Acting Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Michael Copps insists that the so-called Fairness Doctrine is "long gone" and "not coming back." But liberal legislators such as socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and former Democratic presidential aspirants Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) have recently called for a return of the anti-free speech.
That's why Media Research Center (MRC) President and NewsBusters Publisher Brent Bozell is calling on FCC Chairman Copps to call for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to bring the Broadcaster Freedom Act to the floor for an up-or-down vote:
When this many high-powered elected officials are calling for a return of the mis-named ‘Fairness’ Doctrine, and are actively opposing a vote on the bill to prevent the FCC from reinstating it, it isn’t a conspiracy theory. It’s a determination to shut down free speech on talk radio.
The solution is simple: Chairman Copps should call on Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid to allow a full, fair stand alone vote on the Broadcaster Freedom Act. That way we will know once and for all how each member of Congress thinks – are they for free speech, or are they for the ‘Fairness’ Doctrine?
The May 19 press release is available at MRC.org and is excerpted in full below:
Story Continues Below Ad ↓Alexandria, VA – Acting Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Michael Copps offered his view last Thursday that the anti-free speech Censorship Doctrine, also mis-known as the “Fairness” Doctrine is “long gone” and that “it’s not coming back.”
But for the second time in a week, Chairman Copps called those who are concerned about its return “conspiracy theorists” who are engaged in “issue mongering” by “resurrecting the straw man of a bye-gone Fairness Doctrine.”
Media Research Center (MRC) President Brent Bozell today reminded Chairman Copps of just some of the many members of Congress who have recently called for a return of the so-called “Fairness” Doctrine:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer
Senator Chuck Schumer
Senator Dick Durbin
Senator John Kerry
Senator Jeff Bingaman
Congressman Dennis Kucinich
Congressman John Dingell
Congressman Anna Eshoo
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
Former President Bill Clinton
Senator Dianne Feinstein
Senator Debbie Stabenow
Senator Tom Harkin
Senator Bernie Sanders
Congressman Maurice Hinchey
Congressman Louise SlaughterMr. Bozell reminded Chairman Copps that last summer Speaker Pelosi would not allow a full, fair up or down vote on the Broadcaster Freedom Act (BFA) - which will prevent the FCC from reinstating the alleged “Fairness” Doctrine – and instead left it languishing in committee. Not a single Democrat – including two who were BFA co-sponsors – would sign the bill’s discharge petition to get it out onto the floor for a vote.
And Mr. Bozell reminded Chairman Copps that he will soon be joined on the FCC by up to four new Commissioners (out of a total of five) who may not share his affinity for free speech and may vote to reinstate the so-called “Fairness” Doctrine.
So Mr. Bozell today challenged Chairman Copps to demand that Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid allow a stand-alone vote of the full House and Senate on the Broadcaster Freedom Act.
Media Research Center President Brent Bozell:
“I am most appreciative that my friend – FCC Chairman Michael Copps – has no intention of reinstating the anti-First Amendment so-called ‘Fairness’ Doctrine. But his statement that those of us concerned about its reimposition are ‘issue mongering’ ‘conspiracy theorists’ is off-base given the stated desires of so many members of Congress.
“When this many high-powered elected officials are calling for a return of the mis-named ‘Fairness’ Doctrine, and are actively opposing a vote on the bill to prevent the FCC from reinstating it, it isn’t a conspiracy theory. It’s a determination to shut down free speech on talk radio.
“The solution is simple: Chairman Copps should call on Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Reid to allow a full, fair stand alone vote on the Broadcaster Freedom Act. That way we will know once and for all how each member of Congress thinks – are they for free speech, or are they for the ‘Fairness’ Doctrine?”
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Fairness Fiction
May 19, 2009 - 09:44 ET by GeneralAlThe Communists in the Un-Democratic Democrat party are never going to allow anything to be voted on that will limit their power! They will stop at nothing including the scrapping of the Constitution! Their Teleprompter-in-Chief is leading the way with dictatorial swiftness! We are reaping the results of changing a privilege into a right! There are too many people who have been granted the right to vote who are not deserving of it! There was a reason why the original authors of the Constutution limited voting to property owners! When you have something invested in the process, you are more cautious of the the outcome of your decisions!
So easy to win votes, when giving away the money of others
May 19, 2009 - 10:02 ET by general companyThere was a reason why the original authors of the Constutution limited voting to property owners!
Now that would be real Community Reinvestment
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Especially when the money
May 19, 2009 - 10:13 ET by NL207Especially when the money in question belongs to people who haven't even been born yet.
Obama and the rest of these Liberals are committing an egregious offense against future generations.
GeneralAl - YES! Vested interest needed!
May 19, 2009 - 13:57 ET by MaximusBraveheartI have felt that way for some time now but it is taboo to say "maybe everyone should NOT be allowed to vote." WHY should they vote if they do not pay in net overall? You don't get to vote in a company w/o owning the stock. That comes from buying in! They take and take. Of course they would vote for more since it costs them nothing! That creates an UNLIMITED DEMAND for Government Services! Stupid way to make our country fail quickly. How much longer till we all tumble down! A matter of time unless WE change this spending habit very fast.
M-B
"Property ownership" would
May 19, 2009 - 23:58 ET by Cortillaen"Property ownership" would have to be defined very carefully, though. Given today's market system of loopholes and technicalities, I imagine there are people who have massive investments with little or no actual ownership of land or buildings. At the very least, though, we need to remove welfare recipients from the mass of voters. Going on the dole and relying on the support of society should entail surrendering your voting rights for the duration, in my opinion. That would literally kill the Democratic party overnight, though, so don't expect it to ever happen.
More of my thoughts
"With your mind as high as Mt. Fuji you can see all things clearly. And you can see all the forces that shape events; not just the things near to you." - Miyamoto Musashi
Substitute title: Bozell,
May 19, 2009 - 10:37 ET by jdhawkSubstitute title: Bozell, "pissing in the wind . . ."
By the way, NB, we well know who are in favor of the so-called Fairness Doctrine. What is far more useful is who amongst our elected officials are against it.
In other words, how can we, as voters, make good decisions on who should be elected or reelected when conservative blogs, magazines, radio, and TV only tell us who we should NOT vote for?
For any elected Republican politicians that may be reading this, where are you on the issues? Why don't we hear from you? Can't bother to pick up the phone or e-mail Fox News, Rush, et al and tell them you want to talk about the issues of the day? Hello?
Thank you for your good
May 19, 2009 - 12:25 ET by QueenMumThank you for your good work, Brent. If and when Dennis (The Menace) Kucinich ever gets his way, we know we're in trouble.
GO CAVS!!!!!
Just when were you expecting that group of vermin...
May 19, 2009 - 11:45 ET by ThalpyJust when were you expecting that group of vermin to do the proper thing?
I'm with you Brent...I
May 19, 2009 - 18:14 ET by bigtimerI'm with you Brent...I would love an up or down vote on this...the threat/worry about this is getting past old.
Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea. ~Andrew Breitbart
Re Up or Down
May 19, 2009 - 20:07 ET by slickwillie2001Sure, an up-down vote on it is fine, but the democratics will likely go the alternate low-visibility plausible-deniability route of forcing local-community content via some kind of FCC committee. In fact getting a no-vote on Fairness Doctrine might give the democratics cover to do the FCC thing on the sly.
Brent...while you are at it...
May 19, 2009 - 23:16 ET by gopcongressBrent, while you are at it, can you ask them to enact the 12% across the board flat tax, double the troop count in Iraq and Afghanistan, and start a truth commission on all the democrats who have been suspected of corruption from President Obama all the way down to the teleprompter?
In the meantime, I'll look out the window at the flying pigs. Judging from all the pork hurtling through the air from Washington to Main Street, ain't much difference.
_____________________
Moderate... Democrat... Liberal... Progressive... Socialist... Communist—The progression is clear as day.
Unless I See Obama's Name Attached, I'm Not Convinced...
May 20, 2009 - 00:38 ET by The7SticksThe Democrats who support this can bitch and moan all they want as much as the free speech hypocrites who say we should be allowed freedom of speech but we're not allowed to say the words "f*ck" or "sh*t" do, but President Obama has made it clear that it is not in his interest to pursue a so-called "Fairness Doctrine". This is just like the left-wing groups that were pissing off testosterone towards President Bush (and still are) over the waterboarding of three known terrorists.
As far as I'm concerned, Pelosi will probably step down from her speakership in disgrace, anyway, so there's not much she can do when she's gone. And the only censorship efforts going on as we speak have to do with the banning of the right to advertise medication for dudes who have shriveled-up french-fried po'taters. That's already bad enough.
How I combat the "Censorship Doctrine"
May 20, 2009 - 03:48 ET by chaosmongerI pay for my entertainment...satellite TV and SIRIUS/XM radio. I haven't listened to standard radio in over 3 years.