Change: In the Air-but Not on It
from the Family Research Council Washington Update 01/15/2009
Trying to hedge off an inevitable attack on free speech, Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.), Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), and Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) introduced the Broadcaster Freedom Act at a press conference today on Capitol Hill. While liberals try to resurrect the 1949 Fairness Doctrine that was repealed in 1985, this bill would prevent the FCC from reinstating it.
As you may remember, the "Fairness Doctrine" didn't promote fairness but the suppression of the First Amendment. If Congress revives it, for-profit broadcasters would be forced to give liberals equal air time to counter conservative messages on the air waves. The policy would essentially kill talk radio because broadcasters would have to subsidize liberal programming that does not attract listeners and therefore advertising revenue.
Liberals claim that government controls are needed to restore "balance" to the airwaves. But in reality, conservatives are the balance, since most of the cable and network news hosts are nothing but mouthpieces for the political Left. We applaud Rep. Pence, Rep. Walden, and Senator DeMint for their work to protect the airwaves from government control and pledge to join them in this fight.