February 26, 2009 5:03 PM

Senate Votes To Ban Fairness Doctrine

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
Congress
(AP Photo/Gary He)
By an overwhelming majority, the Senate has voted to keep federal regulators from reinstituting the Fairness Doctrine, which required that there be ideological balance on public airwaves.

The Associated Press reports that the 87-11 vote – added to a bill giving Congressional voting representation to District of Columbia residents – comes amid a push for such a move from conservative radio talk show hosts. They are worried that Democrats will try to bring back the doctrine, which was in place from 1949 to 1987.

Reinstating the doctrine, they argue, would destroy their industry because radio stations that now largely air conservative talk shows would be forced to air liberal shows – which are not as popular and thus not as profitable. That would lead stations to air neither conservative nor liberal shows, they say.

The vote comes despite the fact that President Obama has said he will not seek to reinstate the doctrine, which Sen. Mitch McConnell characterized as "government control over political speech." The measure will now be considered in the House of Representatives.

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by LinusToo February 27, 2009 4:34 PM EST
Dongo3 (at 5:42 AM : Feb 27, '09) says: "The Fairness Doctrine is against thinking people with the ability to think...." Well, dongo3's post suggests that he/she must be one of those poor unfortunate "thinking people" who do NOT "have the ability to think" because he/she clearly knows nothing of the Fairness Doctrine beyond what he/she has been told to think by the Rush Limbaughs and Sean Hannitys of the world. Dongo3, look up the Fairness Doctrine and think for yourself. Wikipedia is a good place to start as it provides links to multiple sources that you yourself, as a thinking person, can read and evaluate.

The Doctrine has never restrained speech and was never intended for that purpose. It merely requires that broadcasters use SOME of their airtime discussing "controversial matters of public interest" and to "air contrasting views regarding those matters." Stations had "wide latitude as to how to provide contrasting views: It could be done through news segments, public affairs shows, or editorials. The doctrine did not require equal time for opposing views but required that contrasting viewpoints be presented."

Moreover, there is no Democratic or left-wing push for reinstatement of the Doctrine -- that is a right-wing myth. Think about it, oh thinking person with the ability to think, who do you hear talking about the Fairness Doctrine? Not Democrats, but conservatives, right-wingers, Republicans. The President himself said just recently that he has no intention of resurrecting the Doctrine. The whole left-wing conspiracy is nothing more than a right-wing myth.
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by mattcat25 February 27, 2009 11:46 AM EST
The fairness doctrine contrary to the RIGHT WING MEDIA (my friendthz) talking points will not (unfortunately) quell the voice of the Republican-Conservative Propaganda Message.

The fairness doctrine would be a watered down version of the forsaken Sherman Antitrust Act.
The law would examine and regulate cartels and monopolies in the use of our public airwaves. The very talking points that RIGHT WING MEDIA (my friendthz) are claiming are exactly what the Conservatives desire and have succeeded at in suppressing the oppositional voice and message.

Thus, in this case I would agree with Rush Limbaugh in that freedom of the airwaves and the right to voice opinion in the arena of ideas should be protected from restrain and censorship.

Every person who shall monopolize, or attempt to monopolize, or combine or conspire with any other person or persons, to monopolize any part of the trade or commerce among the several States, or with foreign nations, shall be deemed guilty of a felony!

Fairness here is all that is asked.
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by gman5541 February 26, 2009 8:02 PM EST
I'm thinking to myself: Good. Now conservative talk show pundits are free to put their stupid foots in their mouths forever! They are free to help run the Republican Party to the ground.
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by tgolstch February 26, 2009 5:38 PM EST
This is a disgrace for a democracy. anymore, all politicians, even the new ones make me sick. I voted for obama but wanted the only person capable of stopping the american rot - ralph nader. unfortunately, the 3 coporate networks will not let me him near a prime time stage. it's a shame ain't it.
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