CNSNews.com - Congress Must Be Cautious With Fairness Doctrine, Two Democrats Say

CNSNews.com

Congress Must Be Cautious With Fairness Doctrine, Two Democrats Say
Thursday, November 06, 2008
By Nicholas Ballasy, Video Reporter

(CNSNews.com) - The government “has the responsibility” to make sure there are a “variety of opportunities for people to get information,” said Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) when asked about the Fairness Doctrine at the Democratic Senatorial Committee election night party on Tuesday.

Cardin and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) were asked if a station like the Washington, D.C.-based WMAL, which has a lineup of conservative hosts, including Chris Plante, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and Marc Levin, should be controlled by the government so they offer more balanced content.

“Well first of all, I think that a station should have a balanced approach. I think they are doing their listeners a service when they provide all sides to an issue, but quite frankly, there is more variety today than we’ve had in recent years,” Cardin said. “We have a lot of radio stations that are providing all different types of points of view, and I think there’s a lot of self-selection here. There’s a lot of listeners who are saying, ‘Look, we are going to listen to stations that are balanced,’ so I think the market in some respects is working this out.”

The Fairness Doctrine was in the news on Election Day when Senator Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y) was interviewed on Fox News about whether the doctrine should be reinstated.

“I think we should all try to be fair and balanced don’t you?” Schumer said. “Do you think we should allow people to put pornography on the air?” Schumer asked. “Absolutely not. Particularly on television or radio.

According to Schumer, “The very same people who don’t want the Fairness Doctrine want the FCC to limit pornography on the air. I am for that. I think pornography should be limited. But you can’t say ‘government hands off’ in one area of a commercial enterprise, but you’re allowed to intervene in another. That’s not consistent.”

Rep. Van Hollen said the Fairness Doctrine is a difficult issue for President-elect Barack Obama and the new Democratic Congress to deal with because of today’s “new media.”

“I think it’s increasingly difficult because it’s kind of like a balloon. In other words, even if you wanted to go there -- and I’m not saying we do -- but if you wanted to go there, when you squeeze one end of the balloon, you know, simply the conversation can just go to others,” he said. “I think even if you wanted to go back to the Fairness Doctrine, technology may have passed it by.”

Although Cardin said Congress must be cautious with the Fairness Doctrine issue so it does not infringe on First Amendment rights, he said the government does have the responsibility to make sure content is balanced.

“On the other hand, the government, we all have the responsibility to make sure that there’s a variety of opportunities for people to get information,” he said.

When asked if he personally would support reinstating the doctrine, Cardin avoided taking a clear position.

“I don’t think we’re going to get to it in the matter in which you are explaining it. I think we do look at making sure that our system does not – is not biased towards a more diverse set of networks,” he said.

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TATUMUS (1 years ago)

Although I am completely against the Fairness Doctrine, I do believe that something should be done about the use of PBS and NPR to promote the liberal agenda. Both of those are funded by taxpayer dollars. I wouldn't be against something similar to the Fairness Doctrine when applied to tax funded media outlets. Other than that, I believe the open market should speak for itself. If a private broadcast company desires to promote only one side of an issue, I believe that is their right. However, I think MSNBC has demonstrated that their viewership will suffer the consequences as a result. When is the last time you ever saw someone on the Olbermann show who had a view that differed with Olbermann's? Ever? That is why Fox News wears them out and they can't stand it.

TATUMUS (1 years ago)

moriarity (1 years ago)

Ozark_Sunshine: You are of course absolutely correct! I only differ when you subscribe that they would (should) be held accountable at the polls. The American electorate is too ignorate and timid to exercise the only power they hold. Believe me, I say this with a great degree of sadness.

kingsman42sc (1 years ago)

It is sheer hypocrisy for the Democrats to say the government has a responsibility to make sure people have the a variety of opportunities to get information, then they propose to bring back the so-called Fairness Doctrine that would force Conservative broadcasters to also make time for opposing Liberal viewpoints. These people already have ABC,CBS,NBC,PBS radio and TV outlets spewing the liberal view of the news hour after hour, day after day. With the huge numbers of TV and Radio broadcasters (AM,FM, Satellite)available today, most presenting the LIBERAL viewpoint, it is partisan politics that is driving the power mad Democrats to attemp to silence the conservative voices that are limited to a few talk radio stations in each market. As for TV, FOX is the only channel that is even slightly conservative and they give BOTH SIDES. Let our congress know we don't want the unfairness doctrine. That is socialism, communism. Where is our freedom of choice?

winans3392 (1 years ago)

There would be no need for the fairness doctrine if the main-stream media were not puppets of the Democratic Party. The main stream media outlets wanted President Elect Obama to be voted into office; therfore, they made sure that he was protected from any serious questioning; while Governor Palin was implecated for wearing the wrong attire(in their brilliant opinions). I say they are all spineless whimps. Might be that the fairness doctrine will shut the main street media news outlets down as well; however, i doubt it. Personnaly, I would pay XM radio specifically, for the continuation of Conservative talk radio. Maybe the commentators will move to satellite broadcasts; which are not on the open airwaves. Liberal talk radio is a product that failed to be consumed. The polls show that 80% of this country doesn't think like a liberal, much to the members of the left's dismay. Long live the Conservate movement.

4truth (1 years ago)

Hmmm. I don't recall the content of network TV news being especially balanced, or that of TV commercials, or of Hollywood-produced entertainment of all types, or of mainstream newspapers, or of public television, or of [National] public radio, or of much of the Internet, or of the curriculum in many public school classrooms. Censorship of the right by the left won't be complete without the help of this Fairness Doctrine.

Ozark_Sunshine (1 years ago)

There are stations all over that provide different viewpoints yet the Dems only want to shut up those who oppose them and expose them for the corrupt, morally bankrupt, hypocritical party that they are. Last I knew this was the US of A not the USSR and that there are still First Amendment rights. If the Dems bring this forward, what are they and the mainstream media going to do next to silence their critics. Everyon contact their Congressional representatives and let them know that this is censorship and it is wrong and that they will be held accountable at the polls.

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