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Capitol Hill Democrats support reinstating the Fairness Doctrine to stifle conservative media.

By Pete Edwards

It was reported by the Washington Times (www.washingtontimes.com) that Senate Democrats on July 20, beat back a Republican attempt to attach an anti-Fairness Doctrine bill as an amendment to education legislation.

The doctrine, a former requirement that broadcasters present opposing points of view on political issues, was scrapped in 1987 by the Federal Communications Commission, which said the policy restricted journalistic freedom. The bill by Sen. Norm Coleman, Minnesota Republican, would prevent the FCC from reinstating the doctrine.

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The Fairness Doctrine has been a hot topic in the last month after a liberal think tank on June 20 concluded that political talk radio is "dominated" by conservatives 9-to-1. The report, by the Center for American Progress, said the talk-radio landscape does not serve all Americans.

Air America, a prominent liberal talk-radio network, was bailed out of bankruptcy in January by real estate tycoon Stephen L. Green.

The Hill (www.thehill.com) reported that conservatives fear that forcing stations to

make equal time for liberal talk radio would slash profits and pressure radio executives to scale back on conservative programming to avoid escalating costs and interference from government regulators. Opponents of the Fairness Doctrine argue that radio stations would suffer financially if forced to air liberal as well as conservative programs because liberal talk radio has not proven popular or profitable. For example, Air America, which was unpopular with radio listeners, was the liberals' answer to "The Rush Limbaugh Show" and Michael Medved.

On June 24, U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., said  she is "looking at" the possibility of reviving the fairness doctrine for U.S. broadcasters.

Feinstein, speaking on "Fox News Sunday" with Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., said talk radio in particular has presented a one-sided view of immigration reform legislation being considered by the Senate.

House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said Thursday that listeners should be able to decide if they want to hear different political arguments.

"The best way is to let the judgment of the American people decide, and they can decide with their finger," Boehner said.

"[People] can turn it off or they can turn it on. They can go to their computer and read it on the Internet."

Flake added: "Rather than having the government regulate what people can say, we should let the market decide what people want to hear. That's precisely why the Fairness Doctrine was abandoned, and that's why it ought not to be revived."

Days after the release of the Center for American Progress report, Sen. James M. Inhofe, Oklahoma Republican, shared a conversation he said he overheard three years earlier between Democratic Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barbara Boxer of California, in which the women called for a "legislative fix" to counter the influence of "extremist" talk-radio hosts. Mrs. Clinton and Mrs. Boxer denied the conversation took place.

Opponents to the Fairness Doctrine say that Democrats are eager to stifle conservative talk radio but as was proven before the doctrine was repealed in 1987 the liberal dominated mainstream media  such as NBC, CBS, ABC and PBS still slanted their programming towards the Democrats. They say that control of the media has always been a priority of left wing governments and the Fairness Doctrine, while purporting to level the playing field actually tilts it for the benefit of left wing politics.

While the current Republican-led FCC poses no threat of reinstating the Fairness Doctrine, Republicans in both the House and Senate were quick to introduce bills that would prohibit a future Democrat-led agency from doing so. In the House, Rep. Mike Pence, Indiana Republican, has 135 co-sponsors of his version of the Broadcaster Freedom Act.

Mark S. Fowler, the former FCC chairman who led the charge to shelve the doctrine prior to its later repeal, said calls for its revival are "unacceptable."

Asked whether there is any viable chance of the policy being reinstated, Mr. Fowler told editors and reporters at The Washington Times yesterday: "I don't think so; I hope not." "The electronic press that uses electrons and airwaves should be as free as the press that uses ink and paper, period," he said.

He asserted that lawmakers who say the doctrine is in the public interest are "politicians trying to control part of the press. To say the airwaves belong to the people -- all these reasons they use to regulate are excuses. They're not reasons."

It is likely that Capitol Hill Democrats will continue the push to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine to regulate the media and eventually, as has been suggested, the flow of information on the Internet.

Sources:
www.washingtontimes.com
www.thehill.com
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