Fairness Doctrine getting more talk in Washington, or is it?

Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., has been getting a lot of airtime in the last couple weeks. She did say that she was in support of the "Fairness Doctrine," which only silences conservative talk radio. She has close ties to the liberal talk radio world because her husband has owned various liberal radio stations.

This idea of the "Fairness Doctrine" being reintroduced into law may happen, but nothing is official yet, according to the Detroit News. The Detroit News with Politico.com say that "no member of Congress has scheduled hearings, there is no Fairness Doctrine legislation being introduced, and the long-dormant broadcast law is likely to stay that way."

Stabenow may be talking about the "Fairness Doctrine" but nothing is going to change, at least they say that now.

Former President Bill Clinton is also speaking his two cents about the "Fairness Doctrine" these days. He spoke to the Politico:

"Well, you either ought to have the Fairness Doctrine or we ought to have more balance on the other side," Clinton said, "because essentially there's always been a lot of big money to support the right wing talk shows and let face it, you know, Rush Limbaugh is fairly entertaining even when he is saying things that I think are ridiculous."

The Democrats may not like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck and others, but they also don't want to see AM radio die. So if they want AM radio to survive, they better not mess with bringing back the "Fairness Doctrine."

Here is a video from Fox News today about this topic:



IN THE NEWS:
Detroit News: Talk radio: The return of 'fairness'?
Politico: Clinton wants 'more balance' on airwaves
Accuracy in Media: Pelosi Supports Return of Fairness Doctrine

Obama 1260 actually exists

Obama 1260 is going off the air. Too bad, who could have predicted that? I thought everything with the name "Obama" was going off the shelves like hotcakes. Apparently his name can't stimulate liberal radio.

So the "Fairness" Doctrine is the answer.

Check out Obama 1260 before it goes off the air at: obama1260.com

Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow continues fight for "fair" radio

Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow wants radio to be fair. So she is upset that a radio station called Obama 1260 AM is quitting its Obama format for financial news. Also she wants talk radio to present both sides of an issue. I guess much like MSNBC presents all the sides to an issue because she has no problem with MSNBC.

Radio is all about staying interesting. Apparently the liberals aren't interesting. At least on the radio.

--From POLITICO--

Sen. Stabenow wants hearings on radio 'accountability'; talks fairness doctrine
This morning, radio host Bill Press brought up the recent closing of liberal station Obama 1260 when speaking with Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, and talked about whether there needs to be a balance to right-wing talk on the radio dial.

BILL PRESS: Yeah, I mean, look: They have a right to say that. They’ve got a right to express that. But, they should not be the only voices heard. So, is it time to bring back the Fairness Doctrine?

SENATOR DEBBIE STABENOW (D-MI): I think it’s absolutely time to pass a standard. Now, whether it’s called the Fairness Standard, whether it’s called something else — I absolutely think it’s time to be bringing accountability to the airwaves. I mean, our new president has talked rightly about accountability and transparency. You know, that we all have to step up and be responsible. And, I think in this case, there needs to be some accountability and standards put in place.

BILL PRESS: Can we count on you to push for some hearings in the United States Senate this year, to bring these owners in and hold them accountable?

SENATOR DEBBIE STABENOW (D-MI): I have already had some discussions with colleagues and, you know, I feel like that’s gonna happen. Yep.
Although Obama has been publicly opposed to reinstating the fairness doctrine, conservative radio has talked nonstop about the fear of it returning (or perhaps something like it with another name) while there's a Democrat in the White House and a Democratic majority in Congress.

UPDATE: A commenter points out that Stabenow is married to Tom Athans, a liberal talk radio executive. He was the former executive of AirAmerica radio. He now runs USA Radio, a liberal talk radio outfit.

The Liberal Attack on Talk Radio Begins

First off, here's the news:

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."

Source: RadioInk: SENATOR: TALK RADIO HEARINGS COULD BE ON THE WAY

This is just the beginning. Rush Limbaugh was attacked a couple weeks ago when he said he wanted Obama's policies to fail and that translated into he wanted Obama to fail. Then Barack Obama said to GOP members in Congress to stop listening to Rush Limbaugh.

Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity have been getting attacked by the liberal media and the Obama crones. One big issue that is near and dear to Al Gore's heart is global warming. The big three on the radio dial all say that global warming is not an issue. They all say the sun warms the Earth and say that humans are not responsible for weather. Many liberals and Al Gore have compared people who don't believe in global warming to people who are Holocaust deniers and people who were against civil rights.

Obama and liberals do not want to be criticized. They want the entire media to be on their side, much like MSNBC already is. CNN is close, but still has some Obama dissenters. Fox News doesn't bow down to Obama. CBS News and NBC News love Obama. The liberals control practically every television news outlet, newspaper and political magazine, but they still haven't figured out talk radio.

The trick with talk radio is you have to talk for two to three hours and still stay interesting. AirAmerica Radio was a failed attempt by the liberals, but they continue to try to make it on the few stations they have.

The sad thing is that the one AirAmerica radio program that was somewhat popular was the Rachel Maddow Show and she's now on MSNBC to fulfill their liberal requirements. I hear she is still on AirAmerica, so it may be getting more popular with her on MSNBC.

In my opinion, the reason liberal talk radio has never worked is that the liberals have control of television and newspapers. As a liberal, why would you want to listen to liberal talk if you get it all day with the New York Times, Washington Post, Comedy Central's Daily Show and Colbert Report, NBC News, CBS News and MSNBC already. The reason conservative talk radio has been a success is that traditionally there has been no conservative voice on television and in the newspaper.

And now the liberals want total control within the media with the "Fairness Doctrine." And this title of a doctrine couldn't be further from the truth, this is a suppressing doctrine. It takes the freedom of speech away from people.

Why destroy AM radio when conservative talk saved it. If there was no Rush Limbaugh, would you be listening to AM radio? If there was no Rush, there would be no ESPN Radio, Dr. Laura, Clark Howard Show, O'Reilly Radio Factor, Coast to Coast AM and surprisingly enough, AirAmerica.

A listener doesn't like Michael Savage because he isn't fair in this time of change:

Diane Feinstein loves the "Fairness Doctrine" (Fox News)


Dennis Kucinich also loves the "Fairness Doctrine" (CNN)