Over 100 House Democrats Help Defeat the Fairness Doctrine, While in the Senate Dick Durbin Blocks Norm Coleman’s Fairness Doctrine Foil
Last month, the House of Representatives, by a vote of 309-115, amended the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill to bar the FCC from requiring broadcasters to balance conservative content.
That vote count means more than half the Democrats in the House voted for the ban as well. That should pretty much bring all discussion about reimposing the doctrine again to a halt.
But, while House Democrats labeled the reintroduction of the FCC's fairness doctrine a non-issue and grandstanding by talk radio, on Friday (July 20, 2007) Senate Democrats blocked an amendment to an appropriations bill similar to one that passed without incident in the House.
Senator Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) tried Friday to amend a defense appropriations bill to insure that the FCC could not reinstate the doctrine, which was scrapped by the FCC as unconstitutional back in 1987. The “Fairness Doctrine” required broadcasters to provide the other side on issues of public importance. It's disappearance from the FCC rulebook helped spur the rise of primarily conservative talk radio.
But Coleman's attempt was blocked in a procedural move by Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Senate Democrats have been most vocal about bringing back the doctrine. "In this day and age, reinstituting the Fairness Doctrine is not about equal balance, as its supporters claim, it is about muzzling broadcasters," said Coleman on his Web site http://coleman.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=1361.
Last month, the House of Representatives, by a vote of 309-115, amended the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill to bar the FCC from requiring broadcasters to balance conservative content.
That vote count means more than half the Democrats in the House voted for the ban as well. That should pretty much bring all discussion about reimposing the doctrine again to a halt.
But, while House Democrats labeled the reintroduction of the FCC's fairness doctrine a non-issue and grandstanding by talk radio, on Friday (July 20, 2007) Senate Democrats blocked an amendment to an appropriations bill similar to one that passed without incident in the House.
Senator Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) tried Friday to amend a defense appropriations bill to insure that the FCC could not reinstate the doctrine, which was scrapped by the FCC as unconstitutional back in 1987. The “Fairness Doctrine” required broadcasters to provide the other side on issues of public importance. It's disappearance from the FCC rulebook helped spur the rise of primarily conservative talk radio.
But Coleman's attempt was blocked in a procedural move by Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Senate Democrats have been most vocal about bringing back the doctrine. "In this day and age, reinstituting the Fairness Doctrine is not about equal balance, as its supporters claim, it is about muzzling broadcasters," said Coleman on his Web site http://coleman.senate.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=1361.
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Coleman has said, "I believe it is a dangerous proposition for the government to be in the business of rationing free speech and determining what is fair."
Coleman has said, "I believe it is a dangerous proposition for the government to be in the business of rationing free speech and determining what is fair."
yeah, good on us
ReplyDeleteHi, Jmk. Don't forget to read my op ed on Dem political strategy at Cynical Nation. I would like your input, it's under "Plamegate". Thanks
I did....and it's excellent. I agree with you on that (great points, they've overlooked a gold mine)....I especially like the idea of you becoming the DEmocrats lead strategist!
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