Chris Wallace and Mike Gallagher did a good job of exposing Mark Green's double-talk on the Fairness Doctrine on today's Fox News Sunday.Green, who with his brother Stephen have brought Air America out of bankruptcy, was in to debate the issue against conservative talk-show host Gallagher. But when Wallace put it to Green that liberals have plenty of outlets for their views "without having the government mandate that they appear on radio," Green's answer was astounding.
AIR AMERICA'S MARK GREEN: I don't want the government to mandate that.Really? Expanding on his answer, Green said he doesn't favor the Fairness Doctrine, but wants broadcasters to "have diverse views for diverse communities" and "have local hearings for license renewals."
When Gallagher observed that "it's preposterous to propose that the government mandate speech," Green retorted snidely.
GREEN: Mike, I don't blame you for pretending that you didn't listen to me. I don't want the government to mandate speech.When Green repeated his claim that he didn't support the Fairness Doctrine, Wallace interjected.
FOX NEWS SUNDAY HOST CHRIS WALLACE: Wait a second, Mr. Green, let me ask you about that. First of all, I believe you told our people that you did support the Fairness Doctrine. But if you weren't going to do the Fairness Doctrine, what's the point of all this? If some station has completely conservative talk and doesn't want to put on a liberal, what's going to happen? Are they going to lose their license?"Story Continues Below Ad ↓
MARK GREEN: No . . . you have to go to the community for a license renewal proceeding . . . "The Fox News host and the talk-radio host began to tighten the screws on Green.
WALLACE: Whether it's the Fairness Doctrine or government licensing, what you're basically saying is the government would force stations to have opposing points of view.Rather than giving a straight answer, Green of all things invoked "white baseball owners in the 1940s [who] wouldn't hire black players even though it was in their interest."
Gallagher had had enough, responding with a derivise laugh.
Bingo.TALK RADIO HOST MIKE GALLAGHER: Black baseball players? Come on. With all due respect, you're doing what Air America does on a regular basis: you're talking out of both sides of your mouth . . . You're denying that you want the government to mandate speech on the radio airwaves, and then you turn around and you say you want to have government renewing licenses or not renewing licenses . . . you want the government to step in and not renew a license because you don't have enough liberal views on wildly successful talk radio networks like the Salem Radio Network, the one I work for. You can't have it both ways, Mr. Green. You either want the government to step in or your don't.
So what happened here? My guess is this: Wallace wanted to set up a debate between a supporter and an opponent of the Fairness Doctrine. When Wallace's staff approached Green, the Air America host, eager for air time, claimed he did support the Fairness Doctrine. He was either not telling the truth then, or when on the show he claimed not to support the doctrine. My guess is he'd be happy to see the Fairness Doctrine adopted, but somehow figured that achieving the same goal via the local-licensing ruse sounded more palatable for today's purposes.
In any case shame on Green for his intellectual dishonesty and kudos to Wallace and Gallagher for exposing it.
Contact Mark at mark@gunhill.net
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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The sad part is supporters of
July 1, 2007 - 13:37 ET by Mica the MagnificentMan! Going from point 'a' to point 'b' with Mark (Green) Green took us through d, f, q, and k.
What's the Fairness Doctrine? Just a bumper sticker! Licensing of radio stations, now that's where the 'fairness' begins! - - What Mark (Green) Green said in a nutshell
different letters
July 1, 2007 - 14:19 ET by Pragmatic-ManI would say it took us through w, t, and *. Actually, having the licenses revoked makes way for libs to grab the frequency all for themselves. This would seem like a clean sweep to them, on the surface. But if this were to come about, they would soon realize the same thing current station managers realize... conservo radio sells. Pursuing the impossible fairness doctrine simply strangles the current atmosphere of free debate, and leaves the airwaves devoid of any meaningful discourse.
And after seeing the House vote last week concerning the doctrine, I would say chances are slim to none for any legislation prior to Hitlary taking office.
Great anology Mica and P-M
July 1, 2007 - 15:00 ET by acumenGreat anology Mica and P-M. It's my opinion that the libs are scared to death of losing their ability to control all thought. Brainwashing 101 - If the liberal viewpoint is all that is available via the media, with no opposing view, then it MUST be the correct viewpoint because it is the ONLY viewpoint. That is how the liberal media up until recently obtained the default "mainstream" misnomer - They were the ONLY voice, hence with no different/oppossing view, mainstream.
In reality, the "mainstream" media opinions are so far to the left of what is actual mainstream America, they find themselves unable to compete now that actual with conservative networks/programming is available in all forms of media. With competing ideologies available in many media outlets to most Americans, the liberal media see their audience dwindling in most markets while the "upstart" conservative outlets contiune to experience growth. If this was not the case, we would not see the blatant attacks against Fox News and talk radio. There would be no need. This Green double-talk with the only aim of silencing a dissenting voice is shameful 1984 Orwellian practice on full display and reflects the arrogance of people like Green on the far left. Green and others on the left have become the establishment they pretend to abhor.
They have no convictions, other than they know what is best for the rest of us. Most of their arguments/ideology is based on self-serving lies, not remotely based on logic or common sense. Their only remaining defense of media turf is to attack and silence the competition. The left cannot win in the arena of ideas due to their ideology based on mis-information and duplicity - Green is the perfect example of that shortcoming of the left and the sole reason the left is adamant in silencing the competition.
pictures and frames
July 1, 2007 - 15:41 ET by Pragmatic-ManAs libs are wont to do...
The picture is what the picture is, but the frame... you can make the frame look any way you wish. And the frame is what sets the tone for interpretation of the picture.
What does this mean? It means that no matter the content of the news, if you control the media you can frame events to conform to your agenda.
Libs build elaborate picture frames, whereas conservatives throw the snapshots on the table, digesting them for their actual content. And when you close the picture frame shop, the libs get restless and worried. They know what the pictures actually mean, and that is the greatest travesty of all... they are not ignorant in their denial. They are fully aware of the lies they tell.
One word: ChavezOne word: C
July 1, 2007 - 18:48 ET by leeproOne word: Chavez
One word: Castro
One word: Hitler
Need I say more?
Left
July 2, 2007 - 09:34 ET by cvgbuckeyeThere is a poetic reason that the words "left" and "liar" both start with the same letter and have an equal number of letters.
There was a long lost and recently discovered Law of Isaac Newton's: The further "left" is the political position, the bigger is the lie to justify it. The further Right is the political position, the more the left will lie to spurn it.
It's quite similar to gravity, you know. It just keeps pulling us down.
Fairness Doctrine: Hire a L
July 1, 2007 - 13:56 ET by BacchusFairness Doctrine: Hire a Liberal Talk Show Host employment program.
radio
July 1, 2007 - 14:21 ET by Emma GrumpLemme see - Green doesn't want a government mandate, (but he really does), and he just wants us to listen to liberal talk radio instead of conservative talk radio, because he knows what's best for us. Maybe the libs could name their next foray into talk radio, "Air Hindenburg" in anticipation of the end result.
Typical of the left...they al
July 1, 2007 - 14:24 ET by BlondeTypical of the left...they always try to have their cake and eat it too.
Good job of exposing Green's dishonest double standard by Wallace & Gallagher.
Correction: Typical of the
July 1, 2007 - 18:45 ET by leeproCorrection: Typical of the left...they always try to have MY cake and eat it too.
No offense, Blonde. This just kinda hit me. Wanted to use the Strike-through format on your word "their," but it isn't working.
the unfainess doctrine...
July 1, 2007 - 15:07 ET by danybhoyMark Green was getting beat up by Gallacher in this one, so when he claims he does'nt want gov't intervention, he's more full of crap then a whale with no a$$. He been exposed for the fraud he is. So has the auther of the report, Paul "woody" Woodhull. "Woody" has a finacial stake in in lib shows Ed Schultz & Bill Press. I believe Press does his show from the Center for (regressive) American Progress headquarters, or CrAP(yea, it's a Levin reference).
Keep something in mind folks, when you listen to all of these "progressives" bellyaching about the "Fairness Doctorine", remember one of the 1st things that happens in a coup is that the mass media is taken over. TV & radio are used as tools to control informantion, this is a poor disguised effort to do this in a roundabout way. Which is also why the a bill titled the "Broadcaster Protection Act" needs to be passed. Pence in the House & McCain are the main guys pimping it on the Capital Hil. Let your elected officials know.
I will leave you with this, I remember an old print ad many years ago, it said on the bottom "The experts agree, Censorship Works"... the page was setioned off into quarters, it had 4 men pictured, Stalin, Castro, Mao, & the Allahtollah. I wish I had a copy of it still.
"A goverment big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away" Barry Goldwater
unfairness doctrine
July 1, 2007 - 17:06 ET by skclewis"one of the 1st things that happens in a coup is that the mass media is taken over." Where was the outcry from all these liberals over fairness when Chavez closed down all the opposition media outlets? And where's the fairness on NPR (which is only on the air because of taxpayer dollars)? Though I have only listened to it a few times (mainly cause I got tired of all the liberal drivel) and I don't recall ever hearing an alternative viewpoint. Conservative talk radio, as many others have pointed out, is on the air because it sells. If NPR's programming was put on the free market, it would die a painful death.
It is necessary for every American, with becoming energy to endeavor to stop the dissemination of principles evidently destructive of the cause for which they have bled.
db - here's the ad - just hav
July 1, 2007 - 19:27 ET by FastEddb - here's the ad - just have to ask.
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
thanks...
July 2, 2007 - 08:34 ET by danybhoyTHAT'S THE AD!! Though I mistakenly had Mao instead of Hitler, I'll say 2 things. First it's been at least 15 years since I last saw it, & secondly, Mao/Hitler, Hitler/Mao, 6 of one, 1/2 a dozen of the other.
Thanks Fast Ed & good work.
"A goverment big enough to give you all you want is big enough to take it all away" Barry Goldwater
He does want the Fairness Doc
July 1, 2007 - 15:16 ET by general companyHe does want the Fairness Doctrine, he just doesn't want it called the Fairness Doctrine. They want to regulate the airwaves but under a different guise, so they can tell the folks we are just being fair and are only looking our for the public interest. Much like PBS and NPR. They want the ball, to make the rules, and hire the ref's, then it is fair!
Just like the Liberals who
July 1, 2007 - 15:35 ET by motherbeltJust like the Liberals who don't want to "squelch freedom of speech" but also think that there should be limits ("speech codes") way before the "Fire!" in a crowded theater boundary. They proclaim to want freedom of the airways (as long as their criteria for "fairness" are met.) The other day here on NB there was a posting by one of the staff of a story that included some liberal complaining that they were concerned that talk radio was not meeting the "listening needs" of all Americans. As if we have listening "needs", not that we should listen to what we want to.
And let me guess, who would decide what those "listening needs" are???????
Listening needs
July 1, 2007 - 15:43 ET by Cool ArrowWonder what Abraham Lincoln's "listening needs" were?
Of course If he'd had Talk Radio, I guess the Democrap Party would still be buying and selling Negroes rather than herding them into "one choice fits all" voting booths.
Intersting development.
July 1, 2007 - 17:50 ET by c5thenA liberal who previously says that thay are a supporter of reviving the Fairness Doctrine actually tries to obfuscate it while on FNC with an opponent.
You wouldn't see that attempted on any of the MSM networks. Only the "biased " FNC would dare to attempt to give both sides of an issue.
The day that "politician" became a career choice is the day we started losing the Republic
FNC would dare to attempt to
July 1, 2007 - 20:53 ET by general companyFNC would dare to attempt to give both sides of an issue.
Yea,, that is why I have a terrible time watching other news programs. I am the only one with an alternate point of view and nobody can hear me but my wife,,,,,,,
What is wrong with these libe
July 1, 2007 - 18:29 ET by Atomic CrusaderWhat is wrong with these liberals?? There is a saying "life isn't fair." The universe, the cosmos, are not fair. What they are is competetive and predatory. Thats just the way it is and no amount of legislation will ever change that. Liberals need to realize that they will always fail if they are not willing to compete. Weenies.
It is ever more revolting to me as an Independant (who could possibly vote Democrat, it could happen) to watch the leaders of the Democrat party like Feinstein, Kerry, Pelosi, Reid (I know, Lott too) and the rest start whining just this past week about the Fairness Indoctrination. And Hillary - we know Podesta is working for you. Shame on all of them for attacking a fundamental human right which they are sworn to protect, free speech. Repugnant and disgusting.
Life isn't fair?
July 1, 2007 - 18:34 ET by Cool ArrowLife isn't fair? Compered to .... what?
Math.Everything is exact and
July 1, 2007 - 18:59 ET by Mica the MagnificentMath.
Everything is exact and fair in math.
you forgot your 'greater than
July 1, 2007 - 19:04 ET byyou forgot your 'greater thans' and 'less thans'
In fact Taylors Therom is an approximation of area under a curve which is a precurser to calculus
“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -Chief Justice John Roberts
I see . . .So 'greater thans
July 1, 2007 - 19:09 ET by Mica the MagnificentI see, however . . .
'Greater thans and less thans' are grey areas . . . such as 'are terrorists really bad?'
Grey areas are liberal domains and therefore . . .
fair.
Whatever is unfair wait a hun
July 1, 2007 - 18:36 ET byWhatever is unfair wait a hundred years, there is an end that comes to all, a live dog is stronger than a dead lion etc.
“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -Chief Justice John Roberts
"In any case shame on Gr
July 1, 2007 - 19:09 ET by Rackie"In any case shame on Green for his intellectual dishonesty..."
I, for one, am surprised.
And Mark Green is supposed to
July 1, 2007 - 20:51 ET by Gat New YorkAnd Mark Green is supposed to be the great savior of Air America. Really? I see his strategy now is to succeed by forcing everyone else off the air until all we are left with is his Radio Tass.
Maybe he's pushing for the Fa
July 1, 2007 - 20:53 ET byMaybe he's pushing for the Fairness Doctrine because he knows unless he is "forced" to have some coherent conservatives on his venue he will lose lots of money.
“The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.” -Chief Justice John Roberts
Don't you just love the way M
July 1, 2007 - 21:27 ET by BlazerDon't you just love the way Mark Green comes off as a liberal activist in free market businessman clothing. "Oh poor me, how will I get anyone to listen to my programming unless the government can force all of the other programs off of the air!"
What these guys fail to realize is conservatives as an audience are the most educated, well informed group, who actively seek out alternate news, and information. We dont' have to have it dumbed down, and force fed to us by the MSM.
Listen to just fifteen minutes of "Scare America", and it's monotonous, monotone, tin-foil hat conspiracy driven programming, and it's no surprise why most liberals would rather pop in a Britney Spears CD, or catch up with the latest on Paris Hilton, or Lindsay Lohan. It's hard to imagine the average liberal hating America, and being as depressed as the Al Frankens, and Janeane Garrofalo's of the world.
If Mark Green thought liberal talk radio was a profitable venture then he should have asked himself why George Soros didn't throw a few million at it every other month when it went broke, "Scare America" being the liberal "golden child", and all? Evidently George Soros isn't as dumb, and foolish as Mark Green, and his brother with his money.
Note to self Mr. Green: If you want to make a wiser venture with your money next time, invest in something more profitable, like selling ice cubes to Eskimo's.
"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious. "
- Ben Kenobi on Liberals, and the MSM.
Fairness Doctrine
July 2, 2007 - 08:50 ET by misterbee241A liberal being dishonest? I'm shocked, shocked I tell you (apologies to Captain Renaud).
This fairness stuff is nothing more than attempt by the Democrat party to put consevative talk radio out of business. If I understand this correctly, if you have, say, 12 hours of Rush, then you would have to broadcast 12 hours of Alan Colmes. Radio time is not free - it has to be paid for, and sponsors of the shows pay for the airtime for the shows. If no one sponsors 12 hours of Alan Colmes, and the station has to broadcast it anyway, that is a financial loss for the station, thus bankruptcy and off the air, and bingo - no more conservative talk radio. Can someone tell me if I'm wrong about this?
Green said he doesn't favor t
July 2, 2007 - 23:19 ET by liberal_bug_zapperGreen said he doesn't favor the Fairness Doctrine, but wants broadcasters to "have diverse views for diverse communities" and "have local hearings for license renewals."
Local hearings for license renewals sounds like socialism. and socialism in that sense is a form of government, and government cannot regulate speech. And radio is without a doubt a speech only medium which means that the only regulation must be first come first serve to the spectrum licensing... and that's it. no yearly payments.... as that puts an unfair tax on speech.
God I hate Liberals.
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"We can only reason from what is; we can reason on actualities, but not on possibilities." ~ Thomas Paine