California AG on Media: 'A Little State Control Wouldn't Hurt Anybody'

Not this again.  With Democrats in control of Washington, the possibility of the reinstitution of the Fairness Doctrine is getting stronger and the rhetoric is getting bolder. But this time, it's getting attention on the state level - the biggest state.

Former Democratic California governor and current Attorney General Jerry Brown appeared on conservative talk host Michael Savage's radio show on Feb. 13. One of the issues the two debated was the possibility of the renewal of the Fairness Doctrine. During the interview, Savage noted that Brown sounded as if he wanted state control over the media.

"Well, a little state control wouldn't hurt anybody," Brown replied.

Brown rationalized his view by citing a quote that state control would be an attempt to balance, not to censor.

"Stockton used to say, ‘If you have no views of one side, like in certain campaigns if somebody is attacking you, there's got to be some room for the other side,'" Brown explained. "It's an attempt to balance, not to censor."

Savage was skeptical of Brown's explanation and said if that were true, he would get airtime on National Public Radio, which he doubted were the intentions of Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. and former President Bill Clinton when they made their remarks in favor of the Fairness Doctrine. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, also came out openly in favor of the Fairness Doctrine recently.

Savage told Brown the Fairness Doctrine was nothing more than an attempt to silence Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and himself among the other top talk radio hosts.  Eight of the top 10 of the Talkers Magazine "2008 Heavy Hundred" are considered right-of-center, including Limbaugh, Hannity, Savage, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, Glenn Beck, Laura Ingraham, Mike Gallagher and Neal Boortz.