The Unfairness Doctrine

http://www.onenewsnow.com/2007/01/messianic_jewish_believer_says.php

From http://www.worldviewweekend.com/secure/cwnetwork/article.php?ArticleID=1465


The Unfairness Doctrine

Jan Markell

www.olivetreeviews.org

Democrats in Congress are pushing for legislation that they say would bring more balance to the media (as if it doesn't already primarily lean left.) Critics say the passing of the Fairness Doctrine, rescinded by Ronald Reagan in 1987 before talk radio was really on the map, would muzzle conservative voices.

The Fairness Doctrine was a federal regulation requiring broadcasters to present both sides of a controversial issue. To put it very bluntly be it Dennis Prager, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Medved, or even my "Understanding the Times," once we go off air, a counter-offensive must be allowed. So should I do a program on Israel, for example, a pro-Palestinian representative would have to be allowed to give his or her two cents. Needless to say this would change the face of the alternative media that has brought truth to America and other locations since the late 1980s.

Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) has proposed the "Media Ownership Reform Act," another version of the Fairness Doctrine. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has proposed a companion bill in the Senate.

But Accuracy in Media (AIM) says that muzzling of the conservative/Christian voice will be the outcome, though proponents of the Fairness Doctrine say it will not. AIM spokesman Cliff Kincaid says, "Make no bones about it, they want to force the conservative media to hand over air time to liberals. When bureaucrats dictate the content of radio and TV shows, it's muzzling to tell them what to say and how to say it."

The fact is that the bulk of major newspapers, magazines, and network programs tilt left, and talk radio and the Internet have been the antidote. But there is no prohibition against liberal talk radio. They tried it and were unsuccessful, boring, and negative. The most prominent liberal network, Air America, is now in bankruptcy but still operating with a minimal audience.

When the rule was in place, radio and TV stations could face hefty fines if their stations aired controversial statements on public affairs without providing equal time to opposing viewpoints. The result was self-censorship by timid broadcasters who avoided politics to escape any potential government retaliation. The left/right conflict was also not as intense in those earlier years as it is now.

This Fairness Doctrine is a violation of broadcasters' right to free speech. Broadcasters should not be forced to promote ideas they may disagree with.

As David Limbaugh says, "The liberals' goal is not balance, but to destroy conservative (and Christian) talk radio by requiring that each nano-segment of every show contain the counterbalancing liberal viewpoint. Such draconian hyper-monitoring would destroy those programs."

Presidential contender Hillary Clinton has expressed her goal of bringing back the Fairness Doctrine as one of her first accomplishments in office.

What is truly scary is that liberals believe that the media outlets predominately presenting their viewpoint are not biased! To them, the liberal viewpoint is objectively correct and the only proper way to view the world. The conservative/Christian one is aberrant and reality-challenged, not even deserving of First Amendment protection.

When this debate heats up, consider contacting your Congressmen and Senators to block the passage of such a bill. The conservative voice is at stake, be it secular or Christian. And at such a point in history, it is needed more than ever. You are important to the preservation of conservative values.
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