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January 28, 2009
White House Plan Puts Bull's-eye On Talk Shows
White House plan puts bull's-eye on talk shows
Posted agenda issues warning about new 'obligation' review
By Bob Unruh
The White House is promising new reviews of the "obligations" to the government by broadcasters who "occupy the nation's spectrum" just as the president has targeted conservative talk radio icon Rush Limbaugh for a public attack, raising concerns over the possible restoration of the "Fairness Doctrine," a policy that failed as unneeded and unconstitutional two decades ago.
Paul Ibrahim of NorthStarWriters.com cited Obama's warning to congressional Republicans that "you can't just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done" in suggesting the president has become the "driving force" behind a new "systematic" plan to "intimidate and demonize Obama's opponents."
That such a campaign was launched only days after Obama's inauguration is "tremendously perturbing," he wrote.
"Welcome to the politics of hope 'n' change. Obama's startling attempt to hang Limbaugh's scalp on the wall is a warning that the new ruler does not want unity – he demands it," Ibrahim wrote.
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 Fairness Doctrine, the number of radio talk shows has risen to more than 3,000.
Joseph 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.
During the presidential campaign, spokesman Michael Ortiz indicated Obama thought the debate was "a distraction."
But author Brad O'Leary examined Obama's legal and organizational attempts to silence media detractors during the presidential race and came to a different conclusion.
"Barack Obama has shown a stunning lack of tolerance for free speech throughout the course of [his] campaign," said O'Leary. "His presidency, combined with supermajorities for Democrats in Congress, would almost certainly bring back the so-called 'Fairness Doctrine' and allow the Democrats to snuff out any broadcasters with whom they disagree."
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]."
Ibrahim noted the president's public verbal condemnation of Limbaugh makes clear his "rejection" of the old "Bush" politics.
"You see, President Bush did not launch assaults on private citizens, nor did he ever label anyone as 'unpatriotic' for disagreeing with him. Thus, Obama and his friends are now effecting the change they promised. Welcome to their 'new' politics," he wrote.
The National Review's Byron York said Obama's criticism of Limbaugh makes it appear he considers the talk host "the true leader of the Republican opposition."
York said Limbaugh responded that Obama was trying to make the arguments about the radio show instead of Obama's actual plans.
"To make the argument about me instead of his plan makes sense from his perspective," Limbaugh told York. "Obama's plan would buy votes for the Democrat Party, in the same way FDR's New Deal established majority power for 50 years of Democrat rule, and it would also simultaneously seriously damage any hope of future tax cuts.
"I believe his stimulus is aimed at re-establishing 'eternal' power for the Democrat Party rather than stimulating the economy because anyone with a brain knows this is NOT how you stimulate the economy," Limbaugh continued. "If I can be made to serve as a distraction, then there is that much less time debating the merits of this TRILLION dollar debacle."
Limbaugh added: "One more thing, Byron. Your publication and website have documented Obama's ties to the teachings of Saul Alinksy while he was community organizing in Chicago. Here is Rule 13 of Alinksy's Rules for Radicals: 'Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.'"
Michael G. Franc, writing on the National Review's "The Corner" blog, noted that attorney general nominee Eric Holder also has refused to commit to opposing to Fairness Doctrine.
Obama's choice to head his FCC transition team, Democrat Henry Rivera, added to fear in media circles that the Fairness Doctrine might return to silence conservative talk radio.
Brian Maloney of the blog The Radio Equalizer said in his post "Meet Talk's Executioner" he believes Rivera will use his position to bring back the law for that very purpose.
Rivera, according to Maloney, "is expected to lead the push to dismantle commercial talk radio that is favored by a number of Democratic Party senators. Rivera will play a pivotal role in preventing critics from having a public voice during Obama's tenure in office."
Wild Thing's comment.............
This is even more then about Rush and other talk shows, it is also about Free Speech. First week in office and he's simultaneously going after the 1st and 2nd Amendment. Obama’s arrogant, condescending attitude is one of his most glaring weaknesses. He cannot stand criticism or questions.
Hussein has just fired the opening salvo on the constitution. How is it that a KENYAN MUSLIM is telling US CITIZENS who we should or should not listen to.
To demonize and go after talk radio is right out of the Saul Alinsky playbook. And the left will applaud this because the only information they want getting out is their point of view.
I have no idea how many listeners the other talk shows have that I listen to, but Limbaugh as a consistent 20 million. This will make a lot of people including me very ticked off if this all comes about.
Let these ignorant, arrogant punks try to stifle conservative talk radio or any other broadcast media and the backlash will be at biblical proportions!
We now have a Legislature and Executive Branch that are going to Terrorize the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
....Thank you Mark for sending this to me.
Mark
3rd Mar.Div. 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment
1/9 Marines aka The Walking Dead
VN 66-67
Posted by Wild Thing at January 28, 2009 05:47 AM
Comments
I'm wondering if they will eventually go on satellite radio? It's private and Obama can't do anything about it.
My son, an OTR trucker would love to have Rush, Hannity, and the others on satellite radio. Theat way he will always know where they are on the dial and would never loose signal.
Posted by: BobF at January 28, 2009 07:38 AM
Here are some quotes that hit home, when I think of Obamanation and his cabient of Nazis.
"Hope is the denial of reality. It is the carrot dangled before the draft horse to keep him plodding along in a vain attempt to reach it."
-Margaret Weis,
Of all tyrannies a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. -C.S. Lewis
The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny. -James Madison
"Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear." -Harry S Truman
"Anyone that wants the presidency so much that he'll spend two years organizing and campaigning for it is not to be trusted with the office."
-David Broder
Posted by: Steve Gaston at January 28, 2009 09:21 AM
Excellent Steve. Those quotes hit home on this post.
The freedom of speech is being hammered by the demand of diversity. OK, I demand a more diverse Congress. There are not enough conservatives. I demand more Asians in the NBA. I demand all Spanish TV and radio stations translate their programs into English, Vietnamese and Hindi.
Diversty is the excuse. Total government control is the purpose. The Democrats(sociaists) have nearly total control of federal elected office now and they want an Orwellian Ministry of Disinformation. Of course with Obama in power they would also like to have unlimited terms in office for the president.
Posted by: TomR at January 28, 2009 09:45 AM
Unless we do something, this too, free speech will be a 'hate crime.' Sanctioned by the Main stream Media and a government full of power lusting democrats whose sole purpose is to control every aspect of our lives, all for our own good.
I was going to say Nazi's doesn't fit this bunch but KGB just doesn't have the same impact as the word Nazi does.
Steve's right his cabinet full of Nazi's, Liars, cheats, tax frauds, and every other miscreant obama can find to fill out his oligarchy. I am waiting now for a new appointment for the Newly created department of Eugenics. To create a bunch of Detroits, the illiteracy rate in Detroit is so high, is it any wonder they all vote democrat. Is it any wonder the race for Mayor is a race between two democrats.
To the 64 Million assholes who wanted change, well here it is.
Posted by: Mark at January 28, 2009 11:04 AM
Seil Heil Comrade Mark, you're right on the money.
Posted by: cuchieddie at January 28, 2009 11:11 AM
Geert Wilders is being persecuted just like our enlightend talk radio hosts, we're in the same realm as Holland with this muzzy-Communist at the helm. He's a Pelosi Puppet and he's surrounded by his own kind from both parties.
Posted by: Jack at January 28, 2009 12:59 PM
This Omanunist government will hit us next. Those that don't speak out will suffer the same fate.
Bob A.
Posted by: Bob A at January 28, 2009 03:41 PM
Obama's actions bring to mind Der Feurer Adolf Hitler, Joseph Goebbels (Minister of Propaganda), and the Third Reich. Is President Barack Obama changing this country into a dictatorship that controls speech and creates a Fourth Reich? Heil Obama!
Posted by: Les at January 28, 2009 03:55 PM
Patriots, I was with W in 1999... 2000....and in 2004, big time! W needs to be faulted for not acting like a VOCAL LEADER from the White House pulpit. He turned the other cheek and the lefturds spread his cheeks and whammo! Kinder and gentler destroyed the GOPhers within years. Libbies are like rabid animals and poisonous snakes... And W never confronted THEM manno y manno.
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at January 28, 2009 04:29 PM
Nancy Goldfarb had her blog shut down by wordpress for being to "devisive". Which of us will be next. Here is her e-mail
help
somebody thought I was "divisive" and got wordpress to deactivate my blog
now I canot post
please send an email to support@wordpress.com asking to have me reinstated
http://ngoldfarb.wordpress.com
please send an email to support@wordpress.com asking to have me reinstated
Please send an e-mail to help her
Bob A.
Posted by: Bob A at January 28, 2009 05:43 PM
Ruth Goldman also just had her's shut down, presumabily for the same reason, I probably will be shortly. Ask that her site also be reinstated.
http://ruthtalks.wordpress.com
Bob A.
Posted by: Bob A at January 28, 2009 05:51 PM
I now get Nancy Goldfarb's site but get a terminated or archived on Ruth Goldburg's.
If anyone hits and gets it let me know.
bob A.
Posted by: Bob A at January 28, 2009 08:02 PM
BobF, I could go for that, but I would still want them all to be on the regular radio too. Both heh heh. Really dirve the left nuts. giggle
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 28, 2009 11:38 PM
Steve Gaston, those are great thank you so much.
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 28, 2009 11:41 PM
Tom, love it. haha That would be something.
That reminds me of the Spanish channels that will not translate. Now why can't they do that.
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 28, 2009 11:43 PM
Mark, exactly and it will spread from talk radio to blogs to forums to tv talk shows if they can't see this and the ones that have some kind of power fight back.
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 28, 2009 11:46 PM
Jack, yes, Geert Wilders might even have his life in danger over there. His film spoke the truth and I am proud of him but he also put his life on the line for it. You are so right jack.
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 28, 2009 11:49 PM
Les, yes he has to silence those that disagree the same way. Thanks for the image.
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 28, 2009 11:53 PM
Darth, absolutely. What a HUGE difference.
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 28, 2009 11:54 PM
Bob A., that is very scary.
I hope they both will be ok. Your right one of them is back now. Maybe the other one will be too. I sure hope so.
I am not familiar with either of those blogs, but I don't think any of them should be shut down for their free speech.
Posted by: Wild Thing at January 29, 2009 12:02 AM
