Bring back the fairness doctrine.

[patcox2]

Someone should introduce the Bill today.

[sgxnk]

1. unamerican

the fairness doctrine is unamerican

it makes govt. the grand arbiter of truth and fairness. it makes govt. the 'decider' as to what is 'fair' and 'balanced'

let the marketplace of ideas decide

[wtmusic]

4. Not at all

It makes the government the enforcer of truth and fairness, by allowing opposing views equal airtime.

[sgxnk]

5. exactly

it MAKES GOVT> the decider as to what exactly is an "opposing view"

many issues (most) have MULTIPLE sides. the idea that GOVERNMENT should be the "decider" as to what is "truth" and "fairness" and fair broadcasting of EQUAL AIRTIME is unamerican

that requires editorial decisionmaking.

it is not the role of govt. it is unamerican.

does that mean that NAMBLA should get equal airtime to Megan's law proponents? etc. etc.

[wtmusic]

6. Wrong

The government does no deciding whatsoever as to what an "opposing view" is. All the FD required was that stations "operate in the public interest and afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of conflicting views on issues of public interest."

"A license permits broadcasting, but the licensee has no constitutional right to be the one who holds the license or to monopolize a...frequency to the exclusion of his fellow citizens. There is nothing in the First Amendment which prevents the Government from requiring a licensee to share his frequency with others.... It is the right of the viewers and listeners, not the right of the broadcasters, which is paramount."

* U.S. Supreme Court, upholding the constitutionality of the Fairness Doctrine in Red Lion Broadcasting Co. v. FCC, 1969.

You don't own the airwaves; neither does Rush Limbaugh; neither do I. The public does. VERY American.

BTW, NAMBA should be able to present an opposing view. That's also very American, although I doubt they would be able to say much without running afoul of obscenity laws (also very American).

[wtmusic]

2. Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) introduced a bill last year

HR 501 but it was stalled in committee. Will not pass with a Repub majority.

[LeftCoast]

3. I'm with you patcox2! Bring back the fairness doctrine!

They're our airwaves. Corporate america does not own them, though they'd like to think they do.

K & R

[zbdent]

7. Hit any Repuke who complains about "the liberal media" with

"Okay, do you feel that opposing sides should have equal time? GO FOR IT! Re-instate the fairness doctrine. See how many right-wingers you can get to sign on to that ..."

[Marr]

8. So true. I once heard Sean Hannity go on for 10 minutes sneering at

the idea of reinstuting the Fairness Doctrine.

He segued directly into the usual whine about the "liberal media". They don't even try to make sense.