 Barack Obama |
WND is announcing the launch of an online petition to oppose the “un-American” speech limits that Rush Limbaugh and other commentators could face should some interests in Congress succeed in re-adopting the so-called “Fairness Doctrine.”
The petition calls on all three branches of government to protect the speech freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment.
It urges Congress to “immediately drop all legislative efforts to re-impose the so-called ‘Fairness Doctrine’ and that the president of the United States veto any so-called ‘Fairness Doctrine’ legislation approved by Congress and that the U.S. Supreme Court overturn as unconstitutional any so-called ‘Fairness Doctrine’ legislation approved by Congress and signed by the president.”
To participate, sign the petition here.
“The notion of a so-called ‘Fairness Doctrine’ for the media, mandated by
government and policed by a system devised by government, should be anathema
to every American who understands liberty and the First Amendment,” said
Joseph Farah, founder, editor and chief executive officer of the leading
independent online news source. “This is not just a threat to broadcasters.
It’s a threat to the Constitution and every American. This should not even
be a matter of controversy – but, unfortunately, it is. We’ve lived through
shameful period in which government regulated broadcast content. When it
ended in 1987, we witnessed an explosion of new voices and lively debate.
It’s time for the American people to show we don’t want to go backward.”
But Farah says he was inspired to cross the divide on this issue because the clear and simple meaning of the Constitution is at stake.
The effort is addressed to Congress, the president and the high court:
The petition states:
Whereas, the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution clearly states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances”;
Whereas, members of Congress are recently on record saying they want to re-impose the so-called “Fairness Doctrine” on U.S. broadcasters, or else accomplish the same goal of censoring talk radio by other means, and thereby establish government and quasi-government watchdogs as the arbiters of “fairness” rather than the free and open marketplace of ideas;
Whereas, the U.S. experimented with the so-called “Fairness Doctrine” for 38 years – from 1949 through 1987 – during which time it was repeatedly used by presidents and other political leaders to muzzle dissent and criticism;
Whereas, the abandonment of the so-called “Fairness Doctrine” in 1987, thanks to President Ronald Reagan, resulted in an unprecedented explosion of new and diverse voices and political speech – starting with Rush Limbaugh – that revitalized the AM radio band and provided Americans with a multitude of alternative viewpoints;
Whereas, talk radio is one of the most crucial components of the free press in America, and is single-handedly responsible for informing tens of millions of Americans about what their government leaders are doing;
Whereas, it is a wholly un-American idea that government should be the watchdog of the press and a policeman of speech, as opposed to the uniquely American ideal of a free people and a free press being the vigilant watchdogs of government;
Whereas, the so-called “Fairness Doctrine” – either under that name, or using a new name and even more devious methods – represents a frontal assault on the First Amendment, and its re-imposition would constitute nothing more nor less than the crippling of America’s robust, unfettered, free press:
We, the undersigned, assert our rights as citizens of the United States in demanding that Congress immediately drop all legislative efforts to re-impose the so-called “Fairness Doctrine” and that the president of the United States veto any so-called “Fairness Doctrine” legislation approved by Congress and that the U.S. Supreme Court overturn as unconstitutional any so-called “Fairness Doctrine” legislation approved by Congress and signed by the president.
WND just days ago reported on plans by President Obama’s White House to “review” broadcasters across the nation.
The plans were announced just as Obama warned congressional Republicans that “you can’t just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done.”
On Obama’s agenda, according to his White House website, is the goal to “encourage diversity in media ownership.”
Obama elaborates on the site that his aim is to “encourage diversity in the ownership of broadcast media, promote the development of new media outlets for expression of diverse viewpoints, and clarify the public interest obligations of broadcasters who occupy the nation’s spectrum.”
The plan apparently aligns with longstanding Democratic suggestions to resurrect the “Fairness Doctrine.”
The policy was abandoned in 1987 under President Reagan when there were 75 radio talk shows in the U.S. Reagan opposed the policy because it required broadcast TV and radio programs to air “opposing views” on political issues, which had the practical effect of virtually eliminating opinion programs.
Since abandonment of the policy, the number of radio talk shows has risen to more than 3,000.
Farah long has warned about Democrats’ plans to revive restrictions on the airwaves.
“If the Democrats and their me-too Republican allies are successful at sacking talk radio, there will be no stopping them,” Farah warned. “Broadcast will be first. Then they will go after the Internet with taxes and new regulations and hate-crimes laws. And when they succeed at muzzling dissenting voices there, they will even turn to print. Remember, we are dealing with a neo-fascist mentality here.”
Many fear the Fairness Doctrine would drive talk radio hosts – like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Michael Savage – out of business because it could require stations that carry their programs to offer those with an opposing view the same amount of time. Given the repeated failures of liberal talk shows and related networks, it would create a situation that isn’t financially tenable for stations.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., affirmed her support to Human Events reporter John Gizzi for a “Fairness” policy, and Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., told radio host Jim Villanucci, “I would want this station and all stations to have to present a balanced perspective and different points of view, instead of always hammering away at one side of the political [spectrum].”
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WND Staff