The Broadcaster Freedom Amendment offered by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) to the D.C. Voting Rights Act was voted in overwhelmingly 87-11 (46 Democrats crossed over to vote with the Republicans). This amendment prevents the FCC from reinstating the Fairness Doctrine.
Here’s the catch… Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) added an amendment (which passed 57-41 with no Republican support) that instructs the FCC to take a proactive stance “to encourage and promote diversity in communication media ownership.” This is some broad language that could be interpreted in many ways.
DeMint anticipates some issues and commented “Sen. Durbin’s amendment exposed Democrat intentions to impose radio censorship through the back door using vague regulations dealing with media ownership. Sen. Durbin’s language was so broad, it could apply beyond radio to television, newspapers and the internet. All eyes are now on the FCC. If they attempt to shut down free speech indirectly, we will fight to stop them.”
Though the “Fairness Doctrine” may be stopped, it appears a back door method to media censorship could open up.
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Posted under Media
Written by admin on February 27, 2009
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Geez. I feel like I’m in the blasted 1970s today. It’s like the “Reagan Revolution” never happened. Whatever happened to the notion of letting the free market control what was broadcast and what was not?
The slimey democrats are coming in the ‘back door’ – they knew the American public would scream if they passed the fairness doctrine, instead they sneak in with out anybody knowing….