FAIRNESS DOCTRINE

The following is an article concerning the “Fairness Doctrine” that I came across and because it is so news worthy I thought it only prudent to share it.

Remember the slogan “CHANGE” so many were mindlessly chanting? Here is an example of what to expect. The majority of Republicans in Washington appear to be “RINO’s” and seem all to eager to buckle under, they have lost their character, whatever honorable convictions that prompted them to run for office has dissolved away as the shoulder up wanting to be included rather then to stand apart and cry “Not On My Watch!”

I picture B. O. as a runner heading towards a goal post that has in small print “socialism,” small print because he and his cohorts don’t want to seem to blatant about it, while in his rear stands the opposite goal post with giant print depicting the Constitution, The Bill of Rights, The Declaration of Independence. Obama is running at full speed towards his goal and only a few voices are screaming the warning to the people. At some point those that were so eager for change will find themselves sickened by what they see happening and will join with those that have been sounding the alarm; but by then will it be to late?

“Fairness Doctrine”

According to Congressman Mike Pence, and others, the Pelosi-controlled Congress HAS JUST RENEWED ITS ATTACK on Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham and others. They're ONCE AGAIN trying to shut down conservative talk-radio by bringing back the so-called Fairness Doctrine.

"Over the past few months, some of the most powerful Democrats in Congress have made their intentions to restore this Depression-era regulation clear. However, bringing back the Fairness Doctrine would amount to government control over political views expressed on the public airwaves. It is dangerous to suggest that the government should be in the business of rationing free speech."

Congressman Pence isn't the only one sounding the alarm.

Senator Jim DeMint says the Left's intention and goal is to silence millions of conservative Americans who disagree with the Left's warped vision for America.

"Democrats want to impose an unfair doctrine that destroys talk radio and silences the voices of millions of Americans who disagree with their vision for America. But the First Amendment of our Constitution guarantees the right of free speech, regardless of political affiliation..."

Senator John Thune tells us that the First Amendment to the United States Constitution is at risk and calls this draconian attempt by Pelosi and other leftists in Congress to impose their version of so-called "fairness" on the American people a "recipe for an Orwellian disaster."

"For over 200 years, the First Amendment has allowed Americans to voice opinions, thoughts and questions of their choosing without the fear of Government reprisal. This guarantee is now threatened by some liberal ideologues who are frustrated with the free flow of ideas on talk radio. ... I advise every American to be hesitant when government officials offer to regulate the media in the name of 'fairness.' ... Simply put, giving power to a few to impose 'fairness' in the media is a recipe for an Orwellian disaster."

And Congressman Greg Walden tells us that some Democrats seem to be INTENT on censoring speech on radio and television!

"The founders would spin in their graves at the thought of the government censoring speech on many of today's radio and television stations. Yet that's just what some Democratic leaders seem to be after. Whether as a throwback to the old Fairness Doctrine or under a less controversial guise, any effort to exert government control over speech on the airwaves is an insult to the principles behind the First Amendment."

To head-off sleazy, squalid schemes by the Pelosi Gang and the Obama Administration to curtail free speech, conservatives in Congress have introduced the Broadcaster Freedom Act of 2009 (S. 34), legislation designed to crush the poisonous head of the so-called Fairness Doctrine.

According to DeMint:

"The bill would prevent the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from reinstating the Fairness Doctrine, which would suppress free speech by requiring the government to monitor political views and decide what constitutes fair political discourse."

Make no mistake, the Pelosi Gang and the Obama Administration will continue their policy of obstruction and try to KILL the Broadcaster Freedom Act of 2009. They want NOTHING to stand in the way of their attempt to control what you and I see and hear on the radio and on television!

That's why we must go on OFFENSE RIGHT HERE AND RIGHT NOW! We must bombard our elected officials with Blast Faxes and force them to explain exactly why they view the First Amendment as a threat!

The Obama Administration can bring back the Fairness Doctrine WITHOUT a vote ever taking place in Congress.

Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi:

"You give president-elect Obama a few months or a few years in office, and pretty soon he will have appointed a majority of the Federal Communications Commission. And my fear is that Commission could re-impose the Fairness Doctrine without ever having a vote in the United States House or Senate."

And what happens if the Obama Administration brings back the Fairness Doctrine?

Bill Ruder, a top official in the Kennedy Administration, told us how the Fairness Doctrine worked in the good old' days when it was simply FCC policy:

"Our massive strategy was to use the Fairness Doctrine to challenge and harass right-wing broadcasters and hope the challenges would be so costly to them that they would be inhibited and decide it was too expensive to continue."

But we're fighting a two-front war because Nancy Pelosi can make "fairness" the law of the land as well... AND LIBERALS IN CONGRESS ARE WORKING TO DO THAT RIGHT NOW!

Vincent R. Caravan, writing in the Valley News, said:

"Senators Diane Feinstein of California and John Kerry of Massachusetts and Congresswoman Louise Slaughter of New York are pushing for passage of a new Fairness Doctrine. Their aim, of course, is to end conservative dominance of the American airways and the Internet."

Either way you slice it, the prognosis is grim.

Brian Anderson editor of the prestigious Manhattan Institute:

"The measure is just a sneaky way of shrinking the hosts like William Bennett and others of his ilk, or even getting them off the air altogether."

Joseph Farah of WorldNetDaily.com paints an even uglier picture:

"This legislation will be crafted with one purpose in mind - control. As far as the Democratic Congress is concerned, they have no worries about control of the Big Media. Big Media dance to their Big Government schemes without being provided choreography."

"The new 'Fairness Doctrine' is going to be written in a way that allows the government to mobilize community organizers to do Big Government's dirty work. Groups like Media Matters and ACORN will be named to community oversight boards to police the programming of local radio stations. These groups will not be promoting 'fairness.' They will be promoting their own narrow and extreme political agenda. Anything that deviates from it will generate complaints and letters and calls opposing license renewals."

Edward D. Michalek, of the Baxter Bulletin, in Mountain Home, Arkansas, wrote:

"If you've heard of the so-called 'Fairness Doctrine' on radio, you know there's nothing fair about it. The Fairness Doctrine is nothing more than censorship, pure and simple. ... Americans can make up their own minds about who we want to listen to on the radio and not have censorship of our news."

Does the Pelosi Gang really believe in giving both sides of the political debate voice?

For years, the American people have complained about the leftist bias of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR) - institutions supported by your tax dollars.

Viewers have been bombarded with attacks on orthodox Christianity; fawning, idealized depictions of Mohammad funded by the government of Saudi Arabia and the shameless nightly skewing of contemporary politics.

When decent Americans protested, the Left responded by thumbing its nose at us.

Smut floods our streets and our airwaves like an open sore. When the people complain, we are told that the First Amendment is pristine and should protect even objectionable speech. (We couldn't agree more.)

Okay... So why do liberals NOT apply the same standard to conservative political speech?

The hypocrisy is STAGGERING!

But that's what happens when "fairness" is under left-wing management: Intellectual tyranny... the old double standard... heads we win, tails you lose.

Anything the left agrees with is "fair" by definition. Equal time is NOT required.

Anything decent conservative Americans agree with is "hate-speech" and MUST be countered with opposing views. It's only right.

In some sick way, Pelosi and Obama and leftists will probably tell the American people that they're being "tolerant" by even allowing conservative or religious viewpoints to have ANY airtime at all!

America can't go there!

If this push for government control of political dialogue were an isolated phenomenon, that would be one thing - no more than an odd perversion of American values in a single industry.But suppression of free speech is rapidly becoming the American way.

With few exceptions, major newspapers, magazines and the major television networks are monolithically leftist. They steadily lose money, lay-off employees and go out of business, but they stay the course.

In a shocking majority of our colleges and universities, left-wing slogans and Marxist
Clichés have replaced genuine scholarship in the classroom and on the podium.Outside speakers with a conservative message are either banned by the administration or else drowned out by shouts, shrieks, and catcalls. Some are physically attacked. Conservative students are savaged by their professors and insulted and bullied by administrators.

Back in the old days, it was the Left that took to the streets, demanding the right to teach radical politics in the classroom and demonstrate in support of revolution.

They had their revolution and, like Stalin and Castro, they turned around and immediately repressed all dissent - EXACTLY WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN THEY IMPOSE THE FAIRNESS DOCTRINE.

Are you ready to let the federal government tell you what you can and can't hear on the radio or read on the Internet?

Jeff Mazzella
President, C F I F