Christian Radio in the Fairness Doctrine's Crosshairs

[Right Wing]

Will a return of the Fairness Doctrine spell disaster for Christian Radio?

In the latest MRC’s Culture and Media Institute’s report, leaders in both Congress and religious broadcasting fear the Fairness Doctrine would throw open the door to lawsuits by advocacy groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Click here to read this report.



In fact, Craig Parshall, the senior vice president and general counsel of the national Religious Broadcasters painted a bleak landscape for ‘teaching and preaching programming.’

Parshall added that a Fairness Doctrine-type law would also have a serious and detrimental impact on First Amendment concerns, notably on free exercise of religion concerns!


As a vital member of our MRC Action Team, I urge you to read this special CMI release, and if you haven’t done so already, add your name to our Free Speech Alliance petition by going here. For those who have already signed, use this opportunity to forward this message and rally your friends and family to this important cause.

As Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) warned, the reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine could not only shutdown conservative talk, but “potentially hammer Christian radio, Christian television, and it’s very important to not allow this to move forward.”

Please sign our petition and forward this message to friends and family urging them to read our special CMI report, and to protect our Free Speech Rights

David Martin

[NewC]

thatd be insane. i dont think the dems are even this crazy.

not to mention the president already said he isnt too interested in the fairness doctrine being reinstated.

[Zeus]

thatd be insane. i dont think the dems are even this crazy.

not to mention the president already said he isnt too interested in the fairness doctrine being reinstated.

White House: What is this Fairness Doctrine of which you speak?

I guess the question of Obama administration policy on the Fairness Doctrine depends on which aide one asks. After getting vacillation from press secretary Robert Gibbs and top adviser David Axelrod, a more junior member of the Obama team insisted that Obama still opposes a return of the Fairness Doctrine:

President Obama opposes any move to bring back the so-called Fairness Doctrine, a spokesman told FOXNews.com Wednesday.

The statement is the first definitive stance the administration has taken since an aide told an industry publication last summer that Obama opposes the doctrine — a long-abolished policy that would require broadcasters to provide opposing viewpoints on controversial issues.

“As the president stated during the campaign, he does not believe the Fairness Doctrine should be reinstated,” White House spokesman Ben LaBolt said.

I’d like to hear a little more about Obama’s opposition to reimposition of FD on talk radio. Would he block such a move by Congress with a veto? Or would he replace an FCC commissioner who attempted to reimpose it?

That’s not an academic question. We have had several members of Congress talk approvingly of reimposing equal-time requirements on talk radio, including Senators Tom Harkin, Debbie Stabenow, and Representatives Maurice Hinchey and Dennis Kucinich, among others. Just in the last two weeks, we have seen a veritable avalanche of support from Capitol Hill for the Fairness Doctrine or its equivalent.

The latter is probably the real risk. Obama opposes the Fairness Doctrine, because as he said last summer, it distracts from ownership diversification and other issues like net neutrality that would presumably deliver the same result, only in another guise. I’d like to hear that the White House will actively oppose any attempts to regulate political content on broadcast airwaves. That kind of a statement would make it much harder for a later climbdown from Team Obama.

[Susanna]

I’d like to hear that the White House will actively oppose any attempts to regulate political content on broadcast airwaves.

Not only say he will oppose it, but actually do it. He may be looking for it under a different name, which would not be surprising, and which, in my book, is likely.

[mtemptyspace2008]

I am so mixed up on this subject. Is he opposed or isn't he?

Silence the conservative's and silence the Christian talk radio shows....what will be left?

Since live can be so busy, I rely heavily on links that are posted here. I don't always listen to the news, though I try to keep up with it. When I am in my vehicle I am always listening to Rush, Hannity or my local shows. I also listen to our Seattle Christian radio station. That's just a small part of my day.

I am not opposed to equal air-time, if it's equal. If Obama changes the doctrine by disguising it to be other than what it is, is that within his rights?

[Susanna]

The problem with equal airtime, MT, is that air time is commercial, and listenership determines sponsorship. If no one listens - which is a typical problem with liberal talk radio - no one sponsors. The whole idea is to shut up conservative talk radio, because no station or network is going to keep programs that don't make any money, so they will have to shut down the ones who do.

[tperkins2009]

He's going to push for it soon. The more the economy goes into the tank, the more people will express their opposition to his plans. The more free expression, the weaker he becomes. The Big O will never allow the detractors to out voice his supporters.

[NewC]

we'll see i suppose

[Fantasy Chaser]

1.thatd be insane. 2.i dont think the dems are even this crazy.

3.not to mention the president already said he isnt too interested in the fairness doctrine being reinstated.

1. No, just risky.
2. I wouldn't bet the farm on it...
3. He also said that he believes in the 2nd Amendment...