Fairness Doctrine Options

[Hartmann]

Since this topic is slowly making its way into Congress I am interested to hear what everyone thinks about it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairness_Doctrine

[James]

There's no need for it. It seems like it only applies to radio, too, not television. How many people listen to this kind of radio outside of their car? I'd be willing to bet that it's not many. Most are listening to mp3 or getting their news from the paper, television, and Internet.

How about they spend their energy in something more useful. I don't know what that is yet, but they can keep coming up with ideas and I'll tell them when they've hit the mark.

[Seeker]

More people are getting their news from the radio than you think. Most shows have downloadable podcasts and you can listen to the radio recording at your leisure.

One, I think it violates free speech. I should be able to be as biased as I want and Rush Limbaugh should be able to be as biased as he wants. The problem comes when Rush Limbaugh starts distorting the facts and reporting things that are completely untrue. Those are just plain lies and that's the type of thing this "Fairness Doctrine" needs to address... the reporting of lies.

[Hartmann]

More people are getting their news from the radio than you think. Most shows have downloadable podcasts and you can listen to the radio recording at your leisure.

One, I think it violates free speech. I should be able to be as biased as I want and Rush Limbaugh should be able to be as biased as he wants. The problem comes when Rush Limbaugh starts distorting the facts and reporting things that are completely untrue. Those are just plain lies and that's the type of thing this "Fairness Doctrine" needs to address... the reporting of lies.

I agree Lance (wow, that's twice today, maybe the end of the world is tonight).

Radio shouldn't be regulated so that two opinions get heard, it should be regulated so that lies don't get perpetuated. That's it. However, this can't be done just willy-nilly. Who's to decide the truth? If there are two different versions of the truth ('cause no one knows) then who gets their's heard?

[James]

There are other laws to handle lying. No need to make another.

[impala454]

More people are getting their news from the radio than you think. Most shows have downloadable podcasts and you can listen to the radio recording at your leisure.

One, I think it violates free speech. I should be able to be as biased as I want and Rush Limbaugh should be able to be as biased as he wants. The problem comes when Rush Limbaugh starts distorting the facts and reporting things that are completely untrue. Those are just plain lies and that's the type of thing this "Fairness Doctrine" needs to address... the reporting of lies.

But Rush Limbaugh or most other radio shows are not news reports. They're opinionated talk shows. These types of shows will often discuss current news, and when the facts are presented they'll give the source, i.e. "according to abcnews, blah", and then they discuss their opinions on it.

[Hartmann]

What's funny is all the recent Fairness Doctrine talk is directly tied to the immigration stuff. A good number of Senators (mostly Democrats) think that the talk radio hosts swayed the minds of the people and corrupted them. Nancy Pelosi just flat out said it and Harry Reid implied it.

[Hartmann]

I heard Obama talking about radio and how some Americans, "just listen to the wrong radio"... So is he implying that if he's elected he's going to shut off the radio he believes is wrong?


Also, can anyone tell me what's so appealing about Obama? Is it just because Oprah likes him? I don't see anything about him that actually makes him stand out.

[James]

It's because he's whack.

[impala454]

I heard Obama talking about radio and how some Americans, "just listen to the wrong radio"... So is he implying that if he's elected he's going to shut off the radio he believes is wrong?
Also, can anyone tell me what's so appealing about Obama? Is it just because Oprah likes him? I don't see anything about him that actually makes him stand out.

Although I may be giving too much credit to the American people, I believe most people know who the good candidates are. They may say "oh I like Obama", or watch Oprah religiously, or both, but in the end they won't vote for him. I also think the American people for the most part have a good sense of the BS that goes on, like the democrats calling an all nighter so they could get themselves more campaign tactics for the 2008 elections (i.e. "ooh look at me I tried to bring your father/husband/etc home but the evil republicans blocked it"). I think most Americans can actually see past that kind of BS. which is why you have events like the election 2004 happen, where the media makes it look terrible, like everybody hates Bush, but then he gets re-elected for a second term.

If a democrat had to win... I guess obama would be the lesser of two evils. I shudder at the thought of a democrat congress + democrat pres. when was the last time that happened anyhow?

[Psykopath]

Although I may be giving too much credit to the American people, I believe most people know who the good candidates are. They may say "oh I like Obama", or watch Oprah religiously, or both, but in the end they won't vote for him. I also think the American people for the most part have a good sense of the BS that goes on, like the democrats calling an all nighter so they could get themselves more campaign tactics for the 2008 elections (i.e. "ooh look at me I tried to bring your father/husband/etc home but the evil republicans blocked it"). I think most Americans can actually see past that kind of BS. which is why you have events like the election 2004 happen, where the media makes it look terrible, like everybody hates Bush, but then he gets re-elected for a second term.

...Yeah, because you know Republicans are all saints and never do anything politically motivated, amirite Rush?

If a democrat had to win... I guess obama would be the lesser of two evils. I shudder at the thought of a democrat congress + democrat pres. when was the last time that happened anyhow?

1993-1994, Clinton + Dem House + Dem Senate.

[Oasis]

It's sad that I no longer consider myself Republican because of how inept the Bush administration has been.

[impala454]

It's sad that I no longer consider myself Republican because of how inept the Bush administration has been.

yeah, so inept, our economy is on a huge boom right now.

[impala454]

...Yeah, because you know Republicans are all saints and never do anything politically motivated, amirite Rush?

you're putting words in my mouth. I never said repubs were saints or never do anything politically motivated. it's just that right now, the democrats in congress are a bunch of dipshit babies who aren't getting jack shit done and wasting taxpayer money with fickle bills they know won't get passed just so they can use them as campaign tactics.

[GOB]

a bunch of dipshit babies who aren't getting jack shit done and wasting taxpayer money with fickle bills they know won't get passed just so they can use them as campaign tactics.

i believe that's called "being a politician"