Unable to compete in the arena of ideas, liberals in Congress want to bring back the "Fairness Doctrine" on FOX News Sunday, Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) claimed that talk radio "...pushes people, I think, to extreme views without a lot of information..."
The Fairness Doctrine required broadcasters to present both sides of political debate from 1949 when it was dropped in the late 1980's. Democrats believe that, "...bringing back the Fairness Doctrine" will ensure a more even handed coverage of political issues..." according to Jeff Lieberson, spokesperson to Rep. Maurcie Hinchey (D-NY)
While the U.S. Supreme Ct. had determined in 1969 the Fairness Doctrine was (then) Constitutional (Red Lion Broadcasting v. FCC, 395 US 367) During the Burger Court in subsequent cases, the Court had concluded, "...inescapably dampens the vigor and limits the variety of public debate..." (Miami Herald Publishing v. Tornillo, 418 US 241) then in 1984 the Supreme Court stated, "...the doctrine was limiting the breadth of public debate..." FCC v. League of Women Voters of California, 468 US 364) this ruling set the stage for the Fairness Doctrine to be scraped by the FCC a year later.
Democrats in Congress being unable to compete against Conservative voices in talk radio now want to revive the Fairness Doctrine because little minded people can not think for themselves and need the government to mandate what people hear so all sides presented are "...more even handed..." This sort of reminds one of children on the playground, "...Teacher, Jimmy isn't playing nice..."
On March 31, 2004 Liberal Talk Radio launched "Air America" which filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection on October 31, 2006
Liberal Talk radio "Air America" accepted $900,000.00 in loans that had been given to Children's Charities. Evan Montvel Cohen, arranged for a loan from the "Gloria Wise Boys & Girls Club" when he was their Developmental Director, the children's charities has also gone bankrupt as a result of the nearly $1 Million Dollar loss. (N.Y. Daily News, 26 July, 2005)
Liberals that demand fairness and a "...more even handed..." approach to communication are silent about taking money designated for children to minister liberal demagogue that people are uninterested in.
Should people really be interested in alternative points of view than Conservative Talk Radio all one needs to do is turn on NPR or the old TV news programs to obtain a daily dose of liberalism. MSNBC.com identified 144 Journalists who made political contributions from 2004 through the start of the 2008 campaign cycle, according to Federal Election Commission filings, 125 journalists gave to Democrats and liberal causes while only 17 gave to Republicans. 2 gave to both political parties.
