The Fairness Doctrine: An Attack on Free Speech

In 1987, Ronald Reagan saved AM radio, the format in which many years before he made a living broadcasting sports. Reagan lifted the Fairness Doctrine. The Fairness Doctrine demanded that privately owned radio stations, that are in business to make a profit, had to provide equal time to opposing views even if it meant no one listened. If no one listens, no one advertises. If no one advertises, the radio station goes out of business.

In the signing of a pen, Reagan helped revolutionize a format that was certainly on its death bed. In the following years, talk radio led by Rush Limbaugh reached heights never before seen. AM stations became profitable because people tuned in. When the news media began to fail delivering unbiased news towards the end of the Bush 41 administration, people turned to talk radio to deliver a different view.

Now democrats, who are looking at gaining a super majority in this year's election, are looking to "hush Rush" and other conservative talkers by reinstating the Fairness Doctrine. If Biden's interview with Barbara West is any indication of how an Obama administration will deal with those who disagree, then free speech will be tested over the next four years. Something tells me her career is over.

New Mexico Senator Jeff Bingham is leading the charge to reenact the Fairness Doctrine. Bingham has gone so far as insulting its listeners. After years of liberals failing to equal the listenership of conservatives with radiio like Air American, once again we see that if liberals can't beat you, they will go out of their way to destroy you.

The Fairness Doctrine is an attack on free speech and free enterprise. Conservative talk radio fills in the holes that the liberal news media don't wish to report. If it wasn't for conservative talk radio, you wouldn't know the half of what the politicians in Washington were doing; perhaps, that's the real reason they want to "hush Rush." Of course, NBC, CNN, CBS, and the rest of the biased networks won't have to equal their coverage. In fact, you can probably count on their coverage getting worse because there won't be anything to keep them in check. This is scary stuff. Think of what the liberal media will be able to get away with.

When you step into the voting booth this year, you need to consider what might happen to your first amendment rights. You need to consider very carefully the power of the government and the media if the Fairness Doctrine is reinstated and their critics are shut up.