Most of the newsroom checkbooks leaned to the left: 125 journalists gave to Democrats and liberal causes. Only 17 gave to Republicans. Two gave to both parties…The pattern of donations, with nearly nine out of 10 giving to Democratic candidates and causes, appears to confirm a leftward tilt in newsrooms — at least among the donors, who are a tiny fraction of the roughly 100,000 staffers in newsrooms across the nation.
“Appears” to confirm? Snort.
10:00am Eastern 6/21 update: Mark Levin strikes back.
Update: More on the Center for American Progress below and a look at their vested interest in grabbing radio airwaves…plus: Fox News in the “progressive” crosshairs…and La Shawn Barber mocks the Left’s airwave envy…
Well, we know that Trent Lott ain’t gonna come to the defense of conservative talk radio. Remember: He thinks it’s a “problem” that he has “to deal with” because of many right-leaning talkers’ opposition to the Bush-Kennedy shamnesty bill. Lott will probably cheer this new report from the nutroots-pandering Center for American Progress trashing talk radio. Instead of blaming the lousy, incompetent performance of liberal talk radio and acknowledging the market triumph of conservative talk radio, CAP blames nefarious owners who aren’t “diverse” enough:
Yep, it looks like they’ll be playing the race card on top of their Fairness Doctrine card to try and topple conservative dominance of the medium. And the likes of Nancy Pelosi and John Conyers will be at their disposal to help them, no doubt.
Here’s the far Left’s Big Government regulatory agenda, laid out in handy, bullet-point form:
More details on their Hugo Chavez approach to the radio airwaves:
Who will come to the defense of the Loud Folks on talk radio? Don’t bother asking Sen. Lott or Sen. Graham or any of the fair-weather Republicans whom conservative talk radio hosts have gone to bat for so many times over the years.
Will President Bush stand up for conservative talk radio hosts? Sad to say: Don’t count on it.
***
What is the Center for American Progress and why are they proposing this Government Talk Radio Grab? It’s a left-wing think tank headed by Clintonite John Podesta. It manages a radio studio used daily by left-winger Bill Press’s syndicated radio show. The syndicator is the nutroots Jones Radio Networks. CAP officials appeared frequently on Al Franken’s show and Air America’s airwaves. Seed money for the think tank came from–where else–George Soros, among others, according to the Washington Post.
Unless I missed it, none of that information is disclosed in CAP’s report.
***
On a related note, the same ilk that are gunning for conservative talk radio are gunning for Fox News Channel. CNS reports on the plotting at the Take Back America conference:
Liberal activists who claim Fox News Channel is not a legitimate news source said that cooperation by several groups was key in preventing the network from hosting debates by Democratic presidential candidates.
Robert Greenwald, a producer/director who hosted a panel discussion Tuesday at the liberal Take Back America conference in Washington, D.C., called collaboration “the C word” — the element without which their “victory” would have been “totally, completely impossible.”
Greenwald’s earlier film “Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism” accused Fox News Channel of a right-wing bias. He began Tuesday’s discussion by showing a video posted at his FoxAttacks.com website…
…The video shows Adam Green, civic communications director for the liberal group MoveOn.org, saying that his organization learned of the proposed debate from online bloggers. “We immediately issued a call to action” and started a petition drive for Nevadans to tell the state party not to allow FNC to host the debate.
On his website, Greenwald then posted video clips of what he calls “erroneous and slanted stories Fox ran” about Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), a candidate for his party’s 2008 presidential nomination.
“We decided to bring these campaigns together,” Green says on the video. MoveOn.org joined local and national bloggers in distributing Greenwald’s videos - an example of what Green called “mutually reinforcing activism.”
The first candidate to withdraw from the planned debate was former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who cited “a scheduling conflict.” Other candidates, including Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), soon pulled out as well.
When the debate was canceled, Greenwald said his reaction was “joy, screaming out loud.”
Next target:
Green from MoveOn.org told the audience Tuesday his next campaign would be to try convince the owners of the Wall Street Journal not to sell the newspaper to FNC founder Rupert Murdoch. He accused Murdoch of wanting to buy the WSJ “to legitimize Fox” and to get “a seat at the gentlemen’s table.”
***
Flashback: Kucinich To Bring Back The Fairness Doctrine
Maggie’s Notebook has been keeping tabs on the Fairness Doctrine resurrection movement.
Flashback: David Limbaugh on the Un-Fairness Doctrine.
See what others have said
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Trackbacks
- Gubatron
- La Shawn Barber’s Corner » Airwave Envy II
- PAXALLES
- This ain’t Hell, but you can see it from here » That terrible talk radio again
- Are we not better served by more competition and a broader diversity of opinions? « Cowardly political musings…
- Shotgun Blast - 3 topic post « Utah Rattler
- Sister Toldjah » Liberals still whining because liberal talk radio isn’t very popular (THUR AM UPDATE)
- JammieWearingFool
- The TIW Blog » Blog Archive » Michelle Malkin
- Progressive Radio Begs For Love, Affection, Spot In Heavy Rotation On Rush. » The Pungo Picayune
- Target Rich Environment » Blog Archive » Zombies on the Radio, Zombies on the News!!!
- Iowa Voice » » But They’re Not Liberal!
- Hold your nose voting « Bookworm Room
- DeMediacratic Nation
- DeMediacratic Nation
- The Thomas Chronicles » “Talk Radio is running America!”
- Thoughts Of A Conservative Christian Fairness Doctrine Watch: A “progressive” attack on talk radio «
- Think Progress » The ‘Fairness Doctrine’ Myth: Right Wing Falsely Claims Progressives Want To Resurrect Mandatory Balance
- Minefeed.com
- Hot Air » Blog Archive » Audio: Hillary, Boxer hatch nefarious plot … right in front of James Inhofe?
- Conservative Blogger
- Radio Left
- Fairness Doctrine Me Arse! « Freedom Ain’t Free & Take Our Country Back
- Pirate’s Cove » >>Americans Never Quit » Trackback Friday Featuring The Surrender Monkey: Regulate Neocon Radio
- This ain’t Hell, but you can see it from here » The Hugo Chavez method comes to the US
- Heading Right » Blog Archive » Why The CAP Report Is Nonsense
- Ramblings from the Marginalized » Some Republicans just don't get it
- Webloggin
- Hot Air » Blog Archive » KP: Liberal talk radio “sucks”
- Group behind Hillary Clinton sets sights on Talk Radio! | No Hillary Clinton
- Minefeed.com
- Maggie's Notebook
- Demokraturbestrebung (2) » Gegenstimme
- Nice Deb Immigration Bill Is A Travesty «
- politicalpartypoop.com » Blog Archive » Fairness Doctrine Watch
- The Word Is To Silence Conservative Talk Radio
- Michelle Malkin » Fairness Doctrine Watch: The Dem campaign continues Update: Rep. Pence leads challenge to beat back threat…bill added
- Friday Morning Proto-totalitarianism alert
- BIRD
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Michelle has comments, thanks Michelle, love you on FNC, you rock the foundations of the Liberals.
This whole fairness act is an assault on the right by the left, there is nothing “fair” about it, except the creepy name. I wonder if the Soros crowd is going after the ABCNBCCBSCNN cabal with the same line of attack?
Well we knew it was coming. The dishonesty of these people is astounding. How do they explain Fox News and their dominance? Pretty simple to me.
The tin-foil hatters at “Think Progress” are a bunch of idealized youth. One even went as far as to grow a beard to appear older and wiser.
Their media arguments are facile: because the majority of radio stations feature conservative programming they demand equality: more liberal radio by the force of law. I’m not sure but I think most of them majored in Eastern European Studies specializing Communism, Stalinism, and Marxism.
I must say Michelle, you are writing quite a bit more these days. I like it, gives me something to do at work!
I’m glad you opened comments Michelle. Keep up the great work!
In my mind the more government gets involved in things like this the more corruption of our government I see.
This is one more step to government approval of what is news and/or truth……scarry to me.
Didja notice that there’s not one word about free market choices and freedom of association?
There is a free market solution: a total boycott of every advertiser on the leftist radio stations. It’s the only freedom we retain in the leftist nutstate.
citizen
Citizen #7
Did you also ntice how they specifically call out commercial radio?
That leaves NPR off the table, since it isn’t a for-profit, commercial-playing station.
And the fact that the “big” liberal radio station has utterly failed where ever it goes is completely unimportant. It’s not about people choosing, it’s about making damn sure that what THEY want you to hear gets heard.
And Michelle, thank you for opening comments again. Love you at Hot Air, and I’m sure the young male viewership of The Factor skyrockets when you host.
Teddy Roosevelt is rolling in his grave. All anyone has to do to know there is too much consolidation in the radio business is listen to the drivel they play on top 40 radio these days (let alone talk radio).
What a joke. What is there take on 95% of newspapers, ABC, NBC, CBS, PBS, etc.?
Hey, maybe they’ll go after the BBC, too!
Neal Boortz has been on this “Fairness Doctrine” thing since before the 2006 elections. Seems he was right! It is typical of the Left to TAKE what wont be GIVEN to them. Not surprised but this is just the shot across the bow.
And Lyndsey “Gramnesty” along with the feckless Trent Lott (who had NO ONE supporting him EXCEPT for the radiohosts! a while back) helped embolden this flirtation with impending censorship.
Fairness Doctrine? Fairness to whom? The more liberal point of view gets plenty of Fairness from the MSM. Should the MSM get some attention from the Fairness Doctrine? Would Trent Lott even think about making his same comments about the MSM that he made about talk radio?
Would this work anyway? I think there are millions of talk radio listeners who would be ‘up in arms’ and stop listening. I’m not so sure any of this would work. I’m thinking the silent majority would start screaming!!!
Hi Michelle, long time reader, first time commenter (couldn’t resist a Rush reference)
Interesting, so Air America couldn’t hack it on its own, so they’re going to try to force it on us…
I’m curious, does this bill affect any of the online streaming content? If I’m listening to Dennis Miller, and they have to switch over to Al Franken, I’m going to end up breaking something in the office.
I believe our only hope, if Bush doesn’t veto the “(Un)Fairness Doctrine” is the Supreme Court.
Clearly, the “(Un)Fairness Doctrine” is a violation of the First Amendment. Despite the fact SCOTUS ruled in favor of the “(Un)Fairness Doctrine” back in 1969, technological advances and multi-media outlets make the market available to ALL opinions, and therefore the “(Un)Fairness Doctrine” is unnecessary.
I must say I expected this from the same people who despise capitalism, and have no concept that consumers drive the market and consumers are listening to…conservative news programs!
They believe if you can’t win them with ideas, win them with laws.
Oppose the “(Un)Fairness Doctrine”. Write your legislators and the President.
Know how the pro-abortion crowd says “Keep your laws off my body”? Well, it’s time we say “Keep your laws off our ears and out of our heads!”
The left has had it in for talk radio for a decade or more. And they may be closer to success than we might want to believe in reestablishing the Fairness Doctrine.
Lots of Congres critters on both sides (as Michelle points out) are sick of the relentless criticism. And if they can pass McCain-Feingold, I wouldn’t put it past them to try and enact some kind of Fairness statute.
Those loveable leftwing socialists never let up.
How about taking a look at “diversity” in ownership of other MM organs (ahem, WSJ?)
It’s one of the last forms of conservative media left, so it must be shut down. After all that’s how the Russians did it…silence those in opposition to the state. Our current Democrat party isn’t that far off, so it’s not surprising they adapt Stalinst strategies.
The fact of the matter is that the majority of conservatives are on the job where they can listen to the radio, Dems on the other hand are either at home watching TV,(the bussed to vote crowd)or they are in indoctrination school (the college MTV crowd) or they are protesting somewhere (the I had no upbringing, kaffiyeh wearing, window smashing, soldier spitting crowd) Oh by the way I was a registered dem since 2004 now an Independant…lol
What about a ‘Fairness Doctrine’ for academia?
Fireflies twinkle, crickets chirp at moveon.
Doing for “progress” what they did for the word “liberal.”
Shocka! Journalists give to Democrats 9-1
Time to propose a “fairness doctrine” for every news outlet in the country. In the name of diversity, there should be 1 Republican for every Democrat rather than the current ratio of 9 Ds to 1 R. I think that would put a quick end to the Talk Radio Jihad.
Is this what it’s come to in America? If a group of people has an opposing view than your own, you try to get the government to shut them down? This is the sort of tactic that political parties have used in the past in other countries (i.e. The Soviet Union, Germany). We all know what happened in those countries. This is as un-American as it gets.
Trent is only on the talk radio/blog rampage because we’re not going along with his issue of the moment. Just wait till we’re backing him on something he needs backing on and we’ll be the true voice of the American people again.
What a crybaby.
These “progressives” fight harder and harder to chip away at the foundations of freemarket societies because such a society fights back against their marxism. This “think tank” is just another weapon they are using to chip away at our country and it’s freedoms.
So, exactly what should we be doing about this resurrection of a gag factor?
Before it becomes law or regulation — not after the fact…
From the report: “…stations owned by women, minorities, or local owners are statistically less likely to air conservative hosts or shows.”
Sounds like discrimination on their part, on the face of it! But we know who the real intolerant bigots are who do not believe in freedom of speech or diversity of thought (hint: it’s not conservatives!).
And their conclusion that the failure of airhead “progressive” radio is due to “multiple structural problems in the U.S. regulatory system” is laughable - liberals just cannot compete on an even playing field, because they are mostly children with childish ideas who want to force and coerce people to do the politicially correct thing. Their methods are the antithesis of freedom - are designed to stamp out freedom. They believe the end justifies the means and will lie, cheat and steal without blinking an eye - we who play by the rules must always remember that!
Hannity is dropping hints that he may try to orgainize his audience to oppose this issue. If you think the left is scared of “right-wing fascists” now, just wait until the Hannitized millions start writing and e-mailing their congressmen.
P.S. Michelle, have you considered “grandfathering” all of your HotAir registrants to your MM.com comment section?
Trent Lott has lost his mind…..Talk radio is a direct reflection of where the people of American stand on the current and most important issues in our country. Talk radio is run by all the callers that call into their shows each day. So, if talk radio is “running America” its because Americans are running American and trying to take back the American from all those crazies that are running things now. Maybe Trent should start listening to Rush more often so that he can have a more clear view of what his constituents want of him.
I just read on Drudge that “reporters” donate to Dems 9 to 1. I wonder if “Center for American Progress” did that study as well…lol
send the dullards at “Think Progress your thoughts, feelings and most-choice expletives at
http://thinkprogress.org/contact
No, don’t send expletives.
Where exactly do they find “ensuring that all views are aired on television and radio, regardless of merit” defined as a role of government in the Constitution?
They failed at talk radio as a business in the free market. Listeners chose not to tune in to the likes of Al Franken and Randi Rhodes, etc on Air America.
Maybe they could legislate it as the “Listener Choice Rejection Act”.
Democrats are using government to permanently establish their power. If liberals had anything worthwhile,exciting, or valuable to offer, Liberal Talk Radio would not be the miserable failure that it is.
As for Fox News, I don’t think it needs to earn any legitimacy as it’s the only television news that’s worth watching. Judging from the ratings, I’d say that I am not alone with that feeling.
If they think, it would be progress…
Let’s take it to the Supremes and shut this Stalinist nonsense down once and for all. This, folks, is why ELECTIONS MATTER. Come 2008, forget about every “issue” out there except the appointment of 2 to 3 Supreme Court judges. This is really the only thing a POTUS does of consequence. Think about the kind of judges Clinton, Obama and their ilk will appoint, and then be very afraid. If one of them wins in ‘08, the Fairness Doctrine will come off the table until Ginsberg, Stevens and Kennedy resign, and then it will come roaring back with certain approval by the Court. And after that? It’ll be sharia law and you’ll be shopping for head scarves for your public school daughters. Elections matter, people, they really, really do.
Sounds a lot like the no scoring in soccer and volley ball games….liberals don’t want a level field — they want the whole field.
First there was McCain with his campaign finance reform and now Trent Lott with his comments about conservative talk radio. These attacks on free speech by “Republicans” make it all to clear that a RINO is the same as a donkey. We need to clean house in Congress and elect true conservatives, instead of the people who hide behind the Republican banner. Actions speak louder than words. Rise up and elect those who walk the walk, rather than talk the talk.
It’s real simple. If you have something to say people want to hear, they’ll listen. When we get in the car to go to work or go home after work, do you want to be bombarded with whining about how much you hate Bush and conservatives in a lousy unprofessional format, or do you want to listen to a well-refined radio program developed by people that actually know how to program radio and give you something worth listening too?
Michelle,
Imus Fans, are well aware of the targeting of Radio Talk Show Personalities. The Huffington Post today is complaining about Paris Hilton, getting paid by NBC $$$ What do the people at Huffington expect, when you don’t Stand Up for Free Speech, you get the garbage leftover. I guess the reason Paris Hilton, gets covered so much is because it doesn’t offend anyone? Huffington People are talking about not watching NBC and MSNBC anymore…late to the game, the Imus Fans, have been boycotting them since the unjust firing of Don Imus.
Hey, this worked well for Hitler and Stalin, and Chavez is doing it right now. So, naturally, the left wants to do this here.
Question is, what are we willing to do to keep it from happening?
Because, obviously, our votes, emails and calls mean nothing.
It seems strange that the liberals are always banging on about “Free Speech” until someone expresses an opinion differently from the liberal agenda.
The Left has always hated the free-thinking, ball-busting, hands-off-my-property majority in this country.
The only word they want to hear is “baaaa.”
Offense is usually the best defense. Now is the time for conservatives to start talking about the abolishment of the NEA and the FCC.
Why are we always on the run from these folks. This is why we lost control in the House and Senate, because the conservative base was discouraged with our leaders being on the defense not because the Democrats had better ideas. We need to raise hell with our leaders and insist that they stand forward with clearly articulated and far reaching conservative ideas or we will replace them with somebody who will!
Look what happened with the “Contract with America” in 94′.
Attack!! I say. Not only will we not give this rubbish the time of day! Lets start talking forcefully about removing all inappropriate government control of media!
They won’t rest until they have shut us all up. So much for “free speech”.
I wish the liberals were at least a little transparent in their various initiatives.
“Fairness” doctrine - for the good of the country? Fair for whom?
Like your site…
The lunatics on the left can sqawk all they want about equal air time, but it will never happen for two reasons:
1. That would be received by the American people about as well as the immigration bill. They would never get it through Congress, and even if they did, the President would veto it.
2. Michelle and Ann Coulter would get to go on Air America. Now that would be pay-per-view!
Question, what do the various talk radio people do if they get shut down by the Unfairness Doctrine? I hope they have a plan B that they just aren’t talking about. I’d imagine they’d go satellite or internet format, but who knows?
Nice digs by the way. I was amazed you brought comments back from the dead.
Actually meant to say “less” transparent…
Michelle,
I have commented on the targeting of Talk Radio Personalities, in my Blog- Don Imus/Shock Jocks, how come,why now, Hillbilly’s know.
I have noted out of New York City, Talk Radio People who have been targeted,fired or suspended.
Imus and his producer Bernard McGuirk
JV and Elvis
Opie and Anthony
The Black Leadership has stepped in 3 times, in the case of the firing of Don Imus and Bernard McGuirk, 2nd when Bernard McGuirk tried to guest host on a Boston Radio station for 3 days and the last down in Ft Worth, Texas. D.L. Hughley, a black comedian had stated that Freedom of Speech was a sum zero propostion to him..and that Imus told a joke and that Imus should not have apoligized, the so called Black Leadership protested his show in Ft Worth…I believe unsuccessfully but they tried.
I believe these Special Interest Groups, like the so called Black Leadership and Media Matters, are trying to Scrub the New York Airwaves, Sanitize Why? because Shock Jocks and Disc Jockeys, use Politics as a large part of their on Air Material-Jokes. There is a Junior Senator running for President 2008, from the State of New York. I can imagine what the Jokes and Commentary would be like..this is pre emptive strikes, against the inevitable, these people want to control the “Message” coming out of the Mainstream Media. The Internet is the great liberator, the genie is out of the bottle and they can’t stop “The Real Message” from being spread. The Station that carried JV & Elvis, changed it’s format, from Talk Radio to Rock Music. “Wake up America”
I’d just like to know if all of this unfettered liberalism will open people’s eyes.
I’ve encountered uber-extreme-liberals who say with a straight face that the Treason Media - I’m talking the Times, Post, broadcast, etc. - is overwhelmingly CONSERVATIVE because they didn’t prevent the war and aren’t calling for Dubya’s impeachment and execution on the front page of every paper, every day, in a typeface more suited for announcing Pearl Harbor. (They’re firmly in the Charlie Sheen/Rosie O’Donnell “9/11 was an inside job; United 93 was shot down” camp.)
I refer to the attitude of liberals as the “Left’s Divine Right”: They believe that some universal force (not God; there is no God; they are gods in their minds) commands that only they shall have dominion over the herds of humanity. They are entitled to monopoly of all power, all riches, all rule and all information.
That their iron-fisted grip on all these things coincided with the rise of Rush et al and the launch of Fox News is an affront to the Powers That Be which anointed them as the supreme commanders. So insecure in their epistemological well-being are they, they abhor the idea that ANY contrary opinions be heard, much less believed by those they wish to rule. The irony is that while they natter on about “fairness”, what they truly desire is the elimination of contrary thought that makes the sheeple harder to control.
What I want to know is what happens after they break up the Clear Channel/Infinity/Salem mega-corporations and the myriad of smaller owners still broadcast conservative talk because that’s what makes money? They want to shut down the sole voice of cable news that they don’t control (Fox News) and wish to muzzle Rush, Hannity, etc., but if a heavy thumb on the scale of the marketplace doesn’t work, what will the government do next? Emulate their Soviet, Cuban and other totalitarian heroes methods and seize control of the airwaves by force? Enlist Google to block VRWC sites, Chinese-style?
Leftists always use government as the enforcer of their worldview. They use it to suppress opposition. They use it to alter and enforce the meaning and use of words. They use it to become so ubiquitous that anything else is, well, not just incomprehensible, but illegal.
If anyone thinks that the Stalinists went the way of the Soviet Union, I am afraid you are mistaken. So called “left wing” radio was and is filled with nothing but personal attacks and unproductive emotional rants against anyone who disagrees with the host. That is why the left fails at talk radio. Instead of learning from their failures, they just want to destroy the whole industry. To add to the immortal words of Eric Cartman from South Park, “Screw you guys, I am going home, and I am going to try to destroy your entire radio format.” That is what the liberals are saying to conservatives today with this ridiculous report.
I have been warned by people in other countries like England and Austrailia that they use “Hate Speech Legislation” to chip away at our Free Speech Rights..the people who have messaged me on the internet, have said, Stop the Hate Speech Legislation, that gets proposed, this is the backdoor to your downfall.
I don’t know, is this being reported anywhere? Paris Hilton’s stay in the Grey Bar Motel, has used up all the Air, in the Mainstream Media..is that an accident? I don’t think so, before 9-11 I remember the buzz in the Mainsteam Media, was about Britney Spears lack of clothing and a Snake…It is like the Media is trying to lull us to sleep.
#55
I think that is what happened to Imus in the Morning, he used to go on about how he wouldn’t have That Bucktoothed Witch, Devil, Satan on his show…wouldn’t book her. However he did talk to alot of other Politicians, Pundits, Mover and Shakers, Imus was looking forward to Obama coming on. The Imus in the Morning Format was effectively destroyed, now no one can use it. The message in the Mainstream Media about what happened to the Host and Program, was very superficial. If you watched the Program or listened to the Radio Program you know exactly what happened. First they target the Moderate Democrats, next they are going to go after the Conservatives…it isn’t brain surgery, I don’t know why this subject, doesn’t get more coverage in the Cable News Cycle, eventually it is going to effect that Format too.
I used to be a Howard Stern listener. I admit it. When he talks about anything other than politics, he’s usually funny. When he started his anti-Bush, anti-Iraq rants, cutting off any dissenting phone calls and berating one of his conservative staff members, I had to give it up. if Air America is anything like that, no wonder they can’t get ratings.
Liberals love to pitch fits regarding free speech, just so long as the speech that remains free is theirs and not anyone who’s speech might differ from their own.
How long ago was it when liberals last believed in Free Speech? 1969? The term censorship refers to the government limiting your First Amendment rights. This is exactly what they want, since their ideology doesn’t have legs in the marketplace of ideas…
I see a lot of people asking what they can do to stop this. The answers are simple:
1. VOTE. Vote for people that don’t support this state-sponsored censorship.
2. INFORM OTHERS. Tell your family and friends exactly what the “(Un)Fairness Doctrine” intends to do, and why that’s a bad thing. It’s not hard to do - look at the info Michelle provides, and the Constiution. You don’t need a degree in Constitutional law to figure out the “(Un)Fairness Doctrine” violates the First Amendment. Don’t let the liberals hoodwink the uninformed public into thinking the “(Un)Fairness Doctrine” is a good thing.
3. WRITE YOUR LEGISLATORS. Let them know you oppose this, and will show your displeasure if they vote for it with your wallet and your votes. Keep in mind that proper grammar and spelling are very important in making a clear, respectable argument heard. If you contact “Think Progress”, do the same. Be polite and civil. Just because they’re trying to silence us doesn’t mean we have to stoop to their immature level.
4. SUPPORT CONSERVATIVE PROGRAMS. Do so not only by watching FOX News and listening to conservative talk radio, but send funds to conservative organizations that defend free speech (Thomas More Law Center, FIRE, etc.).
5. BE PREPARED FOR A LEGAL BATTLE. As I said above, this SCOTUS would rule the “(Un)Fairness Doctrine” un-Constitutional, but remember that a Democratic president with a Democratic congress can appoint liberal, activist judges who would rule in favor of the “(Un)Fairness Doctrine”. Don’t be afraid to fight.
The problem, as pointed out, is consumers don’t want to listen to liberal talk radio (and who can blame them when 99.9% of television, newspapers, and other media is liberal?). No listeners means no sponsorship means no money. It’s a market-driven commodity. And people are fed up with the liberal tripe and are saying so with their remotes and tuners.
So we cannot let our choices be taken away because the liberal establishment doesn’t like Rush, O’Reilly, Hannity, Sykes, and other conservative figures.
We cannot be the “silent majority” any longer, otherwise we’ll just be silent!
The attempt to stifle free speech using the “Fairness Doctrine” is a crucial battle. This one cannot be lost.
The Left’s assault on freedom is unrelenting and comes on multiple fronts simultaneously - it’s impossible to fight piecemeal. They’ll wear us down if we are always playing defense.
I agree with avintaquin in #45 -I hope that an effective political and intellectual leader will emerge from the Republican Party - one who can go on offense and openly, consistently attack the Left for the oppressive, totalitarian movement that it is. Bush’s attempts at compromise and bipartisan cooperation have set back the cause of freedom.
We need a President or enough Congressmen who will fight to repeal McCain - Feingold and then go after the NEA, PBS, the FCC and the Dept. of Education and every other governmental bastion of the Left on principle and without compromise.
I think it’s time for a right wing group like Heritage Foundation to issue a “study” that examines the rediculous stranglehold the nation’s newspapers have on liberalism. After all, as mentioned on talk radio this morning, don’t the people own the highways that they are delivered on? We’re always hearing that the people own the airwaves and so it should only be “fair” to demand equal distribution of ideas in THAT media. Worth considering. The only thing they would need is a wealthy “god father” like Soros to support the study.
The reason there aren’t more liberal talk radio programes is that such shows lack an active listener base. Liberal talk shows *are* boring. The only liberal talk show I listen to on occasion is Bernie Ward’s God Talk on at 6AM on Sunday mornings (KGO 810AM, San Francisco). Other than that, all the other shows I listen to are conservative and those shows are very much informative and entertaining. The Fairness Doctrine is anything but, and it reeks of communist ideology.
So if I’m a woman, minority, or a local owner, the fairness doctrine doesn’t apply to me with regard to conservatives? Yeah, that seems fair…
Do they even realize how transparent this effort is? Let the market decide or you’ll have more money-down-a-rathole radio consortiums like Air America…how do they explain that failure if “progressive” talk radio is so important in our society?
Related:
T.V. news ratings caper under investigation by crusty old journalist.
Michelle apparently involved.
The Return of Inspector Dan Rather
Many thanks for re-opening comments, Michelle. I and I’m sure the vast majority of others here will do our best not to make you regret your hospitality.
On topic:
“Scratch a liberal, and you’ll find a totalitarian underneath.”
The left hates the free market. They hate it economically (Socialism over capitalism), they hate t socially (race and gender-based quasi-quotas over meritocracy) and they hate it intellectually (politically correct efforts to silence, or at least chill forms of expression they disagree with).
Just remember: If a liberal says something you don’t like, it’s “Free Speech.” But if you say something a liberal doesn’t like, it’s “Hate Speech.”
Got it? Good.
The pseudo-intellectual dishonesty behind attempts to resurrect the “Fairness Doctrine” are truly breathtaking, as is the chutzpah behind those attempts.
But shameless hypocrisy and transparent dishonesty - with themselves and others - have become two signature characteristics of the modern-day left. The only thing that’s changing is how increasingly brazen they’re becoming in displays of both.
Everybody here is so gung ho on freedom. Regulation in the public interest; that’s the enemy, eh? (as they say north of the border).
Actually I’m with y’all here; the “fairness doctrine” has never been fair and its rationale (scarce broadcast spectrum) has never been less relevant in the age of satellite radio, 500-channel CATV and the Land of the Billion Blogs. Long live free speech for all the wingnuts on talk radio, left and right; we’ll die (or at least post comments) for their right to be as stupid as their advertisers will permit.
But will any of the ranters and ravers on this comments section feel the same when our freedom is incrementally curtailed by the “tough” bills; “tough” on terrorism, “tough” on crime, etc. The Patriot Act (”No Freedom Left Intact”) and its many predecessors have eroded far more American liberty than any ten fairness doctrines, as your local constitutional lawyer will be happy to confirm. But don’t worry; only criminals need those freedoms, so they’re not really important. And the federal government, which now imprisons American citizens for years with no charges or trial, why it’s your friend, haven’t you heard?
So yes, any attempt to impose new regulation on talk radio should be anathema to every thinking American. But a little more across-the board commitment to the preservation of our unique American liberty would also be nice to see.
I see a lot of folks suggesting that liberal talk radio has failed because it’s boring. I disagree. Plenty of boring shows stay on the air (I’m thinking here about the morning news shows on all 3 networks!). Liberal talk radio has failed because it’s angry, hateful, and intolerant of dissent. Those with differing opinions are treated disrespectfully by liberals, with the encounter typically concluding in hyperbolic vile name-calling.
Moreover, the liberals’ view of America is that it is an imperialistic, evil, war-mongering, fascist, racist state that only wants to kill people and take their resources. This is not a view shared (or experienced, for that matter) by most Americans. They hear the liberal rhetoric, then they look around at their wonderful, productive lives here and say to themselves “What the hell are they talking about?” When they hear liberals like Michael Moore and Al Franken screeching their peculiar American self-loathing, the disconnect hits them and they turn it off.
Conservative radio, on the other hand, is ever-optimistic about the innate human possibilities to prosper, thrive and succeed when free of tyranny. They BELIEVE in the great potential of the individual, and UNDERSTAND that this country stands alone in its willingness and ability to foster and feed that beautiful human potential. This is a message that resonates with Americans because most of them first heard it at their mother’s knee when she said “You can be anything you want to be in this world–if you’re willing to work hard and earn it.”
I know the liberal myth about conservative talk radio is that it’s hate-filled, but they really must never listen. Rarely do you hear hyperbolic name-calling or cursing. The message you hear consistently is a positive, prideful message of possibilities, and of the threat to those possibilities by the political class’s grab for power, and that’s why it’s so successful.
You see, liberals or progressives or whatever they want to be called are really just Democrats trying to consolidate their political power by gaining control of our major institutions. Liberal radio is just Democrat radio. On the other hand, not all conservatives are Republicans, but they are almost to a number optimists and strong supporters of the individual over the state. They speak to PEOPLE, not movements.
And for any liberals reading this, let me make my point in a way you might understand: when you go out after work for a Merlot with your friends from the New York Times, whose company do you most enjoy — that friend with the furrowed brow who’s constantly whining, griping, complaining about her low pay, bad boyfriend, crummy coworkers, etc., or the one who laughs a lot and tells you that your latest setback is just a bump in the road to your greatness?
This is despicable enough by itself without R Senators saying;
“Talk radio is running America,” Trent Lott thundered from the floor of the Senate last week. “We have to deal with that problem.”
Well Trent, talk radio has been on your side, for years.
The ‘inconvenient’ truth is that if you had been representing Americans, Americans wouldn’t feel the need to represent themselves through talk radio.
There is a concerted effort in America by liberals to shut down any opposition — meaning anybody they can’t control. I believe it started with the firing of Imus when he was targeted by Media Matters, “using” a racial card. But it was never really about race, it was always and still is about control. And they had big plans to go down the line, taking off every opposing voice, especially on radio, but it didn’t work out quite a smoothly as they thought because people began standing up. Whether you call it free speech or not, which I do, it is clear there are those who believe in free speech as long as you say what they want to hear, what has been deemed by somebody to be politically correct.
We absolutely have to stand up against this. Sometimes it is hard to hear what we don’t agree with or what we may find to be offensive in some way, but get real — everybody has something they find offensive whether it be nappy-headed hoe or dumb blond (which is the category I fall in) or a redneck (which I could be called as well since I live in the south). I like jokes about blonds and rednecks. I like to laugh. So really people need to lighten up on being offended by every little thing and concentrate on the huge issue of freedoms being shut down. And free speech for one, free speech for all. Peace.
Just a thought….if this “Fairness Doctrine” were a president, it would be Jimmy Carter….if the current climate of talk radio were a president, it would be Ronnie Reagan….nuff said.
Rush brought life back into the once lackluster AM band. The Fairness Doctrine will pull it back into the dark ages. What sponsor will want to back radio shows which have a dearth of listeners? We’ll just get our dose of Rush, or Sean, or Laura, or Mark Levin via the internet.
I remember when Alan Colmes’s radio show was broadcast in the Kansas City area back in the 90’s. It was gone in a New York minute with few listeners.
If the libs don’t like conservative talk, why don’t they perform the one action they endorse for everyone else: turn it off? Of course not–they want to Chavez talk radio.
This just reminds me of something I heard quoted to Lenin shortly after the revolution “We have seized the telegraph station”. Every leftists dream- controlling all the media.
oh my…if ‘Those people’ succeed…why, that would mean…no…it can’t!…no!,Please noOO!!!
rrrRRRWWWWAAAAAAAK!
Susan Estrich
rrrrrRRWWWWAAAA-AAAAAAAACK!!!!
What’s wrong with the Moonbats?!
Aren’t they content with Alfranken and Randi’Chattering Sphincter’Rhodes?
They won’t be happy until Rosie’Sluggo’Odonnell replaces Keith’sideshow carny’Olberman on MSNBC.
I am not a conservative, but I happen to really enjoy talk radio. Sometimes informative, always entertaining. In a free market, an large audience drives the success of radio programming, so there is clearly a large market for talk radio. My hope is that the government stays out of talk radio as far as any additional regulation or “fairness” issues.
Admittedly, conservative talk radio is so formulaic it is hard to tell one show from another. Success seems to depend on faux outrage at “the liberals!!”, calling opponents a patronizing twist on their name (see above comments for good examples), deliberate misinterpetation of sound bites, and the ability to yell loudly. Through in some self-serving patriotism and an ability to quickly Bill Clinton for any ill and you are on your way to talk radio success.
There are some gimmicks you must use to build your success. My favorite is for the host to ask for a sound bite to be played and then scream to turn it off, as if it had been foisted on you in the first place.
To be serious, many talkers have a great sense of humor (hit me if you want, but Rush is seriously funny at times) and a genuine desire to make a difference. This entertainment and information needs to just be left alone.
Thanks for the opportunity to comment here.
Beware liberals who scream “fairness”. They can’t be honest and say they want to silence critics (a la Hugo Chavez), but that’s the goal.
A kindler, gentler form of tyranny…
What is it that the left is missing about the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights.
By the way they don’t seem to be too fond of the Second Amendment either.
Why do they think they can change these things with acts of Congress?
Because they think (rightfully so) that (1) no one will remember come election day, (2) the people who care about such things won’t/don’t vote and (3) they can count on the MSM to package the garbage and spoon-feed us sheep into a mindless slumber using terms like “fairness”
Not this time.
Are the loony libs going to insist on a 50/50 split of TV newscasts between lib and conservative? Of course not! What hypocrites!
Soros is one of the most dangerous people on Earth, and certainly a prominent threat to freedom. The irony is that the media is oblivious to this.
If we simply ignor the objectives of the so-called Progressives for a moment, their key tactics are not at all bad or wrong. Large corporate ownership of Radio Stations has been nothing short of a didaster with a near total loss of local news and opportunity for local bands and musicians to receive any airplay or support.
Hollywood loves the new big corporate Clear Channel dominated radio landscape because it gives them total control over artist airplay.
To that end the RIAA and the large Hollywood labels are working hard to completely close down Internet Radio. Readers should go to savenetradio.org for more information on that issue.
The Progressives plan would actually break Hollywood’s control over corporate radio. What it wouldn’t do is stiffle Conservative Talk Radio. With more local control, Conservative Talk Radio would likely move on to even higher listenership.
What bull. As a student at Penn State who works as the program director for a local radio station, I can attest to how much the university hates us for our public affairs show wherein we engage in frank and open criticism of the administration’s shady dealings and lack of openness as far as the budget, etc.
What our station represents on a microcosmic level is much like what leftists are trying to do to sabotage highly successful conservative talk radio.
If you don’t like what someone says, in their view, do whatever necessary to shut them up.
Disgusting.
Entelechy, it’s not that the lefty media is oblivious to this, it’s that they are COMPLICIT in this. They love folks like Soros, who I’m still waiting to deposit a couple million in my bank roll since he’s such a socialist. BTW, he’s not an American is he?
The Left, whether in the U.S.S.R., China, Cuba or anywhere else, cannot stand when the failures of their utopian fantasies are held to the light of facts and reasoned argument.
Many people here have been asking what will we do if this passes. We need to start taking some pages out of the lib’s playbook. We need to find our own Soros or several of them. Next we need to organize a group of several hundered to a thousand professional protestors. People who can go anywhere at any time ti bolster the numbers at conservative protests.
These professionals need to have the ability to network with locals have access to enough money to bus people in to the event, go door to door in the days and maybe even weeks before the event to get commitments from people to show up, make signs, provide daycare the whole nine yards.
Then we need to start crashing these guys parties. The libs have no problem interrupting and attempting to shout down conservative speachers and events.
We need to have this core group of people that can organize a response to libs without them being aware of it. We need to pick a college where they are trying to have some sort of far left speaker (Ward Churchill, Noam Chompskie (sp ?) etc) and just overwhelm the venue. Same at the Dems open political rallies.
We need to push back before it is to late.
Hillary Clinton, who wants to be president of this nation, and Barbara Boxer were apparently overheard discussing bringing conservative talk radio under control:
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
I think it is time to end the FCC. We don’t need it. I don’t believe in censorship or this law. I am against silencing conservative or libertarian talk radio which it is. I think the problem with progressive radio is the fact that radio NEVER was a proper medium for progressives.
Hillary and Boxer and all of the left clearly CAN’T handle the fact that they are being called out on all of their BS by the right, that’s why they hate Sean, Rush, Michelle, Laura, and FNC.
The people advocating this are fascist garbage. Kucinich, Boxer and the PIAPS? DhimmicRATS don’t surprise me, but Trent Lott? He is a shameful disgrace.
The truth is that the phony and failing so-called liberal and progressive agenda is a sham and more people are waking up to it. The Left has a very weak argument that comes across even worse on the radio, and people just end up changing the channel.
No one is stopping George Soros from pumping millions into a money-losing Air America and keeping it going forever. But it is just such a bad business model that apparently even Leftie Moonbat Soros can’t stand donating endless drops of his bucket to it.
.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
CONTROL the media
socialists as dangerous
should never be exposed
.
“The Left wants increased regulation to address the lack of ideological diversity in talk radio. ”
What they really want is to censor conservatives under the guise of affirmative action. Liberal talk radio is almost nonexistent because it’s dreadfully boring. The Fairness Doctrine is anything but.
Diversity?! The liberal’s trump card. If people don’t want something, force it upon them! But PBS is off limits, as well as CBS, ABC, NBC, MSNBC, newspapers and left wing blogs? Let the people decide what they want to listen to.
Say No to censorship.