FCC: Fairness Doctrine Is “Phony Issue”
In spite of the ongoing whining of conservative talk show hosts and other right-wingers who worry that their voices will be silenced, FCC Acting Chairman Michael Copps made clear that there is no intention to reinstitute the Fairness Doctrine and that it is a “phony issue.”
“The Fairness Doctrine is long gone and it’s not coming back, he said in a speech to media reform group Free Press at the Newseum in Washington Thursday.
Copps was referring to criticism from the right of the FCC’s diversity committee. “A couple of weeks ago, when we finally got the FCC back on track to do something about the shameful state of minority and female ownership of media properties, some had the gall to suggest it was just a ruse to bring the Fairness Doctrine back,” he said.
In a speech to that committee’s first meeting last week, Copps called the fairness doctrine connection “issue mongering,” a phrase he repeated Thursday.
Copps explicitly stated that “democratic dialogue” is not code for “Fairness Doctrine.” Conspiracy theorists, he stated, are “lurking behind every corner,” but they will not be allowed to get in the way of increasing female and minority ownership.
“We will not lose this opportunity to make real and lasting progress on media reform because some find it is in their self-interest to keep this phony issue alive.”
Trolling for negatives is nothing new for the loud radio right.
There will be no fairness doctrine.
I wonder how many times it needs to be said.
I think the right just doesn’t want to hear it.
average james Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
There will be no taking away of guns either.
Kregg Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Can we quote you on that, James? ;-)
average james Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Sure.
Robert Blair Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
I’d place money behind James on this….and my dad used to say to only bet on a sure thing….and james is stating a sure thing……at least in the first term of this president.
Kregg Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
K: I hope you are right. I fear you are wrong. Whether BO moves to outlaw or restrict private ownership of guns in his first OR second term the fear is justified.
Drk H Reply:
May 16th, 2009 at 10:01 pm
I think your right AV James and Robert. Now that state are moving towards state manf of guns and bullets to be used only with in their own boudries thus eleminatng the feds commerce clause. Tx is on the same track.
EricG Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
James is right. There won’t be anyone coming to take your guns away or your precious hate-radio.
Kregg Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
The Eric said: …or your precious hate-radio.
K: If you want to be taken seriously, post responsibly. You have no idea whasoever what kind of radio I listen to.
Daddio Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
Eric has short-circuits from time to time Kregg where he goes off the deep end. He talks about posting responsibly then goes off on one of his own tangents.
You just have to wait till he simmers down a bit.
Kregg Reply:
May 16th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Daddio, I just found out that The Eric lives in Santa Cruz, CA. SC is a liberal toilet – one of many – in our state and I”m almost beginning to cut him some slack. What with all the harmonic convergences and pot smoke drifting down the streets I can almost sympathize with the boy as being unable to help himself… ;-)
Daddio Reply:
May 16th, 2009 at 10:55 am
Eric lives in Southern Californis? That, Kregg, answers a lot of questions about Eric. But, California as a whole is so far left wing. That is why California is called the Left Coast.
EricG Reply:
May 16th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
“What with all the harmonic convergences and pot smoke drifting down the streets I can almost sympathize with the boy as being unable to help himself”
Well old men listening to hate radio and fascist thought from FOX Radio people like Hannity ……
Oh I don’t even feel like finishing.
You fellows who call yourselves conservatives are not nice folks. Your condescending and downright bigoted as a group.
This state and the people in are beautiful. All this nation and all the people in it from all political stripes are all beautiful.
It’s a shame you can’t see it.
EricG Reply:
May 16th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
“He talks about posting responsibly then goes off on one of his own tangents.”
Not ‘responsibly’ but rather accurately. I don’t see much need to over-think a website but I do get upset when people spread misinformation or downright lies on any format.
And if you read through all my idiocy on this site you’ll find that I often apologize for my tangents and rants.
Show me one conservative who shows respect to the other side when they are out of line and you’ll be the first.
Epiphany Reply:
May 16th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Kregg Reply:
Daddio, I just found out that The Eric lives in Santa Cruz, CA. SC is a liberal toilet – one of many – in our state and I”m almost beginning to cut him some slack.
A “liberal toilet”? You’re calling someones home and an entire community a “liberal toilet”? And you wonder why we call you conservatives hateful and bitter?
And I don’t doubt for a second that in calling his city such a phrase that you’d like to just “flush” it away?
What a lovely Christian man you are Kregg. And so patriotic too.
May 15th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Alan said: Copps explicitly stated that “democratic dialogue” is not code for “Fairness Doctrine”. Conspiracy theorists, he stated, are “lurking behind every corner”, but they will not be allowed to get in the way of increasing female and minority ownership.
K: Just what is ‘democratic dialogue”? And, why does Mr. Copp find it necessary to social engineer his way to such a dialogue? And, why cannot Mr. Copp let the market decide what sort of dialogue it wishes to listen to without his interference? Why is ‘increasing female and minority ownership’ necessary to such ‘democratic dialogue’?
Sarah Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
“Why is ‘increasing female and minority ownership’ necessary to such ‘democratic dialogue’?”
For the same reason the EEOC was formed. Incidentally, our form of government is not capitalism. And we’re talking about public airwaves.
Interestingly enough, the “Greatest Generation” was the one that first instituted the Fairness Doctrine.
Kregg Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
K: None of which explains why Mr. Copp’s view of what is ‘democratic dialogue’ should be forced upon the public who have not to-date figured they needed more ‘democratic dialogue’.
K: Sarah, do you REALLY think this guy has no political agenda in forcing ownership by females and minorities? Do you really think that females are being magically kept off the airwaves? Do you really think Chinese-Americans couldn’t get together and buy a radio license if they wanted to? Do you believe black people to be so incapable of buying a station on their own that the government must intervene for them? If so, you really don’t understand the free market.
Daddio Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
The liberals in the greatest generation first instated the “fairness doctrine.”
Thanks to Reagan, it was ended in the 1980’s. Let’s keep it that way.
If women or minorities want to be on air personalities they have just as much right to do that as Rush, Hannity, Colmes, etc. If she has the talent and can draw listeners and advertisers then I say God bless her and much success.
Sarah Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Sure, Daddio. Corporate execs and business owners used to say the same thing. “If women or blacks were any good, we’d hire ‘em and give them the same wages as white guys, but golly, there are no good blacks or women out there.”
Daddio Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Remembe Air America Sarah? They came down like a lead balloon because no one out there in radio land wanted to listen to the liberal hosts that were put on the air. That is the free market system working.
If you don’t want the free market running business in this country then what would you prefer? Free market? Socialism? Communism? Fashism?
Sarah Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
“Fashism?”
Oooo! Maybe you omitted an “on”. Did you mean “fahionism”? I like the sound of it!
(Just kidding. I’ll answer you below, under Lefty’s post….)
EricG Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Daddio – “The stations success depends on listenership and advertising.”
Not entirely. Some stations are the only one in the market. They are unchallenged if the owner gets on the air and starts calling Obama a socialist and a fascist dictator; as Michael Swerling of KSCO did in 2008.
Some stations also have unfair advantages like wattage being vastly higher than smaller stations and combine that with more funds to spend on web-site integration with the station.
Your right in so far as a station that ’sucks’ will not last. End of story.
But it’s not cut and dry. A station with horrible advertising and almost no listeners could stay afloat. They just would never thrive or compete in the larger market.
Sarah Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
And Kregg, you don’t really “get” that the “free market” shouldn’t be running this country, OR our public airwaves.
In fact, the country ran a lot more smoothly when lobbying wasn’t completely out of control, and when more than one side of an issue was presented.
Kregg Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Sarah said: And Kregg, you don’t really “get” that the “free market” shouldn’t be running this country, OR our public airwaves.
K: The free market is what has made this country great. And, why should the free market not rule ‘our public airwaves’ since the free market IS the public choosing freely what it wants to listen to?
S: In fact, the country ran a lot more smoothly when lobbying wasn’t completely out of control, and when more than one side of an issue was presented.
K: Lobbiests are paid by private citizens to gain access to the people in power that the people have a right to address but can’t. I’d be glad to outlaw lobbiests if I could be guaranteed face time with Queen Nancy to address how I’d like her to represent me but we both know that ain’t gonna’ happen.
Sarah Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
K: The free market is what has made this country great.
Au contraire, mon frere. The free market being not entirely FREE made this country great. Reagan’s deregulation in the ’80s (Fairness Doctrine was part of that) has contributed to a lot of our current headaches today.
And, why should the free market not rule ‘our public airwaves’ since the free market IS the public choosing freely what it wants to listen to?
Because the free market is ruled, in varying degrees of power, by people who have the corresponding degrees of money. In a “free market,” more money equals more power.
American citizens, generally speaking, used to be better represented in the government than they are today.
Daddio was right– the Fairness Doctrine WAS killed by Reagan, ultimately. But it was ALSO killed by the so-called “liberal media” who grew lazy about presenting more than one side of an issue, and claimed the Fairness Doctrine had a “chilling effect” on covering controversial subjects.
Daddio Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
How do you explain the power of Hugo Chavez? There is no free market in Venezuela.
It doesn’t matter how much money or power a radio owner has, he cannot force people to listen to their programming. The stations success depends on listenership and advertising.
The free market works, not perfectly, but it works. There has never been a better substitute tried anywhere in the world. Until there is a better idea, the free market is the best way to go and remain a free country.
Daddio Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Sarah,
What would you replace the free market with?
OldLefty Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Daddio said,
“Remembe Air America Sarah? They came down like a lead balloon because no one out there in radio land wanted to listen to the liberal hosts that were put on the air.”
……………………………………
Air America is fine and dandy…
I don’t listen because all their hosts have moved to different networks.
Daddio Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Air America is basically dead. Can you give me a list of nationally sydicated shows on Air America?
OldLefty Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Air America is nationally syndicated…but most of their hosts have gone to other networks, and other shows like Ed Schults, Stephanie Miller, Tom Hartman, Randi Rhodes, Alan Colmes do fine.
There is the point though, that the conservative guest that Alan had on said he wished there was a high brow CONSERVATIVE radio like npr, but there is no market for it.
On the other hand, I love how with talk radio, it’s the market, and with TV,it’s a Leeebrul plot.
Are you REALLY saying that the majority of people who voted for this “far left” president, and the Democratic congress, only want to listen to right wing radio which trashes their beliefs?
Sarah Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Daddio, a free market is fine, as long as the free market is running smoothly, supervising itself and regulating itself, and not creating monopolies, cornering the market, etc.
Unfortunately, that’s not been the case of late.
I’d love to be able to listen to Alan Colmes or Air America, or any number of liberal alternatives, sure. But guess what? Even though I live in a democratic county, we have a conservative radio station. Why? Because the company that owns it is conservative, and they don’t feel compelled to produce anything but neocon shows.
I’m really not sure I understand why neocons are so scared of a requirement that would actually boost their ratings prodigiously. Isn’t THAT what the free market is about, as well?
And I can think of a better ratings-booster than Limbaugh vs. Colmes, every day.
I mean, look at the weak sister Hannity has turned into.
Kregg Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
K prv: The free market is what has made this country great.
Sarah said: Au contraire, mon frere. The free market being not entirely FREE made this country great.
K: Split hairs all you want, the free market concept has made this country the greatest in the world.
S: Reagan’s deregulation in the ’80s (Fairness Doctrine was part of that) has contributed to a lot of our current headaches today.
K: You mean the headache of free speech? I can see how that would be a problem to centralized control of the government. However, this country was also founded on the free interchange of ideas. Just because you may not like the ideas of your peers is no reason to consider them a ‘headache’ unless they impede your agenda.
K prv: And, why should the free market not rule ‘our public airwaves’ since the free market IS the public choosing freely what it wants to listen to?
K: Because the free market is ruled, in varying degrees of power, by people who have the corresponding degrees of money. In a “free market,” more money equals more power.
K: So you want to promote people not bright enough to finance or sustain a radio program to a voice of prominence? Why would anyone want to do that? Do you remember the Lib’s greatest show – Air America? What happened to it?
S: American citizens, generally speaking, used to be better represented in the government than they are today.
K: So, find a way to get yourself heard without having to kick someone else off the air to do it. Then you, too, can be heard at the level you wish to be.
S: Daddio was right– the Fairness Doctrine WAS killed by Reagan, ultimately.
K: And rightly so.
S: But it was ALSO killed by the so-called “liberal media” who grew lazy about presenting more than one side of an issue, and claimed the Fairness Doctrine had a “chilling effect” on covering controversial subjects.
K: Ya’ think?! Like Rush says, he IS ‘equal time’…
Daddio Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
If a liberal host were to pull in the ratings of Rush Limbaugh you could bet your life they would put them on the air to catch the prime listening audience. It is about ratings and as a business it is about making a profit.
Their not scared of anything. Before the fairness doctrine was ended AM radio could not put on a Rush because they could not bring in an audience with a liberal host so they had to do different programming, such as music. The reason is that with the fairness doctrine they had to balance opposing views and it just wasn’t possible with the conservative host far out distancing the liberal host.
Kregg Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Ya’ know the only problem with Lib talk radio? No one wants to listen to it. Thats the only reason it isn’t successful. Now, why IS that…?
Um Cara Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
Ya’ know the only problem with Lib talk radio? No one wants to listen to it. Thats the only reason it isn’t successful. Now, why IS that…?
Rush is a phenomena, and he has huge coattails. He basically writes all the material for the many copycats.
Absent a Rush, conservative talk radio in general would be far less popular.
Kregg Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Um said: Rush is a phenomena, and he has huge coattails. He basically writes all the material for the many copycats.
K: I agree. However, the fact remains that lib radio would survive if anyone wanted to listen to it.
U: Absent a Rush, conservative talk radio in general would be far less popular.
K: I disagree. The cats out of the bag. If RL had a heart attack tomorrow and went off the air conservative talk radio would survive because people want it and have been shown that it can be done.
Daddio Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Rush, Sean, Glenn are 1, 2, 3 in the national ratings. I am sure Levin, Reagan, and many other conservative host fill out the top ten.
Um Cara Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
If RL had a heart attack tomorrow
Damn, you are a regular Wanda Sykes!
However, the fact remains that lib radio would survive if anyone wanted to listen to it.
There is a good show by a dude named Alan Colmes, he is a liberal and has a successful show. You should check it out sometime.
Um Cara Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Rush, Sean, Glenn are 1, 2, 3 in the national ratings. I am sure Levin, Reagan, and many other conservative host fill out the top ten.
And I hope they thank Rush every time they see him for writing their material for them.
Um Cara Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
*Also let’s not forget, ‘Fear Factor’ was a top rated program for quite some time.
So while Sean and Glenn may be very popular, just as many or more people enjoy seeing people eat raw pig intestines.
Daddio Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
Apples and oragnes Cara, apples and oranges.
Daddio Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Sean Hannity does thank Rush from time to time for opening the door to conservative radio. You are somewhat right in the fact that Rush IS conservative radio and without him blazing the way maybe conservative radio would not be what it is today.
BTW, Rush doesn NOT write the material for the others.
Kregg Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:47 pm
If RL had a heart attack tomorrow
Um said: Damn, you are a regular Wanda Sykes!
K: naw, hers was a wish, mine was a hypothetical…
U: There is a good show by a dude named Alan Colmes, he is a liberal and has a successful show. You should check it out sometime.
K: No thanks. I’ve seen too much of Alan trying to be harder left than he was just so he could provide an alternate opinion to Hannity.
Um Cara Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
BTW, Rush doesn NOT write the material for the others.
I know… they just steal it. Typical conservatives, always looking for a handout, and not to proud to steal.
Apples and oragnes Cara, apples and oranges.
True, Fear Factor was more classy than Rush, Sean, or Glenn (but still very much lacking in class).
But I’m not too small a man to apologize when I’m called on a wrong. My apologies to the Fear Factor people. I should have never compared you to those guys.
Um Cara Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
No thanks. I’ve seen too much of Alan trying to be harder left than he was just so he could provide an alternate opinion to Hannity.
That’s pretty funny. I hear people call in and say stuff like ‘you couldn’t possibly hold those opinions, they are so hard left’ – and yet I really don’t think Alan is all that far too the left. He is more liberal than me, but seriously, I know folks way more liberal than Alan.
Alan is a bit left of center.
Um Cara Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
Sheesh…
…and not to proud to steal.
…not too proud to steal
….is all that far too the left
…is all that far to the left
English is my first language, believe it or not.
Kregg Reply:
May 16th, 2009 at 10:40 am
Um said: and yet I really don’t think Alan is all that far too the left. He is more liberal than me, but seriously, I know folks way more liberal than Alan. Alan is a bit left of center.
K: Thats my point. However, I”ve watched him dig for some dumb-ass explanation or position or point way far stupid left so as to have a counterpoint to something Hannity said. I’d rather he agree on those things he agrees on.
EricG Reply:
May 16th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Daddio said that Rush, Sean, Glenn are numbers 1,2 and 3 in the nation and he is right in term of radio media.
But let’s not forget that there is not a single liberal who has even an ounce of balls on the radio. They all are doing the Daily Show or Countdown but not anything AM that I’ve ever heard.
Put me on the radio and you’ll hear the counter-point to every ridiculous talking-point that the EVIL THREE you mentioned talked on.
Not saying that I alone could do this but everyone (neo-con radio idiots as well) are so scared of getting sued they don’t talk to us. They lie to us. All media, all press.
I won’t. I’ll tell you. I’ll spare no feelings. This is the kind of radio conservatives convince themselves they are listening to but it’s not true.
Rush probably loves Dems and blacks and Mexicans. Probably.
It’s all designed to flame you up and get you to go out and vote Republican no matter what failed policy they push through Washington.
I could care less if you vote for a Democrat or not. Thus my rhetoric about politics would be bold and fearless.
All radio conservatives are cowards who couldn’t criticize their own party if they were paid to do so, which they are not. They are paid to make Kregg & Daddio feel good about their politics and never have to be challenged in their thinkings.
Drk H Reply:
May 16th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Sarah – and why did lobbing get so out of control? They grow like weeds because gov’t intervention grows like weeds also. The intervention makes Lobyist a requirement. Also the incredibly stupid tax code we have aids in the increase in this form of unrepresentative goverment.
May 15th, 2009 at 2:03 pm
Can someone say,”red herring”? Another distraction. Another attempt to raise a “non issue” so that we can get some wedge action going…..
When you have no legitimate issues, hit on guns, gays, abortion, or any other socially explosive, divisive, value oriented, consequentially void issue you can.
Raise the wind mill charges! Ban gay marriage amendment to the constitution, gun control, make sure you use the term “abortion” and not “right to choice”, put pictures of dead babies up in front of people, tell them that Nazies had gun control and media control, call any detractor a traitor to the flag, spread the swill over and over…and when they protest….say it louder and longer…same swill only louder.
Here we are, no one pushing any serious effort to pass a fairness doctrine renewal that would hogtie media to millions of dollars of air time compensation. No one is pushing this to happen….it’s just people saying that it is being pushed…..they are lying….again.
average james Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Aye cap’n,
Ye say true.
May 15th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Copps never said what “democrate dialouge” does mean though. That is what is troubling here. He can say it isn’t code for fairness doctrine but he won’t say what he means by “democratic dialouge”.
We need to know what he means by that phrase before we can rest assured the government isn’t going to squelch free speech.
Kregg Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Daddio said: Copps never said what “democrate dialouge” does mean though. That is what is troubling here. He can say it isn’t code for fairness doctrine but he won’t say what he means by “democratic dialouge”.
K: Its interesting that there is a great hue and cry about all politicians lying and then comes along a politician who – by this board’s definition – lies yet what he said is swallowed whole without question as TRUTH!! Go figure…
Robert Blair Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Dialogue is a slight bit of counter lie intimidation ……some people, like Hannity, Savage, Lord Limbaugh, and their ilk go nuts at the idea of someone possibly telling them that someone would have an opportunity to show the light of truth on their bilge. It scares em a bit…then, they take off on the rant and rail against something that isn’t going to happen. Remember, I used the term “serious” push…..it just a bit a rumor to bug the insect brain of Lord Limbaugh and his minions.
Kregg Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Robert, I suspect your comments are more wish than fact. What all talk show hosts are afraid of is the political stifling of free speech by the government. You ought to be afraid of it too.
May 15th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
“There Will Be No Radio Fairness Doctrine” by Eric Lightborn
Former President Bill Clinton can now be added to the list of big name Democrats that have eluded to or outright mentioned the Fairness Doctrine in radio-media.
I will boldly speak out turn and say now that there shall not a return to the arcane legislation of the Fairness Doctrine where an opposing opinion must be made time for after any political opinion is expressed.
Though John Kerry, Bill Clinton and other figures speak of a need for media regulation I think the issue was already addressed by President Obama when he requested that conservatives stray away from partisanship like that of The Radio Comedian Rush Limbaugh.
This is the clear stance of this administration that partisanship is any form is counter productive in politics. The partisanship found on FOX Network airwaves and conservative-talk radio was challenged thusly by the Executive Branch. I see no moves from this office toward this matter beyond what we have already witnessed.
This issue simply doesn’t rate high enough on the presidential ‘to do list.’ The outcries from the far right wing that this inane legislation from days gone by are paranoid delusions created to fabricate the image of ’persecuted’ conservatives.
The right to Freedom of Speech has always challenged Americans in terms of what they will accept in terms of their politics and their news media. Those like myself who have educated themselves on some aspects of modern media know about the Radio Fair and Equal Rule.
In the Fair and Equal Rule a political campaign that receives airtime must have due consideration and / or equal airtime.
I foresee no threat to the talk radio medium spreading further into FM, satellite and internet formats.
Though I also would not predict any ‘explosions’ of talk radio, but rather just a gradual integration. The Politic-Talk Medium will always remain, no matter what paranoid conservative pundits say.
Drk H Reply:
May 16th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Eric, if Obama does not even think about Talk radio, then why does he spend so much time trying to demonize Rush limbaugh and Fox News. He is using his bully pulpit to attack those that have the capacity to cast the full light of what his administration is doing.
May 15th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
“In a speech to that committee’s first meeting last week, Copps called the fairness doctrine connection “issue mongering,” a phrase he repeated Thursday.”
Issue mongering — Straw-man issue — Paranoia trumpeting
It’s all the same thing. Even that guy who wrote the book on this topic couldn’t logically defend his position on Alan’s or other shows I heard him on.
It’s all a scare-tactic to get people to think the American Fascists are the liberals when it’s the conservatives who want to silence debate and use propaganda instead of facts.
Daddio Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
What is Copps really saying with the phrase “democratic dialogue”?
Daddio Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Who will decide what “democratic dialogue” is? Some political hack or Congress?
EricG Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Stop being so paranoid. The words (I dunno his meaning exactly) are just like saying ‘body politic’ or ‘national debate.’
It only means that when someone lies and everyone knows it’s a lie then it is not part of good democracy. That’s all.
This is not about controlling content. This is about exactly what they said: diversity in ownership. That’s not ‘code’ for anything.
Who decides?
Well I’ve heard talk of a ‘citizen committee’ doing this but I’m not sure.
Ultimately the listeners decide. If people want to be drown in lies and propaganda via FOX Radio / Limbaugh / whatever then that’s what will happen. If people desire real news and real facts then they will listen to less conservative talk radio in the future.
This has more to do with the fact that the entire radio industry itself is run and owned by white men.
Right now the people who decide the ‘democratic dialogue’ are a bunch of white men at Clear-channel Communications.
—-
Bottom line: Nobody wants to silence conservatives. Nobody except fantasy land figures that conservatives make up.
Old school Dems talk on the FD because they are from the 70s and are trying to use a 30-year-old solution for a modern issue.
(By the way, I did a research report on this. That’s why I seem to have some meat on the bone.)
Sarah Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
How about “democratic dialogue” that takes away the caller-mute button from neocon monologuists? That might be an example of encouraging a more democratic dialogue.
May 15th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
OldLefty Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Air America is nationally syndicated…but most of their hosts have gone to other networks, and other shows like Ed Schults, Stephanie Miller, Tom Hartman, Randi Rhodes, Alan Colmes do fine.
———————————————
Ah Lefty, you left out my personal favorite: Al Franken. :)
May 15th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Al Frankenhasnosense. You forgot to finish his name Lily. :)
May 15th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Hate radio has been diging a grave for the GOP,for about a year now.Maybe it cost them the election??? I think it’s the Republicans,who should be asking for a Fairness Doctrine.
Daddio Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Talk radio is NOT what cost the Republicans the election. What cost them is that they lost their way. They became to much like Democrats with out of control spending. Bush was a major contributor because he refused to veto any Republican spending bills. A HUGH MISTAKE BY PRES. BUSH.
Um Cara Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Bush was a major contributor because he refused to veto any Republican spending bills. A HUGH MISTAKE BY PRES. BUSH.
Bush wasn’t the candidate.
Kregg Reply:
May 15th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
Hey Um, have you looked into any SA fly fishing tours?
Phill Reply:
May 16th, 2009 at 11:59 am
And where the so called Tea Baggers,when this out of control spending was going on???Fox News claimed they got their cue from talk radio…
Drk H Reply:
May 16th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Phil – that is the only line the Dem’s have any more. The Repubs did it first. The Repub’s allowed runaway spending, so no reason Dems should say stop now, Rep’s claim CIA lied, so then to Dem’s no need to check on whether CIA or Pelosi is lying. What happened to the believe that wrong is wrong no matter who does it.
Phill Reply:
May 16th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
No Drk H,the only lines are coming from the chicken hawks from the far,far out right?They have tortured a dead horse on every issue,with the one liners.As for the GOP,I would like to see them come out this oblivion,an eagle can’t fly without both wings.And what makes it so bad, it’s not that bad!John McCain didn’t have the full support of his party,the base,or the goergetown conservatives & he sure as hell didn’t have the support of these radio clown’s & he still ran a hell of race.Democrats, disgruntled Hillary voters, voted for him. Pelosi,you just havn’t read none of my post have U..i keep hearin that banjo from Deliverance??DATA.Ding, make it stop, make it go awaaay..
Phill Reply:
May 16th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Georgetown
May 15th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Kregg and Daddio ,
“Daddio, I just found out that The Eric lives in Santa Cruz, CA. SC is a liberal toilet –“
……………………………………………………
I guess poor Eric is not a “Real” American like you guys.
Funny how you don’t have to be artsy or urbane to be an elitist and call the communities of your fellow Americans “a toilet”
Kregg Reply:
May 16th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Lefty said: I guess poor Eric is not a “Real” American like you guys.
K; No, the fear is that he IS… ;-)
L: Funny how you don’t have to be artsy or urbane to be an elitist and call the communities of your fellow Americans “a toilet”
K: With all the spew TE spreads around about people who don’t agree with him on one subject or another I figure we ‘unartsy’, rural elitists are entitled to take a shot now and then… ;-)
Daddio Reply:
May 16th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
What’s Lefty me by “poor Eric”?
Daddio Reply:
May 16th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Should read …mean by “poor Eric”?
May 16th, 2009 at 11:14 am
“Daddio, I just found out that The Eric lives in Santa Cruz, CA. SC is a liberal toilet”
Well, this is partisanship in it’s basic form. Your ability to express yourself is not just measured in simple words but the respect you are willing to show those not of your setting.
Not to say I’m some bipartisan model for all.
But I don’t talk about any part of this country as a toilet and if you do your not a patriot.
Only a partisan who hates freedom and wants one-sided politics could possibly call this city a toilet.
It is a shame … we are all Americans but I truly don’t see what to respect on the conservative side of things.
Calling my city a toilet and my hometown San Francisco the same kind of names. Unpatriotic and un-American.
Daddio Reply:
May 16th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
I have heard worse things on some of your posts Eric. Besides everyone know California, especially San Francisco, is a liberal haven. After all, it was a San Francisco city official who called for the total elimination of our armed forces.
Kregg Reply:
May 16th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
The Eric said: Well, this is partisanship in it’s basic form. Your ability to express yourself is not just measured in simple words but the respect you are willing to show those not of your setting.
K: TE, when you start showing respect for those with opposing opinions you’ll be shown respect in return. Thats how it works.
K: As to SC. It IS a lib toilet but I love going there.
May 16th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Eric, just curious. I read above some of your comments About being from San Francisco and living in Santz Cruz now, By the way, I have been to both and they are beautiful places. I also read above that you may think that your patriotsim might be in question. I cannot see how this could be even considered because you did write “. Thus my rhetoric about politics would be bold and fearless”. Eric with the patriotism that you have and as you wrote about being bold and feraless I would like to ask you what branch of the American Armed Forces were you in??
Semper Fi. JFA
May 16th, 2009 at 6:18 pm