If the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to reinstate the controversial Fairness Doctrine which has not been in force since the ’80s, do you think it would have been headline news?
Well, on Thursday, an amendment to the Financial Services Appropriations bill prohibiting funds to be used to impose the Fairness Doctrine on broadcasters passed in an extraordinary show of bipartisanship 309 to 115.
In fact, 113 Democrats joined 196 Republicans in favor of this funding ban. Yet, virtually no media reported the news.
Before we get to that, the following statement was made by one of the amendment’s sponsors, Congressman Mike Pence (R-Indiana) on Thursday:
"Today the House of Representatives affirmed that freedom will continue to reign on the airwaves of America. Thanks to the support of 308 of my colleagues, Congress has ensured that the Fairness Doctrine will remain in the grave for now. This was a resounding victory for free speech.
"However, the fight for freedom on the American airwaves is not over. With many still hoping to resurrect this archaic doctrine of unfairness, we must continue to stay on the offense. Tonight I will introduce the ‘Broadcaster Freedom Act’ to ensure that the victory we experienced on the House floor today extends to future generations.
"I thank all my colleagues, especially the Republican leadership in the House for delivering this resounding victory for the freedom of speech."
Despite this historic vote for freedom of speech, besides Fox News, not one television news division felt this event was worthy of dissemination. Not one.
As for print, the Associated Press also felt this wasn’t newsworthy, actually not covering the vote at all. Ditto the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and USA Today.
As for the New York Times, although its website published a Congressional Quarterly article on the subject Friday, LexisNexis is not indicating this got placed in any print edition.
Once again, imagine if this amendment had failed, or if a Democrat-proposed amendment to specifically fund a reinstated Fairness Doctrine had passed. Think the media would have been so nonplussed?
No. Neither do I.
The media also ignored the bill Pence introduced in the House Friday called the Broadcaster Freedom Act. Pence issued the following statement that no press outlet reported:
"Today, along with 111 co-sponsors I am proud to introduce the Broadcaster Freedom Act. The fight for freedom on the American airwaves is not over. With many still hoping to resurrect the Fairness Doctrine, we must continue to stay on the offense.
"Unless Congress addresses this threat to free speech, any future administration could impose this unfair doctrine upon America with the stroke of a pen.
"Although my amendment to the Financial Services Appropriations bill passed, prohibiting any funding to the FCC for the enforcement of the Fairness Doctrine should it be resurrected, we must keep in mind that it is only a one-year moratorium on funding. While I am pleased that 309 Members of Congress supported this short-term fix, it is my hope that they will continue to stand for freedom of speech by joining me in a long-term solution to the problem by passing the Broadcaster Freedom Act. There is nothing fair about the Fairness Doctrine."
I guess this wasn’t newsworthy either. So much for liberal media bias.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Can the Senate not bring eith
June 30, 2007 - 13:40 ET by ferrarimanf355Can the Senate not bring either bill up for a vote? I don't think it's newsworthy unless the Senate passes it.
And besides, if anyone actually read that Free Press report on talk radio, it doesn't advocate for the Fairness Doctrine, it advocates a return to the pre-Telecommunications Act of 1996 ways of strict media ownership regulations, which should foster greater ownership, and let the free market take over from there. I'm assuming that there was a kneejerk reaction to the report there...
Uzumaki/Ayanami '08. Because a ninja and an Eva pilot can govern the nation better that what we have now...
"I don't think it's newsworthy...."
June 30, 2007 - 13:45 ET by RJ"I don't think it's newsworthy unless the Senate passes it."
You mean the American House of Lords?
FAIR=liberal war cry
June 30, 2007 - 16:18 ET by kwTHANK GOODNESS. Anything with the term FAIR in it is some liberal mumbo jumbo. Fair is their twisted reality of how things ought to be...for example - fair is (9) Ruth Bader Ginsberg's on the Supreme Court, fair is all media outlets from TV to newspapers to radio being controlled by liberals while unfair is liberal controlled media "limited" to TV and print, fair is for affirmative action that promotes people based solely on race while unfair is promotions based on excellence and results, fair is for uniform tax cuts while unfair is more tax "cuts" for the "rich" despite paying the majority of all taxes, etc., etc. etc.
Something that doesn't fit
June 30, 2007 - 19:17 ET by GregESomething that doesn't fit the trend.......The "FairTax." Liberals view that as a tool of satan. But I know exactly what you meant. :-)
I'm tired of liberals framin
June 30, 2007 - 22:44 ET by fosstenI'm tired of liberals framing the argument from the start. They already own the term "Fairness Doctrine," and the average American rube has no clue as to its real meaning. Even Voinovich on Hannity's radio show thought it really meant 'being fair.'
What we need to do is have one of our guys in the American House of Lords introduce the actual Fairness Doctrine into committee, but rename it the Anti-Freedom of Speech Censorship Act To Repeal the First Amendment.
Then call a press conference and see how many press members show up. When they do, he can tell the press that this is a Democrat bill formerly known as the Fairness Doctrine.
It's worth a shot.
fossten,Great comment!Is this
June 30, 2007 - 22:56 ET by Blondefossten,
Great comment!
Is this what you're learning in law school? If so, I want to know where....I have lot sof nieces & nephews who need to matriculate there.
Matriculate?
June 30, 2007 - 23:13 ET by goldenthroatBlonde,
Matriculate? Watch your language!
Or is that something liberals do when no one else is around? :-)
Never spit on a man's face unless it's a liberal with his moustache on fire.
GT
June 30, 2007 - 23:19 ET by Noel SheppardGT,
You're correct. The other thing is that if you matriculate too much, you'll go blind! :-) ns
Hey Blonde,I have dropped out
June 30, 2007 - 23:34 ET by fosstenHey Blonde,
I have dropped out of law school after one semester. Wasn't for me. But I'm already over it...I'm starting an M.B.A. program in August.
Just get your nieces and nephews listening to Rush and reading Newsbusters and everything will work out fine.
Thanks for the encouragement!
fossten,Well...as much as I h
June 30, 2007 - 23:43 ET by Blondefossten,
Well...as much as I hate to say it....we have more than enough lawyers anyway! So welcome to the world of the M.B.A.'s.
:)
Fossten, it sounds as if you
July 1, 2007 - 21:00 ET by MikeBFossten, it sounds as if you are too honest to be a lawyer. Good move to the MBA program.
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
Ferrari
June 30, 2007 - 13:46 ET by Noel SheppardF,
As always, you've hit the nail right on the head. After all, the press totally ignored the Senate's deliberations concerning the immigration bill waiting to see what would happen if it passed and moved on to the House.
Thank you for setting us all straight on this matter. ns
Noel, I could almost see your
June 30, 2007 - 14:13 ET by NewsbusterbrownNoel, I could almost see your
June 30, 2007 - 14:19 ET by NewsbusterbrownNoel, I could almost see your tongue planted in your cheek from here. :-)BTW, I'm looking forward to the response to your post. The spin will make all of us dizzy.
As usual, MiataGirl has a ten
June 30, 2007 - 14:51 ET by Roger the ShrubberAs usual, MiataGirl has a tenuous, waif-like grasp on how the US gov't works.
No, that's not entirely fair.
June 30, 2007 - 15:31 ET by KC MulvilleNo, that's not entirely fair. It isn't "knee-jerk" to react to the flawed assumptions in the report. The supposed evidence for a dysfunctional ownership pattern is that talk radio isn't delivering an equal proportion of conservative and liberal views. And here we have the all-too-common conflict between liberals and conservatives. Liberals believe that unequal results must come from unequal opportunity. We believe that the marketplace already offers equal opportunity. The unequal results come from the fact that the radio audience doesn't support liberal points of view.
Again, the counter-evidence to the idea that it's merely a matter of ownership and not audience support is FoxNews. On television, where the ownership is overwhelmingly liberal, the networks are losing audience dramatically. Katie Couric and Brian Williams are losing audience at nearly 5% a year. But FoxNews is as strong as ever.
Which raises the question ... when are we going to see a conservative competitor to FoxNews, since that's where the audience is? Or, are we simply seeing that no one wants to invest in television when the internet is around? I honestly don't know.
*rolls eyes* First off, thi
July 1, 2007 - 11:12 ET by Virindiscreenwriter*rolls eyes*
First off, this vote isn't in response to the Free Press Report: It's in response to calls by House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Diane Feinstein and others who've spoken in favor of restoring the fairness doctrine [seen the news lately? Worth a look]. So these are two seperate issues...
Second: Or ARE they? The slicing up of ownership of radio as suggested by the UBER flawed Free Press Report (ad nauseum detailing of such flaws like the poor measure for 'conservative', limiting measure to conservative and liberal [vs. Populist, libertarian, green, moderate, independant, etc.], limitation to radio [instead of dealing with the elephant in the room--TV], exclusion of NPR in the measure, etc. being already well documented) is only one component of how this would work in favor of a liberal fairness doctrine, albeit it's the key peice.
By making radio stations locally owned, it makes them all vulnerable to harrassment by organized special interests. Couple the Free Press Report's radio-only hit on ownership, plus a liberal-fairness doctrine (one that recognizes only the liberal view vs. everyone else's) and that gives any liberal a veto on anything said on the airwaves: If a liberal doesn't like what someone said, (s)he can demand equal time to respond.
Apply enough pressure on each station, and suddenly you've got the chilling effect on free speech like back to the 1980's--with no radio station daring to say anything remotely in favor or opposition to anything.
"...And you yourself are a killer of children! Well, of course it's not true. But the world only believes what the media tells them to believe, and I tell the media what to believe. It's really quite simple." -Kane, 'Command and Conquer'
Headlines you'll never see:Hu
June 30, 2007 - 13:48 ET by pbanks7Headlines you'll never see:
Huge Loss for Pelosi, Reid, and Kennedy. Bush proves once again he is not a lame duck.
Frank Takes One for the Team
Bush Really Did Win
Bush Was Right
WMD's Found!
Ignorance is bliss. It's easier to repeat a mindless slogan than to do some actual research.
NoelYou mean the house has af
June 30, 2007 - 13:57 ET by botgNoel
You mean the house has affirmed a free media in the country? This news is certain crush Monty Lyons dream of a totalitarian leftist society!
Supreme Court, National Security, Borders, Fiscal Restraint, my litmus test for President.
Resolved: If a type of fairn
June 30, 2007 - 14:12 ET by Ten7sResolved: If a type of fairness doctrine ever does get reinstated, it should be a pilot program (for say 3 years). It should apply ONLY to Network TV and NPR. AND as NB is currently the beacon of fairness and non-bias, it should be administered exclusively by the NB Staff.
... And only Rush will be all
June 30, 2007 - 14:23 ET by ThisnThat... And only Rush will be allowed to deliver the daily reports!
Having Rush counterpoint th
June 30, 2007 - 14:33 ET by Ten7sHaving Rush counterpoint the most prominent reports might be a good place to start.
Hold the phone...
June 30, 2007 - 14:19 ET by goldenthroatThis amendment passed by a 73% margin? In OUR House of Representatives?
I think I just saw a pig fly past my window!
Never dance on an empty stomach unless it's a liberal.
Funny to see Obey, after all
June 30, 2007 - 14:48 ET by Roger the ShrubberFunny to see Obey, after all the bitching and moaning he did late in the week on this topic, voted for the amendment. But where is San Fran Nan?
June 30, 2007 - 14:49 ET by botgObey
June 30, 2007 - 15:43 ET by pocomocoI attempted to e-mail the following comment to Obey but, surprise, he doesn’t except out of state e-mails.
Honorable U.S. Representative David Obey,
I must agree with you that dissent in our country should not be allowed.
There have been many counties, past and present, that agree with your premise and took steps necessary to see that their governments were never criticized thereby giving them free-reign in their operation. That is, after all, what the Democrats want, isn’t it?
In order to accomplish your anti-criticism program might I suggest following the examples of Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, Syria, and Cuba, just to name a few, where dissent was successfully illuminated. They are the worlds shining models of what you want to do.
You should also consider repealing the 1st Amendment to the Constitution.
Power to the Democrats!
Hear Hear Pocomoco! They hear
June 30, 2007 - 16:15 ET by VT Con ManHear Hear Pocomoco! They heard us.
Also, on the media mum. The MSM aren't watched anymore, anyway. People who know what is going on know this "fairness" game is up (up, as in OVER)
Oh, brother!
June 30, 2007 - 20:06 ET by goldenthroatPocomoco,
ROFLMAO! We'd better throw in a repeal of the 2nd amendment, too, because in the world of left-coast, bleeding-heart, 'do as we say, not as we do' liberals, when guns are outlawed, at least conservatives will not have them!
The battle cry of the left: "Our minds are made up. Don't confuse us with the facts!"
And let's not forget our favo
June 30, 2007 - 20:35 ET by Cape ConservativeAnd let's not forget our favorite, south of the border guy, Hugo Chavez...not one for allowing anything but state-owned enterprises!!!
Anti-American Flag Lapel Pin
June 30, 2007 - 16:23 ET by Dave HighAnti-American Flag Lapel Pin Doctrine Voted Down in House: Media Mum
“In a stunning lack of acknowledgement for a classic conservative red herring media grab attempt, the MSM has not saluted the Republican effort to regain some support from the conservative talk show listener base this Saturday. By ignoring this stupid canard lamely generated by the right wing, the LIBERAL MEDIA (emphasis mine) is once again showing their stripes.”
continuing ....
Really, Noel. For one of the first times, LOL!!!! DH
High, Dave!Oh, that's right..
June 30, 2007 - 17:17 ET by Del DolemonteHigh, Dave!
Oh, that's right...Dave's not here...
Liberal Media stripes
June 30, 2007 - 17:37 ET by Cool ArrowLiberals have one stripe. A white one down the middle of their back. Symbolic of surrender and a nauseating permeating stench of soiled garments.
I notice that half the Demo
June 30, 2007 - 19:28 ET by dervishI notice that half the Democrats in the House voted for the amendment, too. Did they misunderstand it or something?
Dave High
June 30, 2007 - 19:57 ET by Noel SheppardDave,
Would you feel the same way if it had failed miserably, and the media were all over it? Or, how about if what was being voted on was the Fairness Doctrine itself, and it passed by a huge margin? Would this be a non-issue to you, Dave? ns
This is my point exactly, Noe
July 1, 2007 - 11:08 ET by Dave HighThis is my point exactly, Noel. The vote had absolutely no significance, it was a Republican red herring designed to rebuild support among the faithful, and it got exactly the attention it deserved. Republican house members and conservative talk show hosts get to high five each other while the rest of us yawn. I am suggesting that your indignation at the lack of media attention this vote recieved is overblown and misplaced; hence LOL!!!
Regards, Dave High
I agree. Nobody was really ta
July 1, 2007 - 12:32 ET by Roger the ShrubberI agree. Nobody was really talking about bringing the ole Fairness Doctrine back for the 2008 election.
Except for John Kerry.
And Dennis Kucinich.
And Maurice Hinchey.
And Diane Feinstein, Dick Durbin, and Nancy Pelosi.
Yep. It was all about the neocons, Dave. As usual, you hit the nail right in the ass.
I'm glad you do not handle my 401k.
I agree. It should have re
July 1, 2007 - 14:31 ET by dervishI agree. It should have received the same attention as other votes of no significance, red herrings designed to rebuild support among the faithful -- like, say, a certain-to-fail budget amendment to withdraw troops from Iraq. I don't remember the media playing that up. Oh, wait....
God bless Mike Pence
June 30, 2007 - 17:59 ET by Lame CherryOn this 4th of July season, I wanted to remind people in what Mike Pence accomplished, thanks to God, what absolute genuis we had in not only the Declaration of Independence but what followed almost a decade later in our Constitution.
People always talk about rights and point to that thing, but Mike Pence revealed something I do not even know Madison figured out nor Franklin knew and that is:
One rascal in 435 can literally so slow down dictatorship laws saving the American people that our American system is thee most God given greatest form of self government ever given to mankind.
In watching this for years, I honestly think we only have about a dozen good peole in Congress. The rest are dolts and there are just some backside of horses screwing things up continuously like Kennedy. It is the beauty of our founding documents which shine on days like this when one man, with one ammendment can shut down without bullets or FBI blackmail files an entire attack on the freedom of the United States body.
I just love this stuff and people who think people came up with the Constitution all their own only have to look at today. God was in that document and no one knew the safeguards which were all incorporated.
I say though God bless Mike Pence for standing on the deck when the rockets red glare was pounding Old Glory and rousing the slumbering mob to at least point their voting rifles in the right direction to rescue the fort of America from comrade Clinton.
This is a most wonderful day and a lesson for the 4th of July.
God bless America and all the good still in it.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
Thanks, Mike Pence! You gi
June 30, 2007 - 20:40 ET by Cape ConservativeThanks, Mike Pence! You give me hope...I have been down in the dumps lately, feeling very un-represented in Congress. You are indeed a true statesman and great congressional representative! Your constituents should be very proud!
The media is mum. Even Fox
June 30, 2007 - 21:45 ET by LilyPearlThe media is mum. Even Fox News was talking about it today like it was still an issue.