Obama makes it clear: No ‘Fairness Doctrine’
“President Obama opposes any move to bring back the so-called Fairness Doctrine, a spokesman told FOXNews.com Wednesday.
The statement is the first definitive stance the administration has taken since an aide told an industry publication last summer that Obama opposes the doctrine — a long-abolished policy that would require broadcasters to provide opposing viewpoints on controversial issues.
“As the president stated during the campaign, he does not believe the Fairness Doctrine should be reinstated,” White House spokesman Ben LaBolt told FOXNews.com….
Fueling discussion, a report in the American Spectator this week said aides to Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman, Calif., met last week with staff for the Federal Communications Commission to discuss ways to enact Fairness Doctrine policies. The report said Waxman was also interested in applying those standards to the Internet, which drew ridicule from supporters and opponents of the doctrine.
Both the FCC and Waxman’s office denied the report.”
As Fox notes, the idea that the Fairness Doctrine could somehow be applied to the Internet exposes that entire American Spectator report as nonsensical rubbish. Besides the utter impractibility — what, personal blogs would have to offer balance? — broadcast outlets could be legally bound by the Fairness Doctrine only because they were using publicly owned airwaves. The Internet is not publicly owned.
Of course, Obama’s clear statement doesn’t mean that the right will stop getting hysterical about this issue. That is what they do, that is what they will continue to do, and the rest of the country will increasingly tune them out as a result.
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152 comments Add your comment
CommunistAJC
February 19th, 2009
1:05 pm
It will be brought in as a new name. It’s no coincidence that Bill Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and a lot of other democrats are talking about this plan. For all we know it could have been slipped into the stimulus package. Why, because NO ONE READ IT!
Vinny
February 19th, 2009
1:05 pm
Jay, Jay, Jay. Since when can we believe a word that comes out of Barry the bumbler’s mouth? (No pork or earmarks in stimulus, and No Lobbyists in his Cabinet didn’t exactly ring true, now did it?)
When people like Senator Harkin, Senator Stabenow, & Senator Bingaman start calling for bringing back the Fairness Doctrine, you have to take it that they mean it.
Barry has proven himself to be nothing but an incompetent liar, so we will not take his word on anything.
Copyleft
February 19th, 2009
1:07 pm
See what trying to reason with the wingnuts gets you, Jay? About the same thing it got Obama… denial, delusion, and venom.
Just ignore them. We have a country to repair.
ByteMe
February 19th, 2009
1:08 pm
and the rest of the country will increasingly tune them out as a result.
And then Commie comes with: It will be brought in as a new name. It’s no coincidence that Bill Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and a lot of other democrats are talking about this plan
And here’s ByteMe changing the channel to tune him out…..
DB, Gwinnettian
February 19th, 2009
1:15 pm
“They get bitter, and they cling to guns, and religion, and belief that the PC Police will impose an super-magical Fairness Doctrine while forcing their sons to wear dresses and their ministers to perform gay marriages.”
–what Obama should’ve said.
Bosch
February 19th, 2009
1:24 pm
DB,
You forgot the prayer mats.
getalife
February 19th, 2009
1:29 pm
Red meat to keep the cons scared.
Such cowards.
Scared of words like these:
“They’re worse than useless. These are terrorists. These are domestic terrorists. They want the country
to fail, for God’s sake. They want exactly what anyone who attacked this country on September 11, 2001 wanted.
The real internal terrorists are the Republicans, I mean, isn’t that clear? Rush Limbaugh is a bigger threat to
this country than Osama bin Laden. He’s a bigger threat than anybody that the CIA can invent. He’s a bigger
threat than any terrorist that ever leveled its sights against the United States, Limbaugh is, so why isn’t he
arrested and sentenced for treason?”
— Mike Malloy
Ray
February 19th, 2009
1:31 pm
Obama will spend his efforts on education – the ultimate weapon for taking out FOX. Much like there are those who swear by the GLOBE while waiting in line to pay for their pigs feet and PBR, there will always be a plop of cheney dung that calls FOX news. However, as education goes up – this nasty weight on America will inevitable decrease.
CommunistAJC
February 19th, 2009
1:32 pm
ByteMe,
oh no, ByteMe, you really hurt my feelings. What ever will I do? Go sell stupid somewhere else.
Analysis: Democrats self-destructing over ethics
By LARRY MARGASAK
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration and the new Congress are quickly handing over to Republicans the same “culture of corruption” issue that Democrats used so effectively against the GOP before coming to power.
Freshman Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., is only the latest embarrassment.
Senate Democrats accepted Burris because they believed what he told them: He was clean. Burris now admits he tried to raise money for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who authorities say sought to sell President Barack Obama’s former Senate seat.
“The story seems to be changing day by day,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Wednesday.
The political mess for the Democratic Party, however, isn’t Burris’ conduct alone; it’s the pattern that has developed so quickly over the past few months.
_The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., is the subject of a House ethics investigation. It’s partly focused on his fundraising practices for a college center in his name, his ownership financing of a resort property in the Dominican Republic and his financial disclosure reports.
_Federal agents raided two Pennsylvania defense contractors that were provided millions of dollars in federal funding by Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., chairman of the House Appropriations defense subcommittee.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j44ku9zUM9IEdkkoWbIYStDVE6SwD96EH4JO0
jdelaney3
February 19th, 2009
1:32 pm
In cohoots with others in the liberal “leaderhsip”, Waxman (Commerce Comm. Chair) and Copps (Acting FCC Chairperson)are contining to plot reinstatement of some form of the Fairness Doctrine. Of course, being the…slippery…fellows they are, it won’t be called Fairness Doctrine. Look for “localism” and “local broadcaster advisory boards” and “broadcast diversity”. Code words for broadcaster control A rose by any other name. These relentless socialists haven’t given up. You can take that to the bank.
Cherokee
February 19th, 2009
1:33 pm
So predictable, a clear statement by the Prez, but Vinny – led by his leaders in talk radio – will soldier on.
The Dems would never re-implement the Fairness Doctrine anyway – Limbaugh, Hannity, and Boortz are the best friends the Dems have. Every time Boortz whines about the “Mexican Invasion”, a few more people are driven into the arms of the Dems.
ByteMe
February 19th, 2009
1:38 pm
Commie: (Fingers in ears) La La La La La La La…. I can’t heeeeear youuuuuu!!!!
Heh heh.
CommunistAJC
February 19th, 2009
1:44 pm
ByteMe,
I don’t think that’s a finger in your ear. I think you’ve been in the stalls with Larry Craig one too many times. Joke ByteMe. Don’t get all offended on me.
Taxpayer
February 19th, 2009
1:49 pm
ByteMe,
You funny.
Foxie news lover!!!
February 19th, 2009
1:50 pm
This cannot be true. I heard just the opposite on Fox and several of the honest true Americans on AM talk shows. I am sorry. But this is just false information propigated by the AJC which is in the pocket of the pinko lefty communist in the goverment who are better known as democrats.
Mrs. Godzilla
February 19th, 2009
1:50 pm
Commie….
Your supposed to be checking for another source for top ten list with reagan on it….get busy dude. (read downstairs for compassionate smackdown)
On current topic:
First it seems odd that anyone would oppose something called a “fairness” doctrine. But I guess it’s a republispeak issue.
We can certainly do without it.
Perhaps a more careful and painstaking review at renewal time as to whether they are fulfilling their responsibility to serve the public good is in order.
Taxpayer
February 19th, 2009
1:51 pm
How we know you Foxie. You have picture to prove.
Chad Harris
February 19th, 2009
1:53 pm
Elections have consequences and the consequences of all Presidential and 2010/2012s are that Wingnutters are confined to pointless crying on blogs far from any input into decisions that matter.
Chad Harris
February 19th, 2009
1:55 pm
Let’s see if ole to the right of the Base Jindal enrages LA voters by turning down the Stim money, biting off his wingnut nose to spite his wingnut face.
CommunistAJC
February 19th, 2009
1:56 pm
Mrs. Godzilla,
you wrote: First it seems odd that anyone would oppose something called a “fairness” doctrine. But I guess it’s a republispeak issue.
Um, hate to break it to you comrade but Bookman doesn’t support it. It curbs free speech. You do enjoy free speech don’t you?
Midori
February 19th, 2009
2:00 pm
Getalife!!
you listen to Mike, too?
I LOVE THAT GUY!!!
BTW – lives in my neighborhood
Chad Harris
February 19th, 2009
2:08 pm
The fact that the base touts Faux as a legitimate news source is evidence that they will be again relegated to the decision making sidelines in 2010/2012.
Looks like a lot of Republican tax cheats (17,000)are about to have the IRS and DOJ sicked on ‘em since UBS has agreed to turn snitch on their 17,000 Swiss secret illegal bank account havens. Who is the Chief Lobbyist and Board Member of UBS? Ole Dereg ah made the Depression himself–Phil Gramm. Here’s hopin ole Phil and Wendy Lee had money stached in a UBS account hiding it from the IRS.
Roy Blunt will face Dem Secretary of State Robin Carnahan for retiring Kit Bond’s Senate seat and this is one more chance for the Dems to push over 60 in 2010. This is going to be a close race and hugely financed.
Blunt will probably have a primary challenger and he already has a lot of money as does his opponent.
Chad Harris
February 19th, 2009
2:12 pm
The “fairness doctrine” could never be enforced on the web even if it happened (and it won’t) and most of the large media organizations are owned by Right wingers including Cox News.
What happened to Bill Maher when he had the guts to state the truth –that the Iraq fiasco was a waste of lives and a money hamorrhage. Disney canned him.
Clear Channel has been a right wing big foot for its entire existence although it’s financially on the ropes with it’s buyout threatened (thassa good thing as Martha Steward would say) right now.
Joe
February 19th, 2009
2:18 pm
Chad,
Jindal isn’t a wingnut. He’s just trying to get the VP bid that should have been his instead of Palin’s.
On topic: We have not needed such a statute in decades, especially in the era of the internet, satellite TV, and the scourge of Bosch’s life, DVRs and Tivo.
Recall, the Fairness Doctrine was originally meant to allow people to respond to personal attacks. Now, they can do so by posting to their blog or going on satellite radio or channel 600 or whatever.
Joe
February 19th, 2009
2:21 pm
The “fairness doctrine” could never be enforced on the web even if it happened (and it won’t) and most of the large media organizations are owned by Right wingers including Cox News.
Would that be the same Cox News who owns the AJC? But wait, aren’t the media, by definition, a bunch of leftist loons?
Maybe, just maybe, someone is correct and the media care only about profits…
ByteMe
February 19th, 2009
2:29 pm
Commie: I mention fingers and your mind jumps to the infamous toilet stall? Uh…. I’m speechless.
Ok, let me throw in a “Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”
CommunistAJC
February 19th, 2009
2:33 pm
ByteMe,
just throwing out one of your favorite republicans. I mean, I see his name mentioned on these blogs frequently. Again, in case you didn’t read the rest of my comments. IT WAS A JOKE!
Chad Harris
February 19th, 2009
2:34 pm
Joe all your comments about the media and profits particularly in this incredibly tough environment are right on point. Jindal’s track record has been a very right wing religious oriented agenda (I’m old fashioned and think it is hypocritical for both sides to use religion as a political campaign crutch including Obama although I don’t doubt the important role it plays in his personal life –which is fine but I don’t see the need for it in government or think it’s appropriate).
Jindal has threatened to turn down the money from the Stim but legally although I haven’t seen the details translated and I’m not going to read an 1100 plus bill he couldn’t turn down many of its components anyway.
I hope he tries though.
gttim
February 19th, 2009
2:41 pm
Funny how the wingnuts always call the media liberal and unfair to them, but when presented with the Fairness Doctrine to even it up, so they can get their fair share or representation in the media, they scream like scalded children that they “do not want it!” What does that tell you about their ludicrous claims of the media, owned and operated by the largest and most conservative corporations in the country, being liberal?
Mrs. Godzilla
February 19th, 2009
2:48 pm
gttm
BRILLIANT!
Truth
February 19th, 2009
2:48 pm
gttim… That is because we believe in the fair market. Yes most of the news media are libral, but the most watched network is Fox News… Air America couldn’t make it because there isn’t a demand for it. Rush, Hannity, Boortz, etc. have a demand therefore they succeed.
Chad Harris
February 19th, 2009
2:53 pm
How ’bout this paradox. The most watched Cable network is Faux–yet Rachel Maddow and KO are beating them in their time periods and the fact that Faux is the most watched Cable overall simply means that their viewers are out of touch and can’t muster the votes to matter in any election with the exception of poorly educated red necked white cracker states like Jaw Jaw.
Faux viewers can’t help the Repubs win in 2010 in House or Senate nor in 2012 against Obama.
gttim
February 19th, 2009
2:54 pm
[T]he most watched network is Fox News
The most watch “cable news network” is Fox. All network news kills it. WWE wrestling kills it. If MSNBC was offered on basic cable like Fox is, they would kill it. However, MSNBC is not basic cable lineups because the people with the cable, and satellite systems won’t put it on most basic cable lineups. Yet, being available in far less households, MSNBC beats Fox in many demos. Plus, Fox is bleeding viewers.
FYI Liberals hate CNN as much as you guys do. And MSNBC can’t be called all that liberal when they still employ Scarborough, which has really crappy ratings, doesn’t it?
Chad Harris
February 19th, 2009
2:56 pm
I’d like to hear the wingnuts name one media organization whose control is by anything but very conservative executives including Cox News because Anne Cox Chambers, the world’s six richest woman has little input in the day to day running of Cox. She has more impact on wings in the High Museum.
AJC/DNC Management
February 19th, 2009
2:58 pm
Yeah, I wonder what the democrats will change the name to when they bring it back.
ew
Chad Harris
February 19th, 2009
2:58 pm
Name one media corp. controlled by liberals.
Chad Harris
February 19th, 2009
3:00 pm
The only thing the dems are bringing back is a fillibuster proof Senate and defeat for thugs in 2010, 2012,and 2016. You can take that to your Gramm Depression ridden bank.
Truth
February 19th, 2009
3:10 pm
Chad, you need to chill out… Your token guy is in the office. Your anger is boiling over and it is becoming quite funny.
gttim
February 19th, 2009
3:13 pm
That is because we believe in the fair market.
So you are saying that since you believe in the fair market, and Fox News has tiny percentage of viewers compared to the so called “liberal” network news and other cable news shows, then there are really hardly any conservatives interested in watching a conservative network. You are saying that Fox News is a ratings failure? You seem to be going around in circles. I just want to get your position nailed down.
Joe
February 19th, 2009
3:15 pm
“Truth”,
Your posts (and those of several others in the wake of the election) stand as evidence that Attorney General Holder’s comments are accurate.
Bosch
February 19th, 2009
3:18 pm
“Rush, Hannity, Boortz, etc. have a demand therefore they succeed”
Which sometimes causes me to lose sleep at night.
AJC/DNC Management
February 19th, 2009
3:19 pm
Taxpayer February 19th, 2009 1:01 pm Run, you tax evaders, you scum. Run. Run faster.
Don’t stand in the doorway of the democrat Congressional caucus, because if you do, you’ll get trampled, bwahahahahahaha, bozos.
Shawny
February 19th, 2009
3:20 pm
The ‘right is hysterical about this issue’ because the left keeps threatening to use it. Without the threats, there is no hysteria…duh. Now get off your high horse and get real.
Obama is smart enough to know that the ‘fairness’ doctrine amounts to censorship, and that is a trick box he does not want to get into. Therefore, we need to ‘cull the herd’ and eliminate all legislators that favor it. It is wrong.
Rodney D
February 19th, 2009
3:22 pm
All radio stations are in business for the money. If there was a left based talk show host that could bring in the money that Rush and Hannity do, they’d be put on. But there’s not. If I owned a station I’d put on the host that could bring in the most revenues. It wouldn’t be based on political agenda; it’s based on da money. The Dems. Just don’t have any hosts worth listening to, or they’d be on. So basically this is about free enterprise and free speech.
Shawny
February 19th, 2009
3:22 pm
2:58. General Electric, parent of NBC, and even worse, MSNBC which is extremely liberal. Olbermann, Maddow, et al are sickenly partisan.
Copyleft
February 19th, 2009
3:24 pm
Aside from the fact that there’s no effort to reinstitute it (which is a shame)… what, exactly, is wrong with it? At a conceptual level, “fairness” shouldn’t terrify people who claim to value free speech and open debate as much as the wingnuts do.
radiowxman
February 19th, 2009
3:26 pm
New York Times corp.
CommunistAJC
February 19th, 2009
3:27 pm
Chad Harris,
you wrote: yet Rachel Maddow and KO are beating them in their time periods and the fact that Faux is the most watched Cable overall
Not according to the Neilsen ratings, Chad. Maddow finished behind a walking corpse. Larry King beat her Chad. Maddow didn’t even get as many viewers as Keith Olberslug.
8PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
The O’Reilly Factor—3,494,000 viewers (991,000) (1,455,000)
Campbell Brown—1,006,000 viewers (243,000) (402,000)
Countdown w/Keith Olbermann –1,385,000 viewers (482,000) (762,000)
CNBC Reports—249,000 viewers (97,000) (152,000)
Nancy Grace –1,245,000 viewers (429,000) (633,000)
9 PM – P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Hannity–2,658,000 viewers (732,000) (1,102,000)
Larry King Live—1,761,000 viewers (449,000) (719,000)
Rachel Maddow Show –1,240,000 viewers (397,000) (656,000)
Saving GM: Inside Crisis–393,000 viewers (189,000) (246,000)
Lou Dobbs Tonight- 529,000 viewers (234,000) (299,000)
Disgusted
February 19th, 2009
3:27 pm
Democrats ought to help pay for right-wing radio. The more these nut cases spout off, the more they get dismissed by independents.
Consider this and other AJC blogs as a reflection of that nuttiness. Here’s a guy who wants to eliminate all government except for police and the armed forces. Wacko alert! Here’s another who wants us to return to the gold standard as monetary policy. Wacko alert! Here’s still another who wants blacks to resegregate as a means of fighting whitey. Wacko alert! And here’s another guy who claims that Franklin D. Roosevelt not only caused the Great Depression, but also made it worse. Wacko alert!
Democrats can’t buy that kind of support from any other type of campaign expenditure. Pay Rush and Hannity and all the other right-wing mouths under the table if you have to. The more they talk, the better Democrats look to voters.
Truth
February 19th, 2009
3:27 pm
gttim… quit trying to confuse yourself. Take it for what it is. And I meant free market. I apoloogize for that.