Senator: Talk Radio Hearings Could Be On The WayFirst: Bill Press is a fucking hack. He needs the government to force broadcasters to air him, otherwise no one will listen to him.
WASHINGTON -- February 5, 2009: Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) told nationally syndicated talk host Bill Press this morning that the recent flips of liberal Talk stations in several markets were a "disservice to the public."
Stabenow said that, in the day of the Fairness Doctrine, "you had to have balance," and continued, "I think something that requires that in a market with owners that have multiple stations that they have got to have balance -- there has to be some community interest -- balance, you know, standard that says both sides have to be heard."
Stabenow told Press that the airwaves are "dominated by one view" that "overwhelms people's opinions -- and, unfortunately, incorrectly," and said that "right-wing conservative talk hosts" are "trying to make people angry and saying all kinds of things that aren't true and so on."
When Press asked if it is time to bring back the Fairness Doctrine, Stabenow responded, "I think it's absolutely time to pass a standard." To Press' inquiry as to whether she will push for hearings in the Seante "to bring these owners in and hold them accountable," Stabenow replied, "I have already had some discussions with colleagues, and, you know, I feel like that's going to happen. Yep."
Second: No one cares about Liberal talk radio. We've had government-funded left-wing broadcasting for decades; check the ratings for National Public Radio to get an idea how successful it is. If left-wing broadcasters can't compete in the free marketplace against Limbaugh and Hannity, even while propped up by our tax dollars, maybe that's a clue.
Liberals want their voices heard much in the same way a 4-year-old brat wants Mommy to know that he wants that candy bar at the supermarket, and the method employed by both children and liberals to get their voices heard are pretty much the same: The Tantrum. And much as parents who learn over time to block out the crying, whining and prostrations of the brat, the American public dismisses Liberal whining about talk radio because, deep down, it's just another childish tantrum best ignored by adults. Eventually (if we're lucky) the brat grows up to learn that he can't have everything he wants just because he has some misplaced notion of "fairness."
Liberals, however, do not grow up -- probably because as children they had stupid, unfit parents who bought them the goddamned candy bar just to shut them up. Now as full-grown childish adults, they continue to throw the same tantrums to get their way -- just replace "Mommy" with "government" -- and they always get their way because they now run the government. And they do it without adult supervision; think "Lord of the Flies" with direct access to your bank account.
The problem with Liberals is, when they do manage to force themselves into the broadcast booth, no one listens to them because they have nothing to say. One can only listen to "Bush Sucks!" for so long before spinning the dial -- especially now that Bush isn't, you know, like, the President anymore.
But never mind all that. Unless the minority party grows a pair, government-enforced "fairness" on the AM dial will be fait accompli. They'll probably call it part of the "stimulus" bill as it will certainly stimulate sales for satellite radio... and when AM stations start falling as listenership dwindles, it'll just be another industry for government to bail out. The tricky part will be blaming it all on Bush.
Predictably, I have some questions:
- Who decides what is "fair"? Will the President appoint a Fairness Czar? Will there be a Department of Fairness? Will he, she or they have to go through Congressional confirmation?
- If a station airs "An Inconvenient Truth", will it then be required to also show "The Great Global Warming Swindle" in the interest of fairness? Will Darwinism and Intelligent Design be given equal time on Nova? Somehow I don't think this is what Liberals mean when they talk about "fairness"...
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