Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., said it was "absolutely time to pass a standard." Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, came out with a similar message, saying, "We need the Fairness Doctrine back." And former President Bill Clinton said, "You either ought to have the Fairness Doctrine or we ought to have more balance on the other side."
However, one has spoken out not in favor of reinstating the Fairness Doctrine. Former President Jimmy Carter, not known for his temperament when it comes to denouncing conservative ideals, told a Phoenix radio station, KTAR's Mac & Gaydos that he is not in favor of the Fairness Doctrine.
Transcript follows (h/t Greg Pollowitz, National Review Online):
CO-HOST MAC WATSON: There's been a lot of rumblings, especially in our industry that there is a push for the Fairness Doctrine to be brought back, especially into talk radio. Do you think the Fairness Doctrine is something that should be brought back in the 21st century? This is something that came out in the ‘30s. Should there be a place for the Fairness Doctrine? Do you think that's important?
FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER: Well, I liked it when it first came out, because I was just a child listening to both programs, and I liked to hear some limits on some of the programs. But no, as a matter of fact, when I was president is when we deregulated radio, television, all the communications and relationships. So I have not been in favor of perpetuating the Fairness Doctrine since I've been, you know, in politics.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Carter agrees with me
February 17, 2009 - 15:24 ET by KC MulvilleUh oh - maybe I better re-think my position. If Carter agrees with me ...
Scary
February 17, 2009 - 15:31 ET by CTI liked the second opinion when I was a kid as well when we had four TV stations and only one radio station I could picup on my crystal radio.
Jimmah miss-spoke
February 17, 2009 - 16:58 ET by reelman46Jimmah C will "come around"...he is Mr. Silly Putty...this man is soooo bad and soooo wrong soooo often that this must be a glitch in the system...
Not to worry, Xerxes I of America will break all the records for lying and national decay previously held by Jimmah and that beloved serial adulterer.
Doug Schexnayder, Ph.D. (theconservativecrawfish)
Which 'beloved serial
February 17, 2009 - 19:51 ET by Lord ElicaniWhich 'beloved serial adulterer'? Clinton or Kennedy?
I used to trust the media
To tell me the truth, tell us the truth
But now I've seen the payoffs
Everywhere I look
Who do you trust when everyone's a crook?
- Queensrÿche, "Revolution Calling"
Jimmy Sucker opposed to the
February 17, 2009 - 15:29 ET by semolina_filcherJimmy Sucker opposed to the reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine? I'd ditch my conservative principles rather than believe that one.....
Jimmah. We hardly know ya
February 17, 2009 - 15:32 ET by QueenMumWell, it's official. Jimmy Carter is suffering from senile dementia. There can be no argument about it.
Civilization is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole existence is public, ruled by the laws of the tribe. Civilization is the process of setting man free from men. - Ayn Rand
Deregulation of Mass Media
February 17, 2009 - 15:40 ET by thebutlerdiditwas not initiated by Carter. Nixon and Ford started the process, and all Carter did, was sign off on it. Of course, he would agree with a stump if it was there and asking him a question, so it's hard to go by what he says. Judgement will never be the Carter Legacy, says the sad and embarassed Georgian. *sigh*
All a Democrat needs is the upper-story window of public attention and the chamber pot of rhetoric. How else to explain the rise of Joe Biden? P.J. O' Rourke
This is not the Jimmah
February 17, 2009 - 15:37 ET by celatorThis is not the Jimmah Carter Obama knew.
Carter on fariness doctrine..
February 17, 2009 - 15:43 ET by Gary HallWell lo and behold!
One thing we can be certain of. The MSM will not be inviting Jimmy Carter to share his view on this topic when they are discussing it. If Larry King asks him about it later on - it will be because King didn't known, and as quickly as he senses his blunder, he'll change the subject.
Carter has long been outspoken in his views opposing abortion - and as such, he is consistently not asked about it by the MSM. Carter is in demand by the MSM for his views, when his presence is sensed to be in line with their agenda.
What! My heart be
February 17, 2009 - 15:45 ET by bigtimerWhat!
My heart be still!
Carter said something I agree with...I cannot believe it...are you sure there wasn't a but wait....added on the the last sentence?
LOL!
Just goes to show that
February 17, 2009 - 16:14 ET by Ruths husband BenJust goes to show that even a blind hog can find a peanut every once in a while.
Not sure I understand the whole Fairness Doctrine thing
February 17, 2009 - 16:06 ET by krendlerWould it only affect radio? Broadcast TV? Cable TV?
If it were imposed on cable tv shows, for example, I'd think FOX News would be a lot more agreeable to it than, say, MS-NBC or CNN, since FOX already invites guests with "opposing" viewpoints a nightly basis. On the other hand, can you imagine the impact the Fairness Doctrine would have on Keith Olbermann? His teleprompter and circle-jerk schtick would unravel at the seams. Same for Air America.
Basically, I have a lot of faith in people like Limbaugh and Ingraham blowing people like Maddow, Matthews and the pathetic Olbermann completely out of the water in any kind of 1-v-1 exhange.
It wouldn't be a 1 on 1 exchange
February 17, 2009 - 16:25 ET by CobraManIt wouldn't be a 1 on 1 exchange between opposing views on the same show, it would be a 1 FOR 1 broadcast for every show. For every opinion aired, another opposing opinion would also have to be aired separately. In other words: For every Conservative talk show host aired on a particular station, that station would be forced to air a liberal talk show host.
Obama: My job is above my pay grade
Carter, you Liar!
February 17, 2009 - 16:09 ET by CobraMan"So I have not been in favor of perpetuating the Fairness Doctrine since I've been, you know, in politics."
Carter, you liar! You "perpetuated" the Fairness Doctrine the entire time you were the President! It wasn't you who repealed the Fairness Doctrine, it was REAGAN!
Obama: My job is above my pay grade
I don't think he cared one way or the other.
February 18, 2009 - 02:02 ET by thebutlerdiditLike I said upthread, Nixon and then Ford were the ones wanting it deregulated. He just decided to sign off and let it sit. I think he was too busy cozying up to dictators to really care. Of course, he had no idea how big talk radio would get, did he? LOL. Reagan just picked up the thread left by the last Republicans and did the right thing.
All a Democrat needs is the upper-story window of public attention and the chamber pot of rhetoric. How else to explain the rise of Joe Biden? P.J. O' Rourke
Ingraham on Olbermann --- That Will Never Happen
February 17, 2009 - 16:23 ET by snaggletoothieI don't think Olbermann has to worry about Laura I. making him look foolish: he would never have her on. I lived thru 20+ years of the Fairness Doctrine. You seldom saw well spoken, thoughtful conservatives on any of the opinion shows. They developed a stable of lap dog 'conservatives' who were only there for the sake of form. They were like Elisabeth on the View: quickly caved to a little lefty emotional blackmail.
snaggle... Yep...which is
February 17, 2009 - 16:29 ET by bigtimersnaggle...
Yep...which is exactly what they desire.
Bill Clinton's comment is
February 17, 2009 - 16:44 ET by motherbeltBill Clinton's comment is the most telling:
we ought to have more balance on the other side." (emphasis added).
I guess he means only conservatives like Limbaugh and Hannity should be required to air views opposed to their own....on the liberal side, that's not necessary.
Or, he's claiming that the liberal side is already "balanced." (How does that happen????)
I didn't think it was physically possible, but this both sucks and blows. -Bart Simpson
Dems Desperate
February 17, 2009 - 17:20 ET by stratmanJimmaC against Fairness Doctrine?
Nice try with the reverse psychology, Mr. Worst President.
Not gonna work.
Why strat...are you
February 17, 2009 - 17:23 ET by bigtimerWhy strat...are you suggesting Jimmah would lie?
Surely you jest!
You may have a point,
February 17, 2009 - 17:31 ET by stratmanYou may have a point, BT.
Carter probably speaks his mind, though it may be tempered than his actual thoughts. And he honestly does believe in his delusions such as the Palestinian cause and that he was a good president.
strat... Him believing he
February 17, 2009 - 17:47 ET by bigtimerstrat...
Him believing he was a good Prez has a lot to do with a lot of aide from the good ol' msm etc. over the years IMO.
Btw..You do know I was being sarcastic above...don't you? ;-)
No Worries
February 17, 2009 - 18:33 ET by stratmanYes I did, my dear BT. Crystal clear. No (sarc/off) needed.
I just saw an opportunity to ding Carter again.
Not that one needs an opening to dump on the idiot!
Carter opposes Fairness Doctrine?
February 17, 2009 - 18:12 ET by kevinm13Jimmy Carter and I have been on opposite sides of most issues since 1976. This is the first time I can recall him agreeing with my position although I'm sure his reasons are completely wrong.
The s-called "Fairness Doctrine" is no more than censorship and needs to be squashed like a bug. Don't take away my conservative talk radio. The liberals have almost all of the rest of the media, including papers, TV, and a large chunk of radio already so leave us alone.
Carter doesn't oppose it
February 17, 2009 - 18:23 ET by CobraManIf Carter opposed the Fairness Doctrine, like he claims, he would have repealed it when he was the President. He had that power. That's not what he did, though, was it? He left it in place.
Obama: My job is above my pay grade
so who gets to decide what's "fair"?
February 17, 2009 - 19:50 ET by clinging to my guns and my religionif you ask the current socialist administration, i would be willing to bet their idea of "fair journalism" and my idea of "fair journalism" don't even reside in the same universe!
"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle." Edmund Burke
If we have the guns, we say
February 17, 2009 - 19:58 ET by Clear thinkerIf we have the guns, we say what's fair!
I'm half joking of course.
Fake Patriotism @ BornAgainAmerican
Making Fun of AGW http://giovanniworld.wordpress.com/
unfortunately, ct...
February 17, 2009 - 20:31 ET by clinging to my guns and my religion...they're doing everything they can to deprive us of our 2nd amendment rights, too. have you seen this?:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-45
"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle." Edmund Burke
All of a sudden I support the Fairness Doctrine
February 17, 2009 - 22:46 ET by jefflebowskiIf Jimmah is against it, I'm for it. There is NO way he and I can agree on anything. That includes if it is raining or not.
Angry White Dude
www.angrywhitedude.c...
AWD... I feel your pain.
February 17, 2009 - 23:09 ET by bigtimerAWD...
I feel your pain.
A Little History
February 18, 2009 - 12:20 ET by JillCWWhen the Neo-Nazis wanted to march in one of several cities, they sent them all letters requesting permits to march. Most threw the letters in the circular file, but Skokie responded with a statement that it had a high Jewish population, many of whom were Holocaust survivors, and the march would be inappropriate. BAM! The ACLU went to work on behalf of the Nazis and they marched in Skokie. The court held that no one HAD to go to the "parade" and they could go home and pull the shades down on their windows. Now, think about the UN"Fairness Doctrine" and its application today. If they shut us down, they won't always know what we think, what we believe and will have no way to drag us to court and throw us in jail for hate crimes. Get it?
Nah, y'all, see it's like
February 18, 2009 - 11:48 ET by HockeyKidNah, y'all, see it's like this heah: Jimmah's senile. He's the only man in America that thinks "Fairness" really means fairness. Of course, he's not at all interested in fairness, so he opposes the Fairness Doctrine. He wants the law back that lets the government control which points of view are broadcast. THAT's the legislation Jimmah supports.
See? Ya gots to be quick to keep up with Mr. Peanut.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me